Posts Tagged ‘reverse mortgage’

A Mortgage Buy Down Program Right For You?

A mortgage buy down program or reverse mortgage may be an acceptable option for someone living on a fixed income who has no other means to earn money to pay for their current expenses.

Many financial experts agree that mortgage buy down programs are a bad investment, but I believe for some it may be an acceptable option. Buy down programs allow you to take advantage of the equity you have built up in your home and provide yourself a steady monthly income. You get a monthly payment sent to you each month until you have no equity left in your home.

The MAJOR downside to this program is in the end the mortgage company will own your home. Typically you will not have to give up your home while you are still living, but when you die the home basically goes back to the mortgage company.

As stated above this type of program can be an acceptable option if you have no other means to generate income and you don’t care what happens to your home when you die. If you have put everything you own into your home over the years and it’s basically all you have then you can view this type of reverse mortgage as something similar to your retirement program.

Again, I tend to lean toward the side stating that mortgage buy down programs are a bad investment and you should never plan to use this type of program as a retirement plan especially if you are young and still working. Take full advantage of your working years and put away plenty of money for your retirement years. Use a mortgage buy down as a last resort option for getting cash!

Negative Amortization Mortgage Loan Information

A negative amortization mortgage loan or NegAm as it is sometimes refered to is basically when aloan payment for any period not enough to cover the interest charged over that period of time. This causes the outstanding balance on the loan to increase instead of decrease with each payment made. This type of loan is most often used as a mortgage loan by a corporation, and are sometimes referred to as PIK loans. Negative amortization mortgage loans usually only have this negative amortization schedule as an introductory period and once it expires a larger payment must be made in order to avoid default on the loan.

The purpose these types of loans are usually for advanced cash management or short-term payment flexibility. Negative amortization mortgage loans are not set up or desigend to make a mortgage more affordable. Usually the introductary negative amortization period is no more than 5 years and at this time the loan must be “recast” or setup on a fully normal amortization schedule.

Reverse Mortgage Loan Information

A reverse mortgage is a mortgage loan or lien against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. It’s similar to a home equity loan in the fact that you are taking equity out of your home in the form of cash. You can get the cash out from a reverse mortgage in several different ways:

• a single lump sum of cash paid at closing;
• a regular monthly payment made to you in the form of a cash advance;
• A credit line somewhat like a HELOC;
• Or a combination of any or all of these;

Pros of a Reverse Mortgage

• No Credit Check;
• No income needed;
• Can’t lose your home because you miss payments;
• You never have to repay the loan;

Cons of a Reverse Mortgage

• Create debt against your home and decreased equity in your home;
• Additional fees on top of normal closing costs;
• You have to completely own your home;
• You have to be at least 62 years of age to do this;

When should you consider a reverse mortgage? If you are not facing a financial emergency now, then consider postponing a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages are a very expensive way to get cash. Most lenders tack on additional fees on top of normal closing costs. The fees can be as much as 4% of the loan on top of normal closing costs.

Before you decide to opt for a reverse mortgage make sure you understand all the details. Do your homework and make sure you understand exactly what you are doing.