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Types of Reverse Mortgage Available |
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Written by Igor Buces
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 11:41 |
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Reverse home mortgages aid seniors over 62 take advantage of the equity in their homes that has been created over the time they have been in the home. It can help seniors because it can be used as a type of second mortgage. In a reverse mortgage, the owner doesn't ever need to pay back the loan for as long as the owner stays living in the house. It basically works as a loan on the present equity.
by IgorBuces
Reverse home mortgages aid seniors over 62 take advantage of the equity in their homes that has been created over the time they have been in the home. It can help seniors because it can be used as a type of second mortgage. In a reverse mortgage, the owner doesn't ever need to pay back the loan for as long as the owner stays living in the house. It basically works as a loan on the present equity.
The homeowner can never be thrown out of the home for lack of payment since there is no money to pay back. It is a good type of loan for seniors with a decreasing income but who would like to stay in the homes they have had for a long time The owner can choose to access the money in one of three ways: a credit line, a one-time payment or a regular monthly payment.
There are basically three different types of reverse mortgages that owners can apply for: a single purpose reverse home mortgage, a federally backed reverse mortgage or a privately issued reverse mortgage.
Single Purpose Reverse Home Mortgage
This type of mortgage is offered by non-for-profit organizations and by state and federal Government agencies. It's the cheapest reverse mortgage to obtain. The biggest problem is that it's harder to qualify for this loan since you must be in the lower income bracket and complete a longer application. In addition, the funds from the loan can only be used for a specific reason( repairs, improvements or property taxes.)
Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) backs this reverse home mortgage. This type of reverse mortgage is also known as a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.) It's a little more expensive than the single purpose reverse mortgage.
This type of reverse mortgage is by far the most common of the three. It accounts for over 90% of all reverse mortgages. It's very popular because it's very easy to apply to and qualify for. In addition, you can use the money from the loan far whatever reason you want.
Private Reverse Mortgage
This type of mortgage is provided by a private company who hasn't been approved to issue a Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage. In general, they have the same type of requirements than a regular reverse mortgage.
The biggest drawback is its cost. Since it doesn't need to comply with federal regulations, companies can get away with charging to much money to unsuspected senior citizens.
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