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.