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The Reverse Mortgage: How It Works, Pros, Cons, and Costs

Elderly couple smiling together in front of their cozy home, enjoying their retirement.

You might wonder what the differences between a reverse mortgage and other mortgages are. The former is for homeowners who are 62 and older. It allows them against the equity of their homes. Another distinct feature of a reverse mortgage is that the borrower receives funds instead of monthly payments. It causes the loan balance to increase instead of decrease. Some people would also utilize this loan to purchase a home. They do not need to pay anything as long as they live in the house.

How Does It Work?

Reverse mortgages work by paying off a portion of your home equity to pay an existing mortgage. The borrowers will not be required to make monthly payments until they move out of the home, neglect to maintain the home, pass away, or fail to pay taxes and insurance. The interest for the month will be added to the final loan balance.

Once your existing mortgage is paid, your lender will pay you for any remaining proceeds from the new loan. If you already own your home, you will get all the proceeds from the loan. To know how much you will get, you can use a reverse mortgage calculator.

How Much Does a Reverse Mortgage Cost?

Just like any other mortgage, there are costs associated specifically with the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). These costs are typically higher than those associated with a traditional mortgage. Here are some of the fees you can expect:

Mortgage Origination fee – This is the amount of money a lender charges to process your loan. Usually, the cost is 2% of the first $200,000 of the home’s value plus 1% of the remaining value after that. The FHA has set a minimum and maximum cost of the origination fee, so no matter what your home is valued, you will not pay less than $2,500 or more than $6,000.ed with a traditional mortgage. Here are some of the fees you can expect:

Service fee – This is the fee by a lender for the services they provided to administer the loan. The cost is up to $35 each month.

Upfront MIP – The upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) is paid to the FHA when you close your loan. The MIP protects you and the lender by making the loan a non-recourse loan. When your home sells for less than the loan amount, the difference will be covered by the insurance, so you won’t end up underwater on your loan, and the lender doesn’t lose money on their investment.

Appraisal fee – Appraisals are needed to know the market value of your home. The cost of the appraisal will depend on factors like the location and size of the home.

The Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages

Before you make a decision, you need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Applying for a loan isn’t easy, so you have to think about your options carefully. You can also speak to a financial advisor to help you out. Here is the list of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Apply For Reverse Mortgage With American Mortgage Solutions

Reverse mortgages are a fantastic option for supplementing your retirement. You just need to thoroughly review the pros and cons against your needs and limitations. If you do plan to apply for one, you need to contact a reliable lender.

If you are looking for a reputable mortgage broker in Louisville, KY, you do not have to look far. At American Mortgage Solutions, we are ready to assist you in the loan process and have licenses to operate in Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, and Colorado. Please give us a call today at (502) 327-9770 to schedule your consultation in Kentucky, or at (239) 766-8344 to schedule your consultation in Florida.

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