Uncovering Reverse Mortgage Myths & Misconceptions

Have you been considering a reverse mortgage but are just afraid of some of the negative things you've heard? There are some negative myths that senior borrowers have heard about this type of financing that simply aren't true and we're going to expose some of those here.

Myth #1 The Lender gets my house. This is not true. You own your home and the lender records a lien, just like a forward mortgage. The difference is that instead of borrowing money and then making monthly payments on the money, the lender gives you money against the equity in your home either all up front, in monthly payments, as a line of credit you can use when you want, or all of the above. You make no monthly payments and the interest accrues until the loan is paid in full. When you sell the home, stop living in it as your primary residence or the last borrower on the mortgage passes, the loan and all interest becomes due and payable (there are also some second home programs available). You (or your designated heirs upon your passing) retain title to your property.

Myth #2 I don't have good enough credit to get a loan. There is almost no credit qualification for a reverse mortgage. On the government Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM, the only requirement is that you cannot be delinquent on a federal obligation such as an FHA loan, Federally Insured Student Loan, Federally Insured SBA Loan etc. If you have declared bankruptcy, you are still eligible for a HECM reverse mortgage. If you are currently on a bankruptcy payment plan, you can still qualify if you have a history of 12 months or more of making the plan payment. You can even get a reverse mortgage if you are currently in foreclosure!

Myth #3 My house has to be paid in full to get a reverse mortgage. Some seniors get a reverse mortgage to augment their income and do start with homes that are paid in full or have loans with very small balances, but some seniors take a reverse mortgage just so that they can pay off their existing financing and never make another loan payment for life. In fact, some loans go to people who bring in cash to close the loan, just to stop all payments for life.

Myth #4 A reverse mortgage will affect my social security benefits. Reverse mortgages do not affect a senior's social security benefits. We recommend that seniors consult with a trusted financial advisor because need-based programs such as Medicaid, can be affected if the reverse mortgage is not administered correctly. However, retirement programs, social security and taxes are not affected and this should not stop seniors from getting the help they need to stay at home if that is what they desire.

The Difference Between Traditional and Reverse Mortgages

Because most people work on hectic programs, they don’t have time for vacations and they don’t find time to relax properly. Many people prefer to work hard and enjoy years of relaxation once they retire. But with all these plans, people don’t realize that life changes significantly after retirement. Because you stop working, you will have a lot of free time, but remember that you can’t rely on the same monthly income. Once you finish your job, you won’t be able to spend as much money as you want and this can be stressful especially if you have retirement plans. A way to get over these problems is with a reverse mortgage loan. Any senior citizen from the U.S.A. can use the reverse mortgage program.

The reverse mortgage loan first appeared in America twenty years ago and it was created especially for American citizens who are at least 62 years old. Most people use this loan to release the home equity of a property. The loan can be repaid when the person moves into another house or when he dies and the house is sold. The reverse mortgage loan is very popular and it gives senior citizens the possibility to live their lives however they want to.

There are some major differences between traditional mortgage loans and reverse mortgage loans. On of them is that almost anyone can get a mortgage loan but you must be over 62 years old if you want a reverse mortgage loan. Also, if you get a reverse mortgage loan you can still live in your house and this is not possible with traditional mortgage loans. If you have a normal mortgage loan you need to pay a certain amount of money each month, but if you have a reverse mortgage loan you don’t have to pay anything. The option of getting this kind of mortgage appeared in the last few decades, but in the last years it became more and more popular among senior citizens.

There are a few requirements for getting a reverse mortgage loan, but the main rule is that you have to be at least 62 years old. Another key condition is that you have to have your own house. After a few legal procedures you will be able to receive your loan. A reverse mortgage loan offers financial security to people in retirement.

Everyone has plans for retirement, but no all people can afford them. The best way to enjoy your retirement is to take a reverse mortgage loan. You will have enough money to take that trip that you always wanted and if you sell the house the loan will be paid. The best thing about these loans is that you don’t have to pay any monthly fee. If you are a senior citizen and you want a loan, you should find a reverse mortgage [http://www.myreversemortgagepro.com/] company and enjoy the benefits of the program. You can also hire reverse mortgage counselors to help you with your decision. They can also tell you how much money you can receive, depending on the value of your house. If you know that this is what you need, you can search through the offers of hundreds of companies that offer reverse mortgages for senior citizens. Some companies also have websites so you can check them from your own home, if you have a basic internet connection.

Mortgage Debt Elimination in 5 to 7 years!

Mortgage Debt Elimination shows that most home loan debts will be secured. Secured debts usually are tied to an asset, like your house for a mortgage. If you stop making payments, lenders can foreclose on your house.

Unsecured debts are not tied to any asset, and include most credit card debt, bills for medical care, signature loans, and debts for other types of services.

If you fall behind on your mortgage, you must contact your lender immediately to avoid foreclosure, don't wait 2 or 3 months. Most lenders are willing to work with you if they believe you're acting in good faith and the situation is temporary, please tell the truth.

Some lenders may reduce or suspend your payments for a short time, mortgage debt elimination shows you that when you resume regular payments, you will only have to pay an small additional amount toward the past due total.

Other lenders may agree to change the terms of the mortgage by extending the repayment period to reduce the monthly debt. Ask whether additional fees would be assessed for these changes, and calculate how much they total in the long term.

If you and your lender cannot work out a plan, contact a housing counseling agency. Some agencies limit their counseling services to homeowners with FHA mortgages, but many offer free mortgage debt advice to any homeowner who's having trouble making mortgage payments.

Call the local office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the housing authority in your state, city, or county for help in finding a legitimate housing counseling agency near you.

The prospect of debt elimination is something that many Americans are dealing with today. If you are concerned about your current debt situation, constantly trying to eliminate debt from your life, you are not alone.

In fact, over half of all American households have trouble meeting their minimum monthly obligations, driving them further and further into debt.

Interest on the average home mortgage will cost the homeowner nearly TWO TIMES the cost of the home.

If you were to purchase a $150,000 home with a $120,000 mortgage (80%), and you paid an interest rate of 9% for 30 years, you will have paid over $227,500 just in interest (in addition to the original $120,000). That's nearly two times the cost of the home!

Without mortgage debt elimination, you can pay-off your home, credit cards, car loans and other debts the slow, old-fashioned way and maybe end up with a few thousand dollars saved for your retirement years...or you can stop living Pay-Check to Pay-Check. Starting Today!

NOW! Imagine what you will feel like, when you wake up one morning and absolutely know that all of your debts have been eliminated, and you Now Own Your House, mortgage debt elimination shows you how.

Know Your Rights About Debt Collection Abuse

If you are behind on paying your bills, or you have fallen into a situation where a debt collector has started to contact you, then it is important to know your rights to avoid debt collection abuse.

Debt collectors are bound by the rules and regulations of the FDCPA or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This act states that collectors cannot use abusive, unfair or deceiving practices in their attempt to collect money. This act governs anyone that collects money that is owed on a regular basis. This would include collection agencies, lawyers that regularly collect debts, and companies that buy debts.

The FDCPA covers debts that are considered personal debts. This would include things like credit card debt, a mortgage, or medical bills. The act does not cover any debt that was a result of a business venture or business expenses.

There are rules for debt collectors about when they can contact you, and it is important to know and understand these. They may only contact you during convenient times which are after eight in the morning and before nine o'clock at night. They also may not contact you at work if you serve them with a written or verbal notice.

Debt collectors have a job to do, but often times people want to know if there is a way to keep them from contacting them altogether. The only way to do this is by drafting a letter and sending it directly to the debt collector. The letter needs to be sent by certified mail, and you should get some sort of receipt to prove the collector got the letter.

You are still responsible for the debt owed, but the collector should not have any more contact with you. They are allowed to make contact one more time to inform you of any action that a creditor might be taking against you.

There are certain practices that are off limits for debt collectors. The more you understand these, the better chance you have of stopping a collector from using them on you. 

• Collectors are not allowed to harass you in any way.
• They cannot make any threats, or repeatedly call you to get on your nerves.
• They also are not allowed to make any false statements.
• They cannot misrepresent themselves or the amount of money that you owe. Collectors are also not allowed to tell you that you will be arrested or talk about any legal action that might result from you not paying your debts.

If you feel that a debt collector has violated any of the practices that are outlined in the FDCPA, then you need to report it to the Attorney General's office or the FTC. You have one year from the date of the occurrence to file any complaints.

What Type Of Mortgage Loan Is Right For You?

Homebuyers and homeowners need to decide which home Mortgage loan is right for them. Then, the next step in getting a mortgage loan is to submit an application ( Uniform Residential Loan Application ). Although we try to make the loan simple and easy for you, getting a mortgage loan is not an insignificant process.

Below is a short synopsis of some loan types that are currently available.

CONVENTIONAL OR CONFORMING MORTGAGE Loans are the most common types of mortgages. These include a fixed rate mortgage loan which is the most commonly sought of the various loan programs. If your mortgage loan is conforming, you will likely have an easier time finding a lender than if the loan is non-conforming. For conforming mortgage loans, it does not matter whether the mortgage loan is an adjustable rate mortgage or a fixed-rate loan. We find that more borrowers are choosing fixed mortgage rate than other loan products.

Conventional mortgage loans come with several lives. The most common life or term of a

mortgage loan is 30 years. The one major benefit of a 30 year home mortgage loan is that one pays lower monthly payments over its life. 30 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. A 15 year mortgage loan is usually the least expensive way to go, but only for those who can afford the larger monthly payments. 15 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. Remember that you will pay more interest on a 30 year loan, but your monthly payments are lower. For 15 year mortgage loans your monthly payments are higher, but you pay more principal and less interest. New 40 year mortgage loans are available and are some of the the newest programs used to finance a residential purchase. 40 year mortgage loans are available in both Conventional and Jumbo. If you are a 40 year mortgage borrower, you can expect to pay more interest over the life of the loan.

A Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan is a type of loan where the interest rate remains fixed

over life of the loan. Whereas a Variable Rate Mortgage will fluctuate over the life

of the loan. More specifically the Adjustable-Rate Mortgage loan is a loan that has a

fluctuating interest rate. First time homebuyers may take a risk on a variable rate for qualification purposes, but this should be refinanced to a fixed rate as soon as possible.

A Balloon Mortgage loan is a short-term loan that contains some risk for the borrower. Balloon mortgages can help you get into a mortgage loan, but again should be financed into a more reliable or stable payment product as soon as financially feasible. The Balloon Mortgage should be well thought out with a plan in place when getting this product. For example, you may plan on being in the home for only three years.

Despite the bad rap Sub-Prime Mortgage loans are getting as of late, the market for this kind of mortgage loan is still active, viable and necessary. Subprime loans will be here for the duration, but because they are not government backed, stricter approval requirements will most likely occur.

Refinance Mortgage loans are popular and can help to increase your monthly disposable income. But more importantly, you should refinance only when you are looking to lower the interest rate of your mortgage. The loan process for refinancing your mortgage loan is easier and faster then when you received the first loan to purchase your home. Because closing costs and points are collected each and every time a mortgage loan is closed, it is generally not a good idea to refinance often. Wait, but stay regularly informed on the interest rates and when they are attractive enough, do it and act fast to lock the rate.

A Fixed Rate Second Mortgage loan is perfect for those financial moments such as home improvements, college tuition, or other large expenses. A Second Mortgage loan is a mortgage granted only when there is a first mortgage registered against the property. This Second Mortgage loan is one that is secured by the equity in your home. Typically, you can expect the interest rate on the second mortgage loan to be higher than the interest rate of the first loan.

An Interest Only Mortgage loan is not the right choice for everyone, but it can be very effective choice for some individuals. This is yet another loan that must be thought out carefully. Consider the amount of time that you will be in the home. You take a calculated risk that property values will increase by the time you sell and this is your monies or capital gain for your next home purchase. If plans change and you end up staying in the home longer, consider a strategy that includes a new mortgage. Again pay attention to the rates.

A Reverse mortgage loan is designed for people that are 62 years of age or older and already have a mortgage. The reverse mortgage loan is based mostly on the equity in the home. This loan type provides you a monthly income, but you are reducing your equity ownership. This is a very attractive loan product and should be seriously considered by all who qualify. It can make the twilight years more manageable.

The easiest way to qualify for a Poor Credit Mortgage loan or Bad Credit Mortgage loan is to fill out a two minute loan application. By far the easiest way to qualify for any home mortgage loan is by establishing a good credit history. Another loan vehicle available is a Bad Credit Re-Mortgage loan product and basically it's for refinancing your current loan.

Another factor when considering applying for a mortgage loan is the rate lock-in. We discuss this at length in our mortgage loan primer. Remember that getting the right mortgage loan is getting the keys to your new home. It can sometimes be difficult to determine which mortgage loan is applicable to you. How do you know which mortgage loan is right for you? In short, when considering what mortgage loan is right for you, your personal financial situation needs to be considered in full detail. Complete that first step, fill out an application, and you are on your way!.