Reverse mortgage solutions provide benefits to seniors.
Reverse mortgage solutions are a type of loan that lets homeowners 62 years of age or older borrow against the equity in their home to receive a lump sum cash payment, monthly payments or a line of credit.
A reverse mortgage gets its name from the fact that homeowners receive payments on the proceeds of the loan, rather than making payments toward the payoff of a mortgage.
The value of reverse mortgage solutions is that retirees with limited income can use the wealth that has built up in their homes to cover basic living expenses, the cost of healthcare or any other expenses they may have.
How do reverse mortgages work? In a reverse mortgage, a lending institution agrees to issue a loan that pays you cash. The title to your home is the security on the loan. When you move out of the home, sell it or pass away, the proceeds from the sale of the home are used to repay the loan to the lender.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) products are one of the most common type of reverse mortgage solutions. 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.
ACCC: certified counseling for reverse mortgage solutions
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing credit counseling, housing counseling and other services that help consumers manage debt and make smart financial decisions.
ACCC is an approved provider of counseling for reverse mortgage solutions. ACCC’s Certified Housing Counselors can provide counseling and reverse mortgage info over the phone or in person, and issue the certification necessary to complete a loan once the counseling session has been completed.
Advantages of reverse mortgage solutions
Reverse mortgage solutions offer many benefits for senior homeowners.
- Reverse mortgage solutions provide cash or monthly payments, and no repayment on the loan is due for as long as the homeowner lives in the home.
- The extra money that reverse mortgages provide enables aging homeowners to stay in their homes longer and to maintain their independence and security.
- Each borrower decides how much equity in the home they want to use and how much they want to leave to their heirs.
- The interest rate on reverse mortgage solutions is generally lower than traditional mortgages and home equity loans.
Learn more about reverse mortgage solutions with ACCC, or about ACCC’s home buying seminar that provide first-time and experienced homebuyers with invaluable homebuyer education.