Real Estate, Finance and Home Articles of Interest


Understand how to qualify for a reverse mortgage

by stephen bis

The income from a Reverse Mortgage can be applied to many things. Finding out how much money you get from the loan is based on 5 different points, as follows:

1. To find out what the home is worth is determined by the assessment of the home(commonly referred to as an appraisal) which includes any repairs , health or securityconcerns, as well as any liens that may be on the house. All of this will be figured out through the appraisal procedure.

2. The age of the senior is also critically important. In the USA you must be 62 years of age or older to qualify for a Reverse Mortgage.

3. The type of way you decide to receive your payment is also crucial. You may take the money you will obtain as a line of credit,a single lump sum or as a monthly payment. With an conventional line of credit you will maximize the money you receive. If you are trying to use the money ASAP, then it might be the lump sum method you opt for. Being paid a lump sum will capitalize on the APR at its uppermost level. The monthly installment are arranged so that each month you will be getting paid. This means that you will be getting payments for the rest of your existence, and no matter how long you live, you will always be getting paid. (Many finance gurus call this a "Tenure")

4. The APR is also a decisive factor. The LIBOR Index or the U.S. Treasury T-Bill, determines interest rates for the Reverse Mortgage plan.

5. The locality of the real estate is also important because the loan limits change from county to county. These numbers vary according to the maximum loan amount. It is smart to check the maximum loan limit every once and a while because they may increase. If the loan limit does go up, then you can refinance your Reverse Mortgage and possibly, receive a larger loan amount.

After you surpass the 5 criteria's, deciding where your earnings go to can be a big decision. Investing the proceeds is one way to go. Some elderly need the money for personal bills. Even forms of healthcare, such as an operation ,medical prescriptions or in home care. You should buy life insurance so you can leave your family an inheritance. There are many options in the way you can use the earnings you receive from the Reverse Mortgage program. The one issue that the senior has to maintain is thereal estate. If the property is not maintained and the lender finds this out, then the senior might be in danger of forfeiting the remains of the loan or even be greatly penalized.

For a very good source of information check out Florida Premium Reverse Mortgage

Steve Bis is a debt analyst with the US Consumer Advocate, which practices debt settlement.

Published June 30th, 2008

Filed in Real Estate