A decade ago, most financial advisers would roll their eyes at the mention of reverse mortgages, loans that give homeowners an advance on their home equity and allow them to delay repayment until the home is sold. However, today, some new regulations and ideas about reverse mortgages might be just the solution. See more on […]
Articles
Reverse Mortgages With A Twist
As retirement nears, many older couples consider refinancing their mortgage on their current home. But there may be better financial options. One is the equity conversion mortgage (HECM) for purchase, a type of reverse mortgage. It could allow you to downsize your current home, buy a new one, and eliminate monthly mortgage payments. Read more about the […]
Downsizing for Dollars
Do you know you can change your financial position by downsizing your home? The link below illustrates how you can sell your current home, and then increase your investable assets when you purchase a new one. Read more to find out how you can eliminate monthly mortgage payments and increase cash flow during retirement: Downsizing For […]
Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons for Homeowners
According to the Center for Retirement Research, a reverse mortgage makes sense for people who don’t plan to move, can afford the cost of maintaining their home and want to access the equity in their home to supplement their income. Read more to see the pros and cons of Reverse Mortgages and if they could […]
The Wondrous and Wacky Year Ahead in Gadgets: GreatCall Lively Wearable
Every January, the tech world reveals its most ambitious works in progress at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. One product featured this year was a wearable fitness and safety monitor for seniors called the Lively by GreatCall. Designed to help both seniors and their families, the Lively combines Fitbit-like fitness tracking with […]
Advisors Need a Fresh Look at Reverse Mortgages
In the past, bad press has plagued reverse mortgages. It ranged from either high costs and potentially inappropriate uses for these funds to misguided ideas about the homeowner losing the title to their home. But much has changed in recent years. Since 2013, the federal government, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has […]
Financial Fallout from ‘Gray Divorce’
People over age 50 who go through “gray divorce” have large negative financial consequences at just the wrong time –around retirement . The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. It works like a line of […]
Few Put Finances First When Retiring
When will you retire? Often we think we will retire when we are financially able to. But surprisingly, in reality this is not the case. A recent survey by Fidelity indicated that the majority of pre-retirees don’t think about the financial impact of their retirement timing. But experts agree financial stability is crucial – […]
Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Face New Financial Test
For the first time, borrowers will have to prove they can handle the ongoing property costs to qualify for a reverse mortgage. Homeowners applying for a reverse mortgage will soon have to clear a new hurdle. In the spring, all borrowers will have to prove that they can handle the ongoing costs of the loan. […]
Putting Your Home to Work When You Retire
You finally made it into retirement. But the living isn’t always easy for new retirees. Money may be tight due to the stormy economy, the money you do have must stretch further longer due to longer life expectancies, and health care costs are rising. It is difficult to calculate how long your portfolio will last given […]