Using a Reverse Mortgage

Stephen Lamoreaux shares with us some unique ideas on reverse mortgages and how they are used. Besides creating extra cash for purchases or paying off debt, Steve also discusses using a reverse mortgage to purchase life insurance to replace the equity as an inheritance at death. He also shows how a reverse mortgage can enable a senior to leverage the purchase of long-term care insurance.

For many seniors the equity in their home is their largest single asset, yet it is unavailable to use unless they use a home-equity loan. But a conventional loan really doesn't free up the equity because the money has to be paid back with interest. A reverse mortgage is a risk-free way of tapping into home equity without creating monthly payments and without requiring the money to be paid back during a person's lifetime. Instead of making payments the cash flow is reversed and the senior receives payments from the bank. Thus the title "reverse mortgage". Many seniors are finding they can use a reverse mortgage to pay off an existing conventional mortgage, to create money for a down payment for a second home or to pay off debt. Popularity is skyrocketing. Over the last five years the number of reverse mortgages nationwide has tripled. The uses of this untapped wealth are only limited by a person's imagination.

For those seniors who are less fortunate but own a home, a reverse mortgage can allow them to remain in the home by creating extra income. It can also allow for remodeling or repairs and when the time comes to sell, the investment in the home can make it more valuable.(12 pages printed)

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