Pros And Cons Of Reverse Mortgage

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These days you can hardly turn on the TV or radio and NOT hear an advertisement for reverse mortgages. But, while the ads make reverse mortgages sound ideal for every homeowner, there are things you should be aware of.
Like a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage is a loan made by a lender to a homeowner using the property as collateral. You are essentially borrowing against the equity in your home and you get a line of credit or a fixed monthly income. No repayment of the mortgage is required until you sell the home, move out, or pass away.
Again, this sounds like a no-brainer to many people but before you jump into this option, it’s important that you understand how these mortgages work. The following reverse mortgage information will help you decide whether …show more content…

When you move, sell the home or pass away, the lender sells your property to recoup the money that was paid you. After lender fees have been paid, any equity that remains in the home goes to your heirs and, if you receive more payments than your home is actually worth, the Federal Trade Commission mandates you will never owe more than the actual value.
Reverse Mortgage Rules
It is not as easy as it once was to secure a reverse mortgage. In April 2015, a new rule was put into effect which requires borrowers to pass a financial assessment before they can be approved. This new rule is meant to show the borrower’s ability to continue to pay property taxes and insurance premiums and prevent loan defaults.
Borrowers who don 't meet the financial requirements have the option of setting aside money from the loan to pay the property taxes and insurance premiums. While this sounds good, there is a formula which calculates how much will be set aside for these expenses. They can end up being very large and, in the end, may make the loan impractical for some

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