Why Be Embarrassed To Do A Reverse Mortgage?

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

Often thought to be a mortgage for those who are cash poor and house rich, with a reverse mortgage there may be an attitude of “I hope to never have to do a reverse mortgage.” And seniors may be embarrassed to let others know they did a reverse mortgage.

Why should there be embarrassment when doing a reverse mortgage when there isn’t an embarrassment when one has a conventional mortgage? Most homeowners have a mortgage or at least did one to purchase their home aren’t embarrassed by this fact. Well, it should be the same with a reverse mortgage. Just as a conventional mortgage isn’t just for the cash poor, house rich the reverse mortgage isn’t either.

A reverse mortgage is a mortgage just like any other but has special terms for senior homeowners 62 and older. To qualify for a conventional mortgage, lenders look at one’s income, credit score, and risks to ensure the loan payments can be made. The reverse mortgage has no income or credit score requirements and no monthly payment requirements which benefits seniors who are often on a fixed income. With a conventional mortgage monthly payments are required – these can sometimes be difficult for seniors to make on their fixed income.

As with a conventional mortgage the title stays in the borrower’s name and the homeowners are responsible for paying their taxes, insurance and maintaining the property.

Additionally there are more options on how the funds are received including monthly payments structured as needed, line of credit (with a growth rate), lump sum, or a combination of these. Another difference and benefit for seniors who do a reverse mortgage is that the loan is non-recourse, which means there is no personal liability for borrowers or their estate as long as the borrower or the heirs are not retaining ownership.

The loan amount on the reverse mortgage is determined by the home value, the age of the borrower and what’s called an Expected Interest Rate (only used to determine the loan amount – the interest on the loan can be different). The older one is the more funds are available to them. Closing costs are comparable to a conventional mortgage with an origination fee, appraisal fee, title company charges and recording fees. As a FHA HUD insured loan the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM fees are regulated by HUD.

HUD insuring the loan provides advantages including guaranteeing the funds are available for borrowers; guaranteeing the lender against default or shortfalls which means the interest rates are lower (currently under 4% on the adjustable rate, 5.56% on the fixed) compared to other mortgages; providing a line of credit growth rate (available only with reverse mortgages); insuring as a reverse mortgage it is a non-recourse (no personal liability) loan.

In the current mortgage market many seniors don’t qualify for a conventional mortgage so the reverse mortgage is a great option for them. Even if they do qualify for a conventional mortgage, the reverse mortgage can be more beneficial. If they have a conventional mortgage and “life” were to happen seniors often then juggle trying to make the mortgage payments or paying their medical expense or life necessities.

With a limited or fixed income seniors often struggle to maintain their lifestyle. Sometimes they feel they need to work just to pay their bills or pay their conventional mortgage. Refinancing with a reverse mortgage can mean improved cash flow allowing borrowers to maintain their lifestyle. It can also mean that they don’t have to work.

At the age of 70, Len was still working a physically challenging job just to be able to pay their conventional mortgage. When they did the reverse mortgage Len was able to retire and enjoy his time with his family. “[The reverse mortgage] definitely saved us.” they said.

Helen, another Minnesota homeowner, has some retirement investments but rather than cashing in on those she chose to do a reverse mortgage. This allowed her to do some desired home repairs as well as have cash for future needs.

Cheryl wanted to travel so she did the reverse mortgage on her Minnesota home so she could pay off her conventional mortgage and improve her cash flow allowing her the funds to fulfill her desires without touching her retirement funds.

Knowing that the reverse mortgage is like any mortgage but with special terms one should not be embarrassed to do a reverse mortgage rather than a conventional mortgage – after all it’s just another mortgage option.

This material may be re-posted provided it is re-posted in its entirety without modifications and includes the contact information, copyright information and the following link: http://wp.me/p4EUZQ-iQ

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Reverse Mortgage Helps Minnesota Senior To Be Prepared for Future

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

Reverse Mortgage Helped Bob Be Prepared

Bob’s wife passed away so her Social Security was no longer received. To replace the 2^nd Social Security check his financial advisor suggested a reverse mortgage so he could stay in his home and maintain his lifestyle.

We met and discussed his situation, the facts of the reverse mortgage and how it would benefit him. During his decision period, a friend suggested he sell and move into a senior apartment. But he wanted to stay in his home where he had lived for many years and with his many memories. He also wanted to keep his dog, his loyal companion. Besides he decided that moving and selling wasn’t cheaper than staying in his home and living in a senior apartment meant he’d have to make monthly rent payments which would not improve his cash flow which was his goal.

A reverse mortgage is a mortgage like any other mortgage, using the equity in one’s home, but has special terms for senior homeowners 62 and over. There are no income or credit score qualifications and no monthly payments required.* (See below for Financial Assessment requirement.) Senior homeowners maintain the title as the reverse mortgage lender does not own the home. Borrowers are responsible for paying their property taxes and insurance as well as maintaining the home. Reverse mortgage borrowers are highly protected – more so than with any other loan.

The HECM Adjustable Rate program allows for borrowers to receive their funds in monthly payments, line of credit, lump sum or a combination of these. The monthly payments can be structured as tenure payments, received as long as borrowers occupy home as their primary residence, or as they need. The line of credit grows so more funds become available in the future. There is also a HECM Fixed Rate option which is favorable if one is pulling all their funds out in a lump sum.

As a non recourse loan there is no personal responsibility to repay the loan as long as the borrower or the estate is not retaining ownership. This means if the loan balance when due and payable is $200,000 but the home can only be sold for $150,000 the borrower or the estate do not have to come up with the $50,000 as long as they are not retaining ownership. The loan is generally repaid from the sale of the property when the home is no longer the primary residence of the borrower, usually when they move, die or sell. If the home is sold for more than the loan balance the remaining equity goes to the borrower or the estate.

In Bob’s situation, the reverse mortgage paid off his current conventional mortgage and eliminated his mortgage payments – this improved his cash flow. Then Monthly Payments were set up to add the extra money he needed each month to maintain his lifestyle. Additionally funds were left in the line of credit for future needs.

A summer after he did his reverse mortgage he used some of the funds to take a desired vacation to Yellowstone National Park with his nephew – creating memories for both of them. After he returned from his trip Bob called me to share how happy he was that he was able to take the trip.

Then, as many of my borrowers do, recently he called again. As we were chatting he said that I wouldn’t recognize his house because he’s done some upgrading. In addition he had the home modified so it would be wheelchair accessible. While he doesn’t need this now, he’s prepared for the future when it will be needed. The joy in his voice showed.

Even though he didn’t have his wife to share his life he is able to have the funds to maintain his lifestyle and be prepared for his future in his home. Bob is enjoying his live with security, independence, dignity and control.

*In April 2015 a Financial Assessment was implemented to determine borrower’s ability and willingness to pay property taxes and insurance into the future. This safeguard help make the reverse mortgage more sustainable so borrowers can remain in their home.

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Let’s Get Real About Equity Required For A Reverse Mortgage

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

It is a common belief that one has to have a lot of equity in their home in order to do a reverse mortgage. In reality a reverse mortgage can be done if there are enough proceeds from the reverse mortgage to pay off any current liens. If there aren’t enough reverse mortgage proceeds if the borrower can come up with the difference a reverse mortgage can still be done and benefit them.

The Reverse Mortgage improves cash flow because one doesn’t have to make mortgage payments. Even if the reverse mortgage proceeds are used to pay off current liens the senior’s cash flow will be improved because they will have eliminated their mortgage payment.

For example, Wayne was struggling to make his mortgage payments of $1,200 a month. The reverse mortgage proceeds were just enough to pay off his current liens. While he didn’t have funds available from the reverse mortgage beyond paying off the mortgage, his cash flow improved by $1,200 a month because he no longer had to make the mortgage payments.

When we ran the calculations for Minnesota home owners, Jerry and Dorothy the reverse mortgage proceeds were short $3,000 to pay off their current mortgage. They chose to pull some funds from their savings so they could do the reverse mortgage and eliminate their mortgage payments – a benefit and savings in the long run. (Note that HUD, who insures the most common reverse mortgage, the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) does not allow the difference to be from another loan or credit cards. If the funds are coming from an outside source, not from your own resources, then it must be a gift, not a loan to be repaid.)

If one is having a hard time making the payments and facing foreclosure the revere mortgage may be the solution in saving their home. Because income and credit scores are not considered to qualify for a reverse mortgage, the reverse mortgage may be a solution. If reverse mortgage funds are not enough to pay off the current loan, we work with foreclosure and housing counselors and lenders to receive a short payoff using the reverse mortgage as the funds to pay off the current mortgage.

If one is unable to handle monthly loan payments of their mortgage or credit card payments, a reverse mortgage may be the solution. Or maybe one chooses not to make monthly payments any more. A reverse mortgage may be the solution for this situation also. Once the reverse mortgage pays off one’s current lien(s) or mortgage(s), there are no more monthly payments.

Minnesota borrower, Dave said he did the reverse mortgage “to remove a monthly payment from my budget.” Adding, “A reverse mortgage means I’ll have a place to live even in case of serious illness.”

So don’t dismiss the reverse mortgage thinking you don’t have enough equity. Consider the option and see if there is a way that the reverse mortgage may benefit you.

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Why are you so afraid of reverse mortgages?

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

I had a call the other day from a daughter who was inquiring about helping her mom who owns her home but is currently in a nursing home. When I mentioned “reverse mortgage” she stated, “I don’t want her to get a reverse mortgage.” Before I could even get a better understanding of the circumstances to see if a reverse mortgage was even an option the conversation ended. With her mind already made up that reverse mortgages “are bad” she obviously didn’t even want the facts.

When a home health care aid, financial advisor, attorney or other professional suggest a reverse mortgage they often can see the “wall” go up and the resistance along with the response, “Oh no, I wouldn’t do that.”

Comments on articles and Blogs or in discussions show lack of information and belief of the misinformation about reverse mortgages. As I have often stated and posted in my Blog, there are many misconceptions about reverse mortgages. So why are you judging them and afraid to get the facts from an expert?

I’ve had seniors tell me that their friends have said they shouldn’t do a reverse mortgage. When I’ve asked them “Why?” the response I receive is “We’ve heard bad things about them.” “They are a scam.” But when I ask what those were or why they think this, they have no response – no real documentation or knowledge of what is bad about reverse mortgages or why they think they are a scam. It is all based on fear and misinformation.

Are you afraid to go to the doctor when treatment can make a difference for a health condition? Are you afraid to go to an accountant or attorney when they can help your circumstances? Why are you afraid of a reverse mortgage when it could make a difference in your life?

Edna explains her experience with the reverse mortgage with this statement: “After retiring I found that my income was too little for the active life I was used to, with trips to family, and a modest vacation each year. But bills were piling up and I needed a real solution if I was to stay in my home! I turned to Beth Paterson for information and was very pleased to learn there were still good choices for my situation and I could stay in my pleasant home avoiding a move! Beth your help was great! My children thank you for the time you took to explain things for them as well. I have my dignity and security back again. What a relief!”

Maybe your fear is based on the unknown. Maybe it’s based on misstatements you’ve heard. You don’t have to be afraid of reverse mortgages! Let’s look at the facts to ease your fears:

A reverse mortgage is a mortgage just like any loan against the home but it has special terms for seniors 62 and older.
The lender or bank does NOT own the home – YOU OWN THE HOME, you keep the title!
There are no income or credit score requirements to qualify.
No monthly payments required.
There is no limitation on how the funds can be used.
More options – Funds can be received in monthly payments structured as needed, line of credit (with a growth rate), lump sum, or a combination of these.
Social Security and Medicare are not affected because it is a loan, not considered income.
Medicaid (Medical in Minnesota) can still be received with the reverse mortgage.
Borrowers can stay in the home as long as it is their primary residence or in the case of a couple as long as one borrower is still in the home as their primary residence. The due date on the mortgage is the youngest borrower’s 150^th birthday.
At the time of sale if the home is sold for more than the loan balance, the borrower(s) or their heirs receive the difference. The bank does NOT keep the difference!
The loan is non-recourse which means there is no personal liability to the borrower or their heirs if they are not retaining ownership. So borrowers or their heirs don’t have to come up with the difference if the loan balance is higher than what the home is be sold for as long as they are not retaining ownership. Borrowers are not leaving a debt to their children.
Just like any mortgage, borrowers still have the title and are responsible for property taxes and insurance, association dues (if applicable), maintaining the property and abiding by the terms of the loan.
A reverse mortgage is a mortgage just like any other mortgage where the borrower is using the equity of their home to meet their needs and desires now.
As borrowers use the funds/equity and are not making monthly payments the loan balance increases meaning because they used the money now, there will be less available when the loan is being repaid. (With a conventional mortgage one is using the equity but making monthly payments which repays the interest and a portion of the principal each month.)
Fees are regulated and only HUD allowed fees are permitted with no mark-ups or junk fees. Even though many times they are considered expensive or high they compare to conventional loans, in fact the difference comes down to the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium. You can see a comparison of the costs in my article, “Reverse Mortgage Costs – High or Mythical?”
FHA offers and insures through HUD the majority of reverse mortgages known as the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM, making it the most highly regulated mortgage available.
HUD insuring the reverse mortgage provides advantages including:
- Guaranteeing the funds are available for you.
- Guaranteeing the lender against default or shortfalls which means the interest rates are lower (currently under 4% on the adjustable rate; 5.56% on the fixed) compared to other mortgages.
- Providing a line of credit growth rate (available only with reverse mortgages).
- Insuring as a reverse mortgage it is a non-recourse (no personal liability) loan.
The HECMs are highly protected. See my Blog article “You Need To know Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Are Highly Protected.”

No other loan has as many advantages, protections or benefits to seniors like the reverse mortgage! So are why are you so afraid of reverse mortgages?

About her reverse mortgage, Corine says, “Having a reverse mortgage has taken some of the fear away that I had for the future. I have more means to meet future needs. My experience with the reverse mortgage was most positive. Beth was wonderful and most informative. Very patient and steadfast. I felt I could really trust her to safe guard my interests.”

Kay has this to say about her reverse mortgage, “Steve was extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. I never felt pressured to make the decision by I am very glad I did it, particularly since the volatility of the stock market pretty much wiped out my IRAs! Thank you so very much.”

If you still have your fears of reverse mortgages after seeing the facts and testimonies of those who have benefited from them, contact us so we can address your concerns and provide you with the facts. You shouldn’t have a fear about reverse mortgages.

Everyone’s situation is different and as you do with an accountant or attorney you discuss your situation and get the facts and potential solutions. As a type of home equity mortgage with special terms for seniors, the facts of reverse mortgages should be received from a reverse mortgage expert to determine if it is right for your situation. At least accept the fact that it could be an option and don’t be afraid of them. A reverse mortgage may just improve your life during your retirement as they have done for hundreds of thousands of seniors.

To help overcome your fears, read more stories on how reverse mortgages made a difference for those who did one:

© 2010 Beth Paterson, Beth’s Reverse Mortgage Blog, 651-762-9648

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Beware Of Reverse Mortgage Misstatements – The Fact Is Reverse Mortgage Lenders Do NOT Own The Home!

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

There are many myths and misconceptions of reverse mortgages! Probably the most flagrant is the misconception that reverse mortgage lenders own the home. I get very frustrated when I constantly see or hear the statements: “You lose ownership of your home.” “The lender will own the home.” and “Good for the lender, bad for the borrower.”

The fact is a reverse mortgage is a mortgage just like any other mortgage where the borrower is using the equity of their home to meet their needs and desires now. As with a conventional mortgage, a reverse mortgage is a method of using the home as collateral to borrow money and a lien is placed against the property. The title remains in the borrowers’ name. The borrower is still responsible for taxes, insurance, maintaining the home, and abiding by the terms of the loan.

The difference between a conventional mortgage and the reverse mortgage:

Terms	Conventional Mortgage	Reverse Mortgage
Retain Title/Own Home	Yes	Yes
Use Home For Collateral	Yes	Yes
Lien Placed Against Property	Yes	Yes
Income Requirements	Yes*	No
Credit Score Requirements	Yes*	No
Monthly Payments Requirements	Yes*	No
Repayment term	15 years, 30 years, etc.*	When home is no longer primary residence or 150^th birthday of borrower
Closing Costs	Origination fee, third party fees, possibly FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium	Origination fee, third party fees, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium
Amount To Be Repaid	Loan Balance	Loan Balance
Non-recourse, there are is no personal liability to the borrower(s) or their heirs as long as they are not retaining ownership	Not an option – full loan balance is due and would be paid from the estate if not from the sale from the home	Yes, the estate would not have to come up with the difference if the loan balance is higher than what the home can be sold for.

*Terms and interest rate is determined by income, assets, credit score, ability to make payments and points.

The reverse mortgage needs to be in first lien position which means any current liens or mortgages must be paid off from the proceeds of the new loan. When refinancing with conventional home equity loans current liens or mortgages must also be paid off. In either situation there needs to be enough equity from the home to pay off any current mortgage.

Sometimes one can take a second mortgage with a conventional mortgage. With a reverse mortgage HUD does not allow a second mortgage. If the reverse mortgage funds are not enough to pay off the current mortgage, the borrower may choose to pay down the difference with their own funds or gifted funds. The intention of HUD is that borrowers are not incurring debt in order to do a reverse mortgage.

When Linda passed away and the loan became due and payable her heirs sold the home, they chose the real estate agent and made the decision of what the listing price would be as well as decided on the acceptable sale price. In this situation the home was sold for more than the loan balance so the remaining equity went to the heirs. The title of the home had remained in Linda’s name with the reverse mortgage, she was able to have funds to meet her needs and the heirs were able to receive the remaining equity.

Dennis took out his reverse mortgage in 2002. When he passed away this year the reverse mortgage loan balance was higher than what the house could be sold for. In his situation the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium covered the difference so his heirs did not have to come up with the difference. Dennis was able retain ownership of his home and to use the equity during his lifetime for his needs and he did not leave a debt to his children.

With either a conventional mortgage or a reverse mortgage borrowers own the home, the title remains in their name and the mortgage is a method of using the home as collateral to borrower money. For seniors there are many advantages to doing a reverse mortgage instead of a conventional mortgage.

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Food For Thought To Fulfill Key Messages of Social Work Month 2010

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

During March we recognize and honor Social Workers for the value they bring to our seniors. In a variety of roles, with their knowledge and experience in providing resources social workers assist our seniors. The National Association of Social Workers provides a list of Key Messages for Social Work Month 2010. These include inspiring to improve lives and assisting with problem solving as well as resolving issues that may negatively impact the community. I’d like to offer some food for thought tying into these messages.

Ninety-three percent of seniors want to remain in their home. They are comfortable living in the home and community with their memories where they raised their children, know the neighbors, are familiar with the grocery store and the pharmacy. They feel safe and warm in their familiar surroundings. With the home as their identity it gives them comfort being in their long time home. So let’s talk about a couple ways to help fulfill the desires of seniors, improve their lives and help them stay in their home and their community.

Read rest of article at Home Instead Senior Care Burnsville or Home Instead Senior Care Hastings

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

You Need To Know Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Are Highly Protected!

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

Legislators, media, some senior advocate groups, and even the general public miss the point that reverse mortgage borrowers are already highly protected. With more protections than with any other loan or financial decision seniors make they still feel more protections are needed. Currently the only reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) which is insured by HUD. HUD has guidelines and requirements to protect seniors. Even when there were proprietary (private) reverse mortgage products, they followed HUD’s guidelines. While there are protections, seniors still have the right to make their own decisions, for better or worse. Let’s discuss these protections.

Third-party counseling is required on all reverse mortgages. Counseling is absolutely mandated with no exceptions and is provided by HUD trained and approved counselors. During the counseling sessions the counselors are required to follow a protocol approved by HUD. Evolving over time, HUD’s counseling guidelines and regulations now require distance between the counselors and lenders. Lenders are required to provide borrowers with a list of 5 local and 5 national counselors without steering borrowers to any specific counselor. Additionally, counselors are restricted from steering to lenders.
- The counselor’s role is to educate about reverse mortgages, explain the allowable fees, and terms of the loan so potential borrowers have an understanding of the reverse mortgage. They also provide other potential options. They counselors are not to make a decision for the borrower on whether they should or should not do the reverse mortgage.

Cross-selling is prohibited. Mortgagee Letter 2008-24 (HUD’s guidelines and requirements) states that a “HECM mortgage originator or any other party that participates in the origination of a FHA insured HECM mortgage shall not participate in, or be associated with, or employ any party that participates in or is associated with, any other financial or insurance activity.” Additionally if a lender or bank has financial departments they must demonstrate to the Secretary of HUD that they have and maintain “firewalls and other safeguards designed to ensure that (i) individuals participating in the origination of a HECM mortgage have no involvement with, or incentive to provide the mortgagor with, any other financial or insurance product; and (ii) the mortgagor shall not be required, directly or indirectly, as a condition of obtaining a mortgage under this section, to purchase any other financial or insurance product.”
- Lenders require mortgage brokers sign forms that they do not sell insurance and do not cross-sell.
- All lenders application packages have disclosures stating that annuities and/or other financial products are not required to be purchased with reverse mortgage funds.

HUD regulates the fees. HUD outlines what lenders and third-parties may charge stating they must be customary and reasonable costs necessary to close the mortgage. Mark-ups are not allowed. You may find HUD guidelines at their website (http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ref/sfhp2-15.cfm) and in Mortgagee Letters 2008-34; 2006-07; 2006-04; 2004-18; 2000-10.

The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) must disclose all fees. RESPA (Real Estate Settlement and Protections Act) requires all fees be disclosed at the time of application, restricts what fees can be changed and for the fees that can be changed borrowers must receive new disclosures.

The Total Annual Loan Costs (TALC) must be disclosed. Providing a comparison of the percent of the costs to the amount received through the loan, this document discloses that the longer one keeps the loan the less expensive it is.

Sample Closing Documents must be provided at the time of application. HUD requires that borrowers must receive the sample closing documents as well as a booklet regarding home equity loans. This gives borrowers time to review the documents they will be signing at closing. They may also have family, trusted friends or their attorney review the documents during the processing.

Disclosures must be provided to borrowers at application. There are a variety of disclosures including:
- Non-borrowing spouse disclosures outlining the risks if a spouse will not be on the loan.
- Taxes and Insurances are the responsibility of the borrower(s).
- Annuities and/or other insurance and financial products are not required with a reverse mortgage.
  - If annuities are being purchased the costs of the annuity are to be included on the TALC.

Three-day Right of Recession. As with any refinance, there is a three-day right of recession giving the borrower(s) time to review and decide whether or not to proceed.

HUD insures and guarantees the funds. As a HUD insured loan the funds are guaranteed to be available to the borrower as long as the borrower(s) abide by the terms of the loan.

Non-recourse loan. Unlike any other loan, the reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan which means there is no personal liability to the borrower or the estate as long as the borrower or their estate is not retaining ownership when the loan is due and payable.

There are guidelines for marketing practices. HUD, The Federal Trade Commission and industry associations review and have cracked down on misleading advertisements.

State licensing and the SAFE Act. Many states require mortgage brokers take test and receive licensing in order to originate loans including reverse mortgages. (Note: FDIC insured banks are exempt from these requirements.) The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) enhances consumer protections including encouraging states to establish minimum standards for licensing and registration of mortgage loan originators. The SAFE Act will establish and maintain a national mortgage licensing system and registry for the residential mortgage industry.

Protected MN Reverse Mortgage Borrowers

When doing other types of mortgages, loans or financial decisions seniors do not have all of these same protections. For example they do not have to go through counseling, have the same disclosures requirements, have regulated fees, are not guaranteed or have the non-recourse clause and often do not require the testing and licensing. Think about these situations that don’t have these same requirements or disclosures:

A reverse mortgage compares to a regular home equity loan in the fact that regardless of age the mortgages are used to finance lifestyle using the home equity. With a forward/conventional loan the funds are taken as a lump sum and can be used however one wishes.

If a senior is selling they have costs associated with sale and receive funds in a lump sum. No one is controlling how they use the remaining equity from the sale of the home. And they have to determine where they are going to live. If they are renting (i.e. regular apartment, independent living, or assisted living) the money may only last for a short period of time and they may still not have funds for future needs.

If the senior (or anyone) does a forward/conventional loan the funds are received in a lump sum. They can do whatever they want with this equity. And they have to make payments which can become difficult for them if “life happens.”

If they win the lottery they have money in a lump sum which can be spent however they wish.

With credit cards seniors (or anyone) are not restricted on how they are used. They can charge for whatever they want. And they then have created debt that has to be paid back on a monthly basis.

When you hear that seniors need to be “protected from the reverse mortgage” remember all these protections and know that seniors doing a reverse mortgage have more protections than any other loan or financial decision they make. As with any decision, especially financial or legal, one should be educated and understand the service or product. And while these protections are in place, the seniors still have a right to decide for themselves on whether the reverse mortgage is right for their situation.

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Reverse Mortgages Come To The Rescue for Senior Homeowners

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

Are you looking for some funds to supplement your retirement? Do you need to modify your home to meet your needs? Are you looking for a way to pay for the home health care you need? Do you have a mortgage and find making the payments is a struggle? Or maybe you want to continue making your trip south during the winter but funds are short to do so.

A reverse mortgage may be your answer. A reverse mortgage is a home equity loan with special terms for senior homeowners 62 and older. Similar to a conventional loan, you own the home and are responsible for taxes, insurance, and the maintenance. The difference, and the benefit to seniors, is there is no income or credit score qualifications and no monthly payments required. It also offers more flexibility on how you can receive the funds including monthly payments, line of credit, lump sum or a combination of these versus a lump sum with a conventional mortgage.

An additional benefit is funds left in the line of credit grow so more funds become available over time. The loan becomes due and payable when the home is no longer the primary residence of the borrowers or on their 150^thbirthday. Another difference and benefit of the reverse mortgage is that the reverse mortgages are non-recourse loans. This means there is no personal liability if the loan balance is higher than what the home can be sold for and the borrower or their estate are not maintaining ownership.

There are no limitations on how you spend the funds. Look at how the reverse mortgage benefited some seniors:

Eliminate Mortgage Payments, Home Upgrades and Line of Credit: Dee and Peter did a reverse mortgage to eliminate their current mortgage payment, take a lump sum for some home upgrades, receive an extra $300 a month in monthly payments to supplement their Social Security, and still have funds in a line of credit for future use.
Maintain Lifestyle: Helen and Harold did a Reverse Mortgage to afford to take their annual trip to Florida during the winter months. They are thankful they are able to maintain their lifestyle.
Not Rely on Children: Nancy had accrued some debt including some credit cards and borrowing from her children. She did a Reverse Mortgage to pay off those debts and to have a line of credit available for future needs. She also enjoyed having some extra cash to purchase some things to fix up her home and to go to lunch with friends on occasion. Because her children had their own expenses and needs, they were relieved that their mother had done the Reverse Mortgage and could live more comfortably without relying on them.
Protect Other Investments: To have extra spending money without having to cash out their CDs or other investments, Jerry and Carol decided to do a Reverse Mortgage. Providing them more freedom and control of their life during retirement.
Purchase a New Home: Marilyn wanted to purchase a new home so she used the Reverse Mortgage rather than a conventional mortgage to finance her new home. This meant she didn’t have mortgage payments to make and provides her a better cash flow during her retirement years.
For more ideas on how seniors used their reverse mortgage funds visit “Meet Our Borrowers” and “Uses of Proceeds” on our Reverse Mortgages SIDAC website.

As with any mortgage loan there are closing costs. The costs of the reverse mortgage are comparable to a conventional mortgage. They include the origination fee, appraisal, title settlement and recording fees. With the FHA HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) reverse mortgage HUD regulates the fees and requires that only the actual cost may be charged to the borrower, they do not allow mark ups such as processing fees. As a FHA loan the fees include the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium – this would be the same if they are doing a conventional FHA loan. When comparing costs side by side to a conventional loan the difference is the up-front FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium. The benefits of FHA insuring the loan include guaranteed funds, a lower interest and the loan being non-recourse as well as regulating the fees. “Reverse Mortgage Closing Costs – High or Mythical” provides a side-by-side comparison.

When considering whether to do a conventional mortgage or a reverse mortgage you must consider if you can even qualify for a conventional mortgage; then if you can make the payments over time. For example, what happens if “life happens,” could you continue making those payments? Would you be stressed trying to pay living expenses, medical bills, or would you be facing foreclosure? These articles can assist you in reviewing what to do: “A Reverse Mortgage Or A Conventional Mortgage? That Is The Question.“or “Is Waiting To Do A Reverse Mortgage The Best Decision?”

When you decide to do a reverse mortgage make sure you work with an originator or loan officer who is FHA licensed, specializes in Reverse Mortgages, has years of experience and knowledge in reverse mortgages in your state, meets the state licensing requirements (for example in MN mortgage brokers need to be individually licensed – even if they are calling you from another state), and are willing to meet with you to review the details, before the application, during the application and at closing. I would caution about working with a lender from another state who is mailing all the documentation, including the application and not “meeting” with you to explain and review what you are signing. Ask for references and find out if they will be there for you even after the loan has closed. If you feel pressured, call another lender. You can find a list of questions to ask an originator at our webite: www.RMSIDAC.com, “Why Choose SIDAC,” “What To Consider When Talking To Lenders.” Or my blog article, “Don’t Let Fear Keep You From a Reverse Mortgage But Know What To Look For In A Lender.”

To ensure that borrowers understand reverse mortgages HUD requires anyone doing a reverse mortgage to complete counseling through a third-party. They will review the program and discuss other options that may be available.

Will the reverse mortgage be the answer to your financial retirement needs? Explore the option, get the facts, know what to look for in a lender, you might find it will benefit you as it has benefited hundreds of thousands of other seniors.

Additional related articles:

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

The Impact Of A Reverse Mortgage On A Community Spouse

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

I want to provide the facts on a comment I received regarding a reverse mortgage for a couple where one is considered a community spouse, i.e. one living in the community and the other is not and receiving Medicaid assistance. This person stated that if a reverse mortgage was put in place for a couple to provide the money for the expenses where one needs more in home care than the spouse can give, then after the ill person passes away, the remaining “community spouse” would have no or little money AND no place to live.

In reality, the reverse mortgage is a great tool for keeping seniors in their homes and paying for home care whether a single person or as a couple. An additional benefit for them is the reverse mortgage is not considered income so the borrowers may still receive public benefits such as Medicaid or other county benefits in addition to the reverse mortgage. They can also receive VA benefits if they qualify. Depending on the circumstances, Medicaid could cover the home care costs, the reverse mortgage could be used for things not covered by Medicaid and for the needs of the community spouse, i.e. maintaining the home, paying taxes, insurance, auto expenses, groceries, etc.

With both names on title, when the ill person passes away the community spouse would still have a place to live as they can stay in the home because the loan is not due and payable until the home is no longer their primary residence or on the 150th birthday of the youngest borrower. This means they can still have a roof over their head without having to make monthly mortgage or rent payments.

In fact the reverse mortgage can provide funds for more care than selling and moving into senior housing. When one sells, the net proceeds would be used to pay rent in senior housing as well as for home care whereas when staying in ones’ home the expense is lower, there is no rent payment and they would have a roof over their head. One of my Blog articles, “Be Educated About Your Options of Care And Financing The Care,” compares the differences of costs of selling and moving to staying in the home with a reverse mortgage and receiving home care.

Let me share the story of my clients, Bob and Jean. Jean had some memory loss issues so she was in a memory care Assisted Living facility. At the recommendation of their Elder Law Attorney Bob decided to do the reverse mortgage to pay for Jean’s rent and care. Jean was living in a private pay facility so the reverse mortgage allowed her to remain in the same place and not have her rely on government funding. The reverse mortgage provided them the control and choice of where Jean would live. The reverse mortgage also freed up some cash flow for Bob as the community spouse since Jean’s care was no longer coming from his Social Security or pension.

Reverse Mortgage Benefits MN Community Spouse

When Jean passed away the reverse mortgage funds were no longer needed for her care so there was more funds were available for Bob’s use. When Bob needed some additional care assistance of his own the reverse mortgage funds were used for his home care needs. Bob was able to have funds and live in his home until his death several years after the reverse mortgage was originated. This couple received what everyone of us desires: their desired security (having a place to live), independence (not relying on others), dignity (they could make their own decisions), and control (deciding where they were to live).

Experienced reverse mortgage originators along with a team of an Elder Law Attorney, care manager, and home care agency who is familiar with reverse mortgages can to help determine what is right for a senior’s situation especially when they may need home care or the decision of when one may need a care center.

The reverse mortgage can be a lifesaver for seniors even as a community spouse. Through the years I’ve been fortunate to help many seniors in these circumstances providing them with security, independence, dignity, and control.

Review these additional articles for facts and how reverse mortgages have benefited seniors:

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

The Misconceptions of Reverse Mortgages Abound… What Do You Know?

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Beth Paterson, CRMP

MN Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Learned The Facts

As those of us who specialize in reverse mortgages know, there are more misconceptions about reverse mortgages than knowledge of the facts. Let me clarify the facts for you. First, a reverse mortgage is a mortgage just like any other mortgage but has special terms for seniors 62 and older.

Like any other mortgage the borrower owns the home, keeps the title, is responsible for paying the taxes, insurance and maintaining the home as well as abiding by the terms of the loan. The initial difference between conventional mortgages and reverse mortgages is in the qualifying, with the fact that there are no income or credit score qualifications and no monthly payments required.

Closing costs are comparable to conventional loans – the difference is the FHA mortgage insurance. See a side-by-side comparison at my blog post, “Reverse Mortgage Closing Costs – High or Mythical?”

Income, assets, credit and risk is used to determine the interest rate on a conventional mortgage. When you’re a senior on a fixed income the interest will be higher. Whereas with the reverse mortgage the interest rate is historically lower than conventional mortgages. While the interest rate will vary from the program chosen and the time of closing, the interest rate is the same for all seniors – it doesn’t matter if you are receiving only Social Security or also receiving pension and/or still working and earning an income and don’t have any additional assets. Currently the interest rate is under 3.5% for the adjustable rate and 5.56% for the fixed rate.

Reverse mortgage loan balance increases over time because borrowers are not making payments. Often criticized because the loan balance will be higher in the end, you need to keep in mind that borrowers have access to these funds without making payments. Yes, the interest, servicing fee and FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums are being added over time but have you added together what you have paid in interest payments? You’ll find that if you weren’t making payments they too would look high. Essentially the borrower is also borrowing these fees each month.

The amount loaned from the reverse mortgage is based on the home value, Expected Interest Rate (used only for this purpose – not the interest accruing on the loan) and the age of the youngest borrower. The older one is the more they can access. This is determined by a formula set by HUD and the margin generally set by Fannie Mae or Ginne Mae.

An advantage of the reverse mortgage for seniors is they can use the equity in their home for their needs or wants, whatever those may be up to the maximum allowed by the loan. Seniors often take advantage of this fact and the reverse mortgage helps them stay in their home as long as they desire or until their death. To read about how some have used their reverse mortgage proceeds click here.

Reverse mortgage funds can be received in a lump sum, monthly payments, line of credit or a combination of these. Unlike any other line of credit, the funds left in the line of credit grow so more funds become available in the future. Monthly payments can be structured as tenure (for life) or in a monthly amount desired. In essence, over time the senior can be borrowing more than the home value that was determined at the time of closing.

The reverse mortgage loan becomes due and payable when the home is no longer the primary residence of the borrower(s) or on their 150^th birthday. As with a conventional loan the borrowers can decide to stay in their home or to sell when they desire.

The borrower or the estate communicating with the servicing company is crucial when the home is no longer the primary residence of the borrower. HUD insures most reverse mortgage loans so their terms must be followed by the borrowers and the servicing companies.

Once the loan is closed funds are guaranteed to be available for the borrowers based on the home value at the time of closing. The lender cannot decide to lower how much one can access in the future or call the loan due and payable as long as the terms of the loan are being abided by.

Yes, in a down market the home values have dropped. The advantage of the reverse mortgage for the seniors who took one out when the market had higher home values is the seniors could access more funds that were/are guaranteed to be there for them.

As a non-recourse loan, the reverse mortgage is repaid only from the property when it is sold, there is no personal liability to the borrower or their estate as long as they are not retaining ownership. A huge advantage for seniors – they do not leave a debt to their heirs.

With a conventional mortgage the borrower or their estate could still be responsible for paying back the full value of the loan whereas with the reverse mortgage the lender is only paid back from the sale the home as long as the borrower or their heirs are not retaining ownership.

And another important factor is if the loan balance is less than what the home can be sold for the borrower or the heirs keep the difference.

Satisfied MN Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Who Reviewed Documents

It is a requirement that when doing a reverse mortgage sample closing documents are to be left (or provided within 3 days) at the time application. This gives the borrowers time to review the terms, have them reviewed with their family, advisors or an attorney. Having the time to review these during the processing of the loan provides an opportunity to get the facts and terms of the reverse mortgage. Reviewing these should help dispel the many misconceptions there are about reverse mortgages.

Once understood, seniors find the reverse mortgage very favorable. As one of my clients, Jim, wrote: “The Reverse Mortgage enables us to live in our home without mortgage payments. Line of credit will grow for our future needs. The whole package is a win-win for my wife and me.”

Review these articles for another look at the facts:

Blog posts’ information is current as of date post published, program is subject to change in in the future. Contact us for current information, 651-762-9648.

This site or the information provided is not from, or approved by, HUD, FHA, or any US Government or Agency.

Minnesota Reverse Mortgages SIDAC

Minnesota Reverse Mortgage Information, Facts and News from the Experts Excelling in Service

Tag Archives: Reverse Mortgage Benefits

Why Be Embarrassed To Do A Reverse Mortgage?

Beware Of Reverse Mortgage Misstatements – The Fact Is Reverse Mortgage Lenders Do NOT Own The Home!

You Need To Know Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Are Highly Protected!

Reverse Mortgages Come To The Rescue for Senior Homeowners

The Impact Of A Reverse Mortgage On A Community Spouse

The Misconceptions of Reverse Mortgages Abound… What Do You Know?