A home is a big investment. As you continue to own a home, it builds equity over the years. This article provides a basic guide of reverse mortgages and how they put the power of your home’s equity back in your grasp.
What are reverse mortgages?
A reverse mortgage is a program meant for elders aged 62 and up. It allows them to borrow some of the equity that has built up for their home in the form of a loan. A reverse mortgage lender offers participants to choose a loan type. From there, they can decide if they want a line of credit or lump sum of funding.
How do you qualify for a reverse mortgage loan?
To qualify for a reverse mortgage loan, you have to meet these criteria:
- Owner of the property bust be at least 62 years old
- Home must be completely owned or be mostly paid off
- Must show finances are available to continue paying property taxes
- Property must be the primary residents
Once you’ve qualified and been approved for this kind of loan, it’s then time to decide which loan type you’ll utilize.
Reverse mortgage Types
There are multiple loan types to choose from:
- HECMs or Home equity conversion mortgages can be used for almost anything. They are supported by Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Housing
- Single-Purpose Reverse Mortgages are more affordable. They can be provided by the state and can be used for specific reasons specified by the loan lender.
- Proprietary reverse mortgages are not supported by the government. They come with their own requirements for eligibility. These loans are private and easy to obtain.
Reverse mortgages are helpful for life expenses. Speak with a reverse mortgage lender today to explore your next loan options.
About the Author
Carolyn Andrews
Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.
