Why move? How a reverse mortgage can help you “Age in Place” | Part 1

17Feb

Packing house

Why Move? How a Reverse Mortgage Can Help You “Age In Place” / Part 1 Aging in place. It’s a relatively new term for a very old concept: remaining in your own home as you grow older. Once upon a time, this wasn’t an issue. Extended families ensured that someone would be available to look ...

Don’t Be Fooled about Refinancing

18Oct

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There was a real surprise in the announcement HUD published last month regarding changes it is making to the government insured reverse mortgage, known as HECMs.  While it generally decreased gross proceeds (i.e., the amount borrowers are eligible to receive) for all ages at all expected interest rates, it also unexpectedly increased them for some ...

Reverse Mortgage Changing – Part 1

14Aug

seniors3

As a leading independent news source for the senior community, RMinfo.com wants to help consumers understand changes to reverse mortgages including those coming September 11th, October 1st, and January 1, 2011.  The focus in this article is on changes taking place September 11, 2010 to counseling for the federal government insured reverse mortgage, called the ...

Reverse Mortgages- Changes are Coming…..

20Jul

senior3

RMinfo: What are the changes quickly coming upon us? Jim: If any reader is sitting on the fence thinking about when is the right time to get a reverse mortgage, we believe the changes we will be seeing on October 1 will make that decision much easier but will require action right away. Right now ...

Update – Reverse Mortgage Costs are Lowered

27Jun

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RMinfo.com: Please tell us why you “stopped the presses”? Jim: Starting as of March 17, 2010, Security One Lending (S1L), Inc. announced that it dropped monthly servicing fee charges on all new fixed rate HECMs.  The result is more cash upfront to borrowers.  Currently this could make a difference of about $1,000 for the oldest ...

The Reverse Mortgage Explained

25Jun

seniors2

RMinfo.com: Jim, can you please give a brief overview of the reverse mortgage program? Jim: My pleasure. First off, reverse mortgages present an excellent opportunity for homeowners over 62 to stop mortgage payments, obtain cash, and improve their quality of life. They can turn a portion of home equity into cash without monthly payments of ...

Update – Lower Upfront Costs Mean the time is Right

25Jun

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RMinfo.com:  Please tell us about reduced cost HECMs? Jim:  Many lenders have recently announced that they are dropping monthly servicing fees on all new fixed rate HECMs.  The result is more cash upfront to borrowers.  Currently this could make a difference of about $1,000 for the oldest borrowers to about $5,400 for the youngest.  (These ...

Update – FHA Reduces Proceeds

25Jun

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RMinfo.com: What is the flurry of activity over HECMs about now? Jim: With no legislative mandate, late September 23, 2009, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) posted Mortgage Letter 2009-34 notifying lenders that after September 30, 2009, FHA will not insure reverse mortgages unless principal limits (PL, i.e. gross maximum loan proceeds) offered to borrowers are ...

Exchanging Recourse Debt for Nonrecourse with a Reverse Mortgag

25Jun

RMinfo.com: Many people have heard the term nonrecourse used by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in regard to a loan. Jim, what does the FHA mean by nonrecourse? Jim: With nonrecourse loans, the borrower usually secures the amount due with specifically named property. If the borrower fails to repay the debt, the only thing that ...

How & When a Reverse Mortgage Gets Paid Back

25Jun

RMinfo.com: How and when does a HECM get paid back? Jim: A HECM does not become due and payable until the earliest of 1) the home is sold, 2) no borrower lives in the home as a principal residence, 2) all borrowers pass away, 3) the sole surviving borrower is out of the home for ...