The Truth About Reverse Mortgages
Reverse Mortgage Misconceptions
In my previous post, I discussed the negative image of the Reverse loan and where it came from and how we in the industry, are still plagued by this perception that is no longer true.
In spite of the amount of television ads and the many qualified resources for accurate information about the FHA loan program, there are still many people that continue to believe that they are a terrible option for a senior to use to access their equity.
Not true.
And I have to wonder how many seniors chose not to take advantage of the HECM program when it would clearly benefit them, due to their fear and lack of credible information.
I do not work for a BIG Lender, I am employed by a Broker and I work independently from my home office and I always, always meet potential clients personally in-their-homes.
See what my clients are saying!
I do not advertise and neither does my Broker and I conduct my business 100% referral based. From former clients, Bankers, Trust and Elder Law attorneys and Financial Advisors. I have built relationships with them over the course of many years and they know that they can trust me to take excellent care of their clients.
That is how I transform mistrust and lack of credibility. And most importantly, I do not pester them to apply for the loan. It takes time to make a decision and it has to be the best one for the client. Not me.
However, an excellent resource for information that is accurate and correct is to chose one of the HUD Counseling agencies and request a telephone appointment for Reverse loan counseling. They generally charge between $125 to $150 for an hour session, but it’s worth it and will give a person a better grasp of the loan and how it may or may not benefit them.
Here is a link to HUD for a list of approved counseling agencies.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hecm/hecmlist
So “whatever you have heard”, don’t believe your neighbor, friend, hairdresser, financial advisor or anyone that is not qualified or knowledgeable about Reverse mortgages.
Because they simply do not know anything.
Only “what they have heard”.
Is a Reverse Mortgage a Scam?
For many years the Reverse loan had a image problem and prior to them being placed under the auspices of HUD and FHA, they were quite terrible. Generally the client had to buy an annuity with the funds they received and also share their equity with the “lender” and thus the terrible reputation of the loan was created.
But that is no longer true and hasn’t been the case for many years, however the image continues to linger and quite often there is a credibility problem that professionals such as myself, have to address with a potential client in regards to “what they have heard” about Reverse loans.
None of us like to be “sold” anything and we certainly need to feel comfortable with our decision when it involves something as serious as a mortgage. And due to the confusing aspects of the loan it makes it quite challenging to explain it to someone that is considering using the option, because they may need additional funds for cost of living expenses, home improvement or leveraging a retirement saving ( and did I say?), unplanned medical expenses.
See what my clients are saying!
And there is high percentage of seniors that are carrying a mortgage burden and making mortgage payments each month on what may now be a “fixed income” and are no longer employed and might be drawing down on their retirement fund each month to pay this ongoing obligation.
The question for those of us in the industry, is how to best address the fears and concerns about the loan and also to transcend the mistrust and doubt as to whether or not they are some sort of scam. A scam to take over the borrower’s home and then “kick them out”.
This conversation will continue in a following post.
Stayed “tuned”.