Enjoy Financial Independence With Houston Reverse Mortgage

A house can mean a lot more to you than you imagined it to be possible. It is an asset and a security in the true sense and will surely be your best bet whenever you find yourself in any financial difficulty. Finances can be a major concern, especially for a retired individual and a senior citizen. The main issue here would be the lack of regular income at the end of each month. In such a scenario if any emergency arises then the only resort left with the individual would be to ask for a loan from family, friends or financial institutions. This is when your house can be your biggest financial security in case you are over sixty two and a house owner. A senior citizen can easily apply for a Houston reverse mortgage and reap the benefits by using his house as a security.

A Houston reverse mortgage has many benefits that rank it higher on popularity and preference than many other forms of mortgages and loans. Under the Houston reverse mortgage, the property continues to remain under the name of the original owner and therefore the right to sell the house is also intact with the owner. Also, the borrower does not have to repay his mortgage amount during his lifetime. The mortgage debt does not pass on to his heir in the event of the borrower’s demise. In case the borrower decides to sell off the property, the reverse mortgage would have to be paid off first before the money can be given to the owner or his family.

A drawback of the Houston reverse mortgage is the fact that the mortgaged property cannot be left to the heir of the borrower. However, in today’s day and age everyone is working towards building their own future and acquiring property through their own capability. Hence, not leaving a mortgaged house to your heir cannot be such a bad thing after all. Also the owner can continue to reside in the premises of the mortgaged house for as long as he wants, without repaying any mortgage amount. Only the regular costs of maintaining the house, such as bills and house tax, needs to be paid by the borrower. The house owner can also decide the manner in which he wants to receive the mortgage amount, whether as a lump sum or in installments.

Many senior citizens opt for the installment method, as it ensures a regular inflow of money for the day to day household expenses. Therefore, if you have mortgaged your house after retirement, you can continue to maintain your previous standard of living, thanks to the loan amount on the house. A Houston reverse mortgage, therefore, provides every senior citizen of America living in Houston, who is a house owner, the dignity of living independently till the very end of their lives. It ensures that you never have to ask for any financial support from any third party till the time you have your own house.

Get A Loan On Your House With Annuity Reverse Mortgage

A senior citizen who is sixty two years of age or above and has retired from active service is naturally insecure about his future in spite of well planned savings as the cost of living is ever increasing and what may be sufficient today may not be enough for tomorrow. However, if you are a house owner living in the United States, then you have the option of putting up your house as collateral and getting a suitable loan against it. The traditional forms of home loans require the borrower to repay the loan in monthly installments and at times also have restrictions on the manner in which the loan amount may be utilized. The biggest advantage for the homeowner is therefore, to opt for an annuity reverse mortgage on his or her house that will provide the maximum benefit on the loan money sanctioned to the borrower.

In an annuity reverse mortgage, you need not repay the loan through monthly payments and this in fact, forms a strong point n favor of this kind of loan. Also, the homeowner receives a tax-free payment each month as payment of the loan on annuity reverse mortgage. Also, you will never owe more than what your house is worth and hence this is major security for the home owner under the circumstance that he may not want to continue living on the mortgaged property and hence has to repay the loan in full settlement oft he mortgage. The borrower is also provided a line of credit through which he can withdraw whatever sum of money he requires up to the amount of loan. The regular inflow of monthly installments as payment of the reverse mortgage makes it easier for the senior citizen to use that amount as a monthly income even after retirement.

The advantage of an annuity reverse mortgage is that not only do you retain the ownership of the property you have mortgaged but you can also continue to live on the property for as long as you want. When you consider moving out of the mortgaged property you need to repay the mortgage in full that can be got from the sale of the house itself. It is easiest to opt for this form of loan when you do not have a source of income as you need not pay off the loan as long as you reside in the mortgaged property.

One of the most requirements to be fulfilled before you decide to opt for an annuity reverse mortgage is the collection of every financial information about such deals. Many fraud deals are being carried out in the name of such reverse mortgage where the homeowner ends up paying thousands of dollars just as the fees or as payment before you decide to sell the house. Many a times, owners are taken for a ride when they are made to pay a hefty sum for just gathering information on the reverse mortgage deals. Remember that all information on such deals are available freely with HUD and legitimate reverse mortgage lenders. So, update yourself about the requirements of the deal and then you ca safely go ahead and secure your financial future in old age through a mortgage on your house.

Nevada Reverse Mortgage

“Home sweet home”, throughout ages, we have felt and said the same about our home. Our home is a place where we know that we will find peace and tranquility. Moreover, knowing that it is our home, we know that we are bound to feel secured and save. Therefore, a known fact is that our home is the best place and it is indeed our place. In addition, we generally do not realize is that our home can be more than just a place, probably our best place. It is our true friend and a friend that can help us and be with us whenever we want it to stand by us. Through the help of Nevada reverse mortgage, any senior citizen, who is need of money, can put his or her house on mortgage and get the money to meet any emergency or to meet some financial requirements. Therefore, with the help of this policy we do realize that our home is not just a refuge or a place where we feel secured and save; in fact, it is a friend that would always stand by us whenever we feel the need.

Reverse mortgage is a financial transaction where in a senior citizen can put up his pr her house or a part of the property as the collateral and can get a lump some money against that. The concept of reverse mortgage was introduced by the HUD (department of housing and urban development) keeping in mind the problems that a senior citizen faces. With old age comes in a lot of problems and this is mainly because their monthly income stops. Retirement is one of the most problematic things if proper preparations are not made on time. The Nevada reverse mortgage has been designed keeping in mind the problems that a senior citizen of this particular place may face.

There are some criterions, which need to be fulfilled if one wishes to opt for this policy. The person who wants to opt for a Nevada reverse mortgage needs to be of the age of minimum sixty five years of age and should have a house or a property on his or her name. Once these criterions are fulfilled, the person can opt for this policy. The best part of this policy is that even though the house is put up as the collateral against the loan amount, the person can still continue to live in the house until the time he or she wishes to. However, he or she needs to pay the regular maintenance cost of the house and the other expenses.

However, one minus point about a Nevada reverse mortgage is that the owner of the house cannot sell the house or cannot give the house to an heir because after the demise of the owner of the house, the house is taken by the agency, who further sells the house to get the loan amount back. However, whatever said and done, this is indeed a helpful policy for any senior citizen who is facing some financial crisis and does not know from whom to get the help.

Reverse Mortgage Wholesale Loans

A reverse mortgage wholesale product is not directly available to you as an applicant for a reverse mortgage. It is sold to a lender at a discounted (wholesale) interest rate, and the lender then offers it to you after adding points to the rate.

Sources Of Reverse Mortgage Wholesale Loans

There are only three organizations who sell reverse mortgage wholesale products; Fannie Mae; the Federal Housing Authority (FHA); and the Financial Freedom Cash Account. The loans from each of these entities vary in their available payment alternatives.

The FHA reverse mortgage wholesale product is called the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM. The maximum you may borrow against your home in this program is about $360,000, but your limit will depend on your home’s location. The HECM is the reverse mortgage wholesale product underlying over 90% of all US reverse mortgages.

Both the FHA and HUD--the Department of Housing and Urban Development--guarantee FHA reverse mortgage wholesale loans. The guarantee means that the borrower is assured of getting the amount promised, and that the lender is assured of getting the entire principal and accrued interest when the loan is terminated, even if the home is sold for less than that amount.

Fannie Mae guarantees its Homekeeper reverse mortgage wholesale loans, which will allow you to take up to $417,00, and is somewhat unusual in that Fannie Mae allows you to use the proceeds from your existing home to purchase a less expensive one. Although Fannie Mae is not run by the Federal Government, the amount of business they do, and the strict regulations to which they must adhere make their guarantee of their reverse mortgage wholesale loans as solid as those of the FHA and HUD.

Both FHA and Homekeeper reverse mortgage wholesale loans are available in all fifty states.

Financial Freedom Cash Account reverse mortgage wholesale products from a subsidiary of Shearson Lehman are designed for homeowners wanting to borrow against high-value homes, usually with a minimum appraised value of $500,000. There is no limit to the amount which can be borrowed with a Financial Freedom Cash Account loan, and the loans are privately guaranteed. They are, however, only available in twenty-four states.

Where To Find A Reverse Mortgage Lender

Because you, as an applicant for a reverse mortgage, are not eligible to get a reverse mortgage wholesale loan, you should comparison shop among reverse mortgage lenders to find the ones who offer the lowest markups on their products. You can find a list of reliable lenders in your state by doing a search at the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association--NMRLA--website.

Once you start looking for a reverse mortgage wholesale through LLS Financial or any other company, you will quickly start to see a trend. You want to check on how quickly each of these reverse mortgage companies will be able to approve you. Typically a loan takes a couple of weeks to process – but when it comes to a reverse mortgage wholesale you should be able to have your reverse mortgage in hand within twenty four hours

How Does a Reverse Mortgage Work

The passing of the American Homeowner Ownership and Economic Opportunities Act of 2000 Section 201 has now provided senior citizens further financial aid through the form of a reverse mortgage. Of all the different age groups that are eligible to take out some form of financial aid, it is the senior citizen age group that requires the most financial assistance yet have the least amount of options. This is because majority of those within this age group have already retired and only rely on their savings and pension as a source of funds to help them live out their remaining years. Through the introduction of the reverse mortgage, senior citizens have now been given the opportunity to get the financial aid that they need for medical care, home improvement, and the like.

This has been made possible because of the fact that unlike traditional forms of mortgages and loans available in the market, reverse mortgages are exempted from any tax obligations and the responsibility of the payment falls on the financial institution or creditor. Senior citizens who have been granted a reverse mortgage are not required to make any form of repayments to the financial institution or creditor for as long as one or both senior citizens remain to live in the home whose equity has been used.

If you are considering taking out a reverse mortgage, there are a few requirements you would need to present when you go to a creditor or financial institution. Here are the requirements that you would need.

Age Requirement

According to Section 201 of the American Homeowner Ownership and Economic Opportunities Act of 2000, the reverse mortgage is available only for individuals who are at least 62 years and above. You may be able to apply for a reverse mortgage if you are below 62 years of age provided that your spouse has met the minimum age requirement. This is because the conditions stated in the American Homeowner Ownership and Economic Opportunities Act of 2000, once it is proven that at least one spouse is at least 62 years of age and above, both will become eligible to take out a reverse mortgage.

Home Equity

The equity value of your home is its fair market value minus any existing loans that you may have taken out. In order to get the home equity value of your property, you would need to attain the services of an appraiser. For your home equity to also be eligible, you must be in ownership of a permanent type of property such as single house, an apartment or condominium. If you live in a mobile home or a trailer, you would not be able to qualify for a reverse mortgage.

Length of Stay in Home

For you to be eligible for a reverse mortgage, you need to have stayed in your current residence for at least one month. This is the period of time that financial institutions and creditors would consider you to have a permanent residence on the home whose equity would be use towards the reverse mortgage that you are planning to take out.

Home Equity to be Applied Must be Primary Place of Residence

If you have been fortunate enough to be able to purchase a vacation home, you would not be able to use this towards the reverse mortgage that you are planning to take out, even if you meet the one month stay period requirement and the home equity is a lot higher than your primary residence. This is because the reverse mortgage can only utilize the home equity of the house that you have stayed most of your life with, which is your primary place of residence.

Disadvantages of Reverse Mortgages

Getting a reverse mortgage can mean the difference between living comfortably and living day to day. But, before you commit to, you must also understand the disadvantages. So, let's first take a quick review, then take a look a the disadvantages.

What is a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is a home loan that lets you take some of the equity in your home and convert it into cash. So, as opposed to a regular mortgage where you pay every month, a reverse mortgage pays you! Sounds great, it's almost like winning the lottery.

OK, now that we know the good news, here are some of the disadvantages to consider:

It can be expensive

Like most often in life, nothing is free. With each loan there are fees involved. Sometimes these fees can be high because they are based on the home's value. And, the amount of money you owe grows larger over time based on the fees and interest rates. So, you must consider if the amount of fees is to high. But, if you're considering selling your house to survive, a reverse mortgage is still a wonderful solution, after all, you are getting money back. So, a lot of times, the money in hand is worth it.

They can affect the inheritance you leave behind

When your home is sold, the cash received from the loan, interest and fees must be repaid. But, the remaining equity in your home will go to your heirs. Important: your heirs, will not be required to pay more than the home is worth on the maturity of the loan when it is sold. However, if your heirs do wish to keep the home for sentimental reasons, etc., they will be responsible for the full amount owed which can be more.

I don't want to stay in my home forever

Because of the costs linked to a reverse mortgage, there may be more inexpensive options. So, consider other options if you do plan on moving in the near future.

It may affect eligibility for some benefits.

A reverse mortgage will not affect your social security or medicare benefits. But, the money received could impact your Medicaid benefits. So, if you are on Medicaid you should make it a requirement to contact a Medicaid expert in your area. If you don't you may risk losing Medicaid benefits! Also, check on the affects on any other benefits such as Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal.

As always review all of these options with your adviser and your family.

Reverse mortgages offer a tremendous amount of help to homeowners who qualify. To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages, click here.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Reverse Mortgage

Betty and John, are in their mid-seventies and are currently weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage as a way of freeing up some cash. The couple purchased their home 45 years ago for about $14,000 since then home values have skyrocketed and recent single family homes in their neighborhood have been selling for a minimum of $160,000.

Like Betty and John, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage it’s important to do some research prior to making a decision. You not only need to understand the basic principles of this kind of mortgage but you also need to look at all the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage.

Essentially a reverse mortgage is a loan that permits homeowners 62 years of age and older to borrow against the equity in their homes without having to sell it. Further, you don’t have to give up the title or take on a new monthly mortgage payment.

A reverse mortgage loan is tax-free and needs only to be repaid when the borrower (or in the case of Betty and John, when the surviving spouse) dies or sells the home. At which time, the reverse mortgage loan must be repaid in full, including all interest and other charges.

When examining the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage it’s also important to consider both the process and the related costs of obtaining a reverse mortgage. Unlike a conventional mortgage, with a reverse mortgage, the homeowner (the potential borrower) must meet with a reverse mortgage counselor. References for counselors can be obtained from banks offering reverse mortgages or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The purpose of these meetings which may take place in person or on the telephone is for the homeowner to learn about reverse mortgages and discuss alternative options. It also helps you decide which kind of reverse mortgage may be best. As well as exploring the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage, it’s wise that the potential borrower, also compare costs between various lenders and request a Total Annual Loan Cost estimate for each.

Further to discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage with a counselor, you also need to understand that there are certain costs involved in the reverse mortgage process. Costs may include application fees, closing costs, insurance, appraisal fees, credit report fees, and quite possibly a monthly service fee. Remember too that since a reverse mortgage allows you to continue living in your home, you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs. If these payments are not maintained, the loan could become due in full.

A reverse mortgage may also affect eligibility for federal or state assistance as well as Medicaid. That said, any reverse mortgage money that is received is tax-free and does not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.

The condition of your home is also a large part of the approval process. It must be structurally sound and in good repair. If it’s determined that home repairs need to be done, the costs can also be financed through the reverse mortgage loan.

The total amount a homeowner can borrow all depends on the kind of reverse mortgage selected, how much equity is in the home, the loan's interest rate and most importantly, the age of the borrower. Typically the older a person is, the more they can expect to receive.

A borrower can receive reverse mortgage payments in one of the following ways: in a lump-sum payment; fixed monthly payments; a line of credit or a combination of any of the above. Most homeowners go for the line of credit option which allows them to draw on the loan whenever money is required.

Paul Jesse is a retired government employee, small business owner and the author of many articles on finance and internet marketing. Visit his website at: http://www.sheamarketing.com/financial.

Reverse Mortgages: All You Need To Know

A lender’s promise of fast cash and no monthly payments make reverse mortgages an attractive alternative for cash-strapped seniors who are house-rich but cash-poor. Offered to homeowners over the age of 62 (in Canada), reverse mortgages allow seniors to convert the equity of their home to finance living expenses, home improvements or other needs. It seems like a good idea, but it could cost a fortune.

While they offer distinctive advantages - such as allowing people to stay in their home, receive a monthly income and maintaining an enjoyable standard of living - reverse mortgages aren’t for everyone and they involve a number of risks that should be taken into consideration. A reverse mortgage is the opposite of a conventional mortgage. Instead of borrowing money from a lender to buy a home, the lender pays you based on your home equity. The home must be your principal place of residence. If the mortgagor (homeowner) dies, sells the home or otherwise changes principal residence the initial loan must be paid back together with accrued interest, usually through the sale of the property. Because the proceeds of a reverse mortgage are classified as a loan rather than income, they are non-taxable.

The mortgage principal amount is anywhere between ten to forty percent of the home appraised value and is in direct function of the borrower’s age, current interest rates and property value.

With eighty percent of the average Canadian seniors’ assets tied up in their home and little or no income, this can be a viable financing tool for some people. The downside of a reverse mortgage, however, is that it can quickly eat up the accumulated equity of the house. Let’s say you take a $50,000 reverse mortgage today at the rate of five percent. You will owe $50,000 seven years from now, double in fourteen years. For seniors who want to leave one-hundred percent of their estate with heirs or who hope to have a certain amount of equity leftover after re-paying the mortgage, this type of financing may not be ideal.

When considering whether or not to take out a reverse mortgage, it is important to understand the risks involved, the types of reverse mortgages available and the different terms offered by lenders. And it never hurts to seek the advice of a third party such as a lawyer prior to entering into an agreement.

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Reverse Mortgages - Are There Disadvantages?

If you are looking for a way that you can make your retirement a bit better, you may want to consider checking into the reverse mortgage options that you have. You will find that there are a variety of companies today that will offer you the opportunities to get a senior reverse mortgage, which can really make a difference in your life. However, you'll find that although there are a variety of advantages to doing so, there are also a few disadvantages as well. Although many times you hear all about the advantages, you may not be aware of all the disadvantages to going with a reverse mortgage. So, let's take a look at some of the disadvantages as well as some of the considerations you'll need to keep in mind if you are considering this options for your needs as a senior.

Disadvantages to Be Aware Of:

First of all, there are some disadvantages that you need to be aware of. Here are just a few of those disadvantages that you will need to keep in mind.

- Disadvantage #1 - Building Up Debt - One of the main disadvantages that you'll encounter is that you'll be building up debt over time while you live in your home. Usually with a regular mortgage you work on paying off the debt on your home over 30 years, but when you go with a reverse mortgage, as long as you are living in your home, you are going to find that you are building up debt instead of paying it off.

- Disadvantage #2 - Large Costs Up Front - Not only will you find that building up debt is a disadvantage, but you'll also find that another disadvantage is that there can be some rather large costs you have to pay up front when you go with this option. These costs really go up when you are only wanting to take out part of the money or you only want to live in your home for a couple more years. So, this can be a big disadvantage to be aware of before you make up your mind.

- Disadvantage #3 - Leaving Your Heirs a Smaller Inheritance - Going with Minnesota reverse mortgages also has the disadvantage of leaving your heirs a smaller inheritance as well. Although they are probably not really interested in the money you lave behind, you may be. You'll have less equity in your home if you go with the reverse mortgage, meaning that the home will be worth less, which can affect the heirs that you leave behind.

Considerations You Need to Think About:

Now that you understand that there are a variety of disadvantages to keep in mind, there are other considerations that you'll need to think about before you decide whether or not this is going to be the best senior housing option for you and your needs. Here are a few important considerations that you need to keep in mind.

- Your Current Needs Financially - First of all, you need to consider your current needs financially. Take a close look at your budget and figure out which options are going to best help you to deal with the financial needs that you have. Take a look at the bills you have. Do you have too many expenses and are you barely getting by? Perhaps you need to adjust your budget or you need to find a way to get extra money, such as through a reverse mortgage.

- Can You Adjust Your Budget? - Ask yourself whether or not you can cut down on some of your expenditures to adjust your budget. Of course there are some things that you may need to sacrifice; however, some things you cannot live without. Before you decide to go with a reverse mortgage, it's important to figure out how long the equity that you have will be able to help you support yourself on the budget that you have.

- Will You Move to Avoid a Reverse Mortgage? - Is moving an option for you if it helps you to avoid going with a reverse mortgage? If you want to move and it will keep you from going through this option, it may be the right choice. However, it's not always the best choice. You may want to stay in your home and often you'll find that a reverse mortgage can help you to do so.

- Benefits of a Reverse Home Mortgage - Last of all, you'll want to consider all the benefits that a reverse home mortgage can provide you with. You will have the advantage of having more cash to deal with and you'll be able to pay off some debt and live a better life. However, it's important that you balance out the benefits with the cons of the option as well. Take the time to figure out if the benefits outweigh the problems, and if they do, then this may be the right choice for you.

Where can you get this type of loan? Think about using a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker that is FHA approved will be able to offer you the FHA HECM product as well as conventional products. You will want to evaluate both before you make your choice.

Looking for a reverse mortgage in Minnesota?-check out http://www.MinnesotaReverseMortgage.net John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com , an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing in residential, commercial and investment mortgages for purchases of single family homes, investment properties and commercial property. Venture brokers FHA, VA, Conventional loans and lines of credit. If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Reverse Mortgage - How it Can Help

As age catches up with seniors and their retirement gross nearer, seniors should start thinking about planning for the future. There is no doubt, some post retirement benefits will help seniors, but the amount of money can be inadequate for some seniors to meet their financial expenses for each month. Unless the senior is receiving a sizable amount of money for their retirement benefits, it is unlikely they have the funds for a comfortable retirement that would enable them to travel and enjoy their silver years. All these financial requirements can easily be taken care of my means of a reverse mortgage.

Many people think of ways in which they can add substantial amounts of money to their retirement so they can live the life they have always dreamed about. Most seniors have seen ads of elderly couples traveling to exotic foreign destinations beamed across the TV screen and they too want to join in the fun and enjoy life. There is a way to take those trips and have extra money without many hassles; the parties involved just need to be at least 62 years of age to apply for a reverse mortgage that can provide the senior with financial liberty by using their home equity.

If you are a senior citizen and are above 62 years of age and have a large amount of equity in your home, a reverse mortgage can assists you in your post retirement dreams. After you receive the loan from the lender, you will not have to pay back the loan as long as you live in your home. However, if you sell your home, you will have to repay the loan. The money you receive from the loan is tax free and you retain ownership of your home. In case of your death, the person who inherits the house will need the loan if they decide to keep the house. A reverse mortgage is not dependent on your health, income or even credit history.

Many seniors may decide to use a reverse mortgage for something other than a dream vacation. Seniors may decide to use the funds towards paying off their current mortgage, some may decide to use the money for health care, or even daily living expenses. The fact that a reverse mortgage allows seniors to have their own financial security and independence makes it a very popular option. Most people veiw a reverse mortgage as a need, meaning they will only do a reverse mortgage because they need the money not because they want the money for trips.

A reverse mortgage can be quite expensive because the cost of the loan includes credit reporting charges as well as appraisal and initiation charges, inspection charges etc. add them all together they can add up to a substantial amount which is deducted from the amount you will receive. If you do not properly manage your cash, you should seek professional to help manage the money you receive from the reverse mortgage in combination with the rest of your funds.