How a Reverse Mortgage Made a Difference

In a previous post, I talked about how upset I was over a situation that a Senior had gotten herself into.   She had been referred to me to apply for a Reverse loan, as she was running out of money to pay her two mortgage payments and on top of this, she was extremely disabled as well.

I met with her to start the application process, when I discovered she owed too much on the two loans and the funds from a Reverse loan wouldn’t be enough to pay both of them off.   She had just received these loans in the beginning of ’08 and it was very obvious to me that she had been taken advantage of by the lender and the Loan Officer.

She was 100% disabled and receiving SSI, MediCal and Social Security and unable to work.   This was the only income that she had and she was in no position to be able to afford the two mortgage payments that she was now obligated to pay.   She was using the funds from the ELOC to make the payment on it and her actual income went to the other mortgage, care giving expenses, utilities, food and all other monthly bills.  Eventually she was going to run out of money and not be able to make any loan payments and then be faced with a foreclosure.

I was so angry at the lack of integrity, that the self-serving Loan Officer who originated her loan, was only concerned about their commission and felt nothing about this client’s security and the ability to remain in her home. 

But the good news is, I was able to help her and as of yesterday, she signed her loan documents for her Reverse loan. Fortunately, she received a small inheritance  last month and was able to provide enough money to buy down her existing loan balances so that the Reverse mortgage could be completed.

I feel very relieved for her, knowing that she can now stay in her house indefinitely because she won’t have to make any mortgage payments.   But I’m wondering how many other Seniors have used a conventional loan, taken the cash out to cover their expenses and are now out of money and facing foreclosure.

I bet that there are quite a few of them.  And what’s happened to those bad Loan Officers and Lenders?   They’re out of business but the damage that they caused by unscrupulous lending, is causing a lot of pain for families in this country.   And the Senior community has been wounded by them, too.