|
Frequently Asked
Questions Q.
What is a “reverse” mortgage?
A. A reverse mortgage makes a
percentage of the equity in your home available to you
as monthly income or lump-sum cash, BOTH TAX FREE. NO PAYMENT is required for as long as you
live and maintain the home as your primary
residence.
Q. Who is eligible for a
reverse mortgage? A. Seniors (age 62+) who
own their home can apply for a reverse mortgage. There
are NO complicated credit requirements and NO income requirements.
Q. How much money can I get?
A.
The amount available to you is determined by a
formula using your age, home value, and current interest
rates. Generally speaking, the higher the age, the
higher the value of the home, and the lower the level of
interest rates, the more money is available.
Q. Is there more than one reverse
mortgage? A. Yes, there are
many choices.
The overwhelming majority of reverse mortgages issued
are the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) “Home
Equity Conversion Mortgage” (HECM). They are
federally insured and come in three versions, the monthly
adjustable version, the annually adjustable
version or the fixed rate version. “FannieMae” (FNMA) offers the “Home
Keeper” reverse mortgage. There are many
proprietary programs for higher valued homes.
Q.
Will I have any tax liability for the reverse
mortgage proceeds? A. Proceeds received
from a reverse mortgage are loan advances and not
treated as taxable income. For your specific situation,
we recommend that you consult your tax advisor.
Q. How safe are FHA insured reverse
mortgages? A. They are TOTALLY SAFE. You or your heirs retain ALL ownership rights. The
lender NEVER owns your home. It is impossible to
fall behind on payments because there are none to make.
And reverse mortgages are “non-recourse” mortgages
so a debt CANNOT be passed to your heirs as a result of
doing an FHA insured reverse mortgage.
Q. Can a person ever loose their home?
A. NEVER. As long as the home
remains the borrower’s primary residence, and like a
traditional mortgage or home equity loan, you keep home
insurance and tax payments current.
Q.
Who gets my home after my death?
A.
Your estate does. Your heirs have the CHOICE
of keeping or selling the house. If they decide to
sell the home, the proceeds of the sale would be used to
repay the mortgage, with the remainder going to your
heirs.
Q. Is there any impact on my
Income Tax or my Social Security benefits?
A.
NO. Money from a reverse mortgage is not
treated as income, nor does it affect Social Security. Homeowners
on SSI or Medicaid should observe pertinent rules.
Q. This sounds good. How
can I take a look at my specific situation?
A. You can evaluate the different reverse
mortgages with a no-cost, no-obligation computerized
comparison of the available plans by calling the Toll
Free number at the top of this page. O Click on the Get
Free DVD button or logo above.
Q.
Please tell me about
your company. A. Our entire focus is
meeting the reverse mortgage needs of our senior clientele with
professionalism, sensitivity and respect.
We are here to provide
you with the information you need to make an informed decision |