Have you heard about reverse mortgages? You may or may not have heard the right information about it all. Reverse mortgage solutions are a type of loan for homeowners 62 or older to access the equity in their home. Although American Consumer Credit Counseling is a nonprofit credit counseling agency, we also offer reverse mortgage counseling. Let’s explore more about these types of loans and their potential value.
What Are Reverse Mortgage Solutions
Reverse mortgage solutions allow the homeowner to borrow against the equity in their home to receive a lump sum cash payment, monthly payments or a line of credit. Homeowners receive payments on the proceeds of the loan, rather than making payments toward the payoff of a mortgage. Some seniors can find great relief at this access to cash while still living at home. They may need to pay for some of the following with the help of a reverse mortgage:
- Supplementing daily living expenses
- Paying for home care costs
- Covering the cost of home repairs and structural adaptations
- Helping with emergency costs
How Do Reverse Mortgages Work?
So how does it all work? Well, in a reverse mortgage, a bank or other lending institution issues a loan that pays out cash. As a result, the homeowner retains the title to the home, which acts as security for the loan. No repayment of the loan is required until the owners permanently move, sell the home or pass away. Then the proceeds of the sale pay back the reverse mortgage.
One of the most common types of reverse mortgage solutions are Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) products. The name refers to the way the home equity turns into a cash loan from the bank. These loans are issued by private banks and are the only reverse mortgage product insured by the US federal government.
To apply for HECM reverse mortgage solutions, homeowners must complete a counseling session where they receive reverse mortgage information about how the loan works and what the requirements for the loan are. Reverse mortgage counseling must be provided by a federally approved provider.
If a reverse mortgage sounds like something that may fit your needs, call ACCC today for more information at 800-769-3571. If you’re struggling to pay off debt, schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.