I previously discussed in earlier posts some of the details and considerations when a senior might be thinking of borrowing equity from their home and they have four options.

• Refinance their home using a traditional mortgage – There will be a monthly payment
• Do a Home Equity Line of Credit/HELOC – % only for five years then become fully amortized for remaining 10 years.   There will be a jump in the monthly payment.   “Payment shock”
• Get a Fixed rate 2nd. Deed of Trust – Fully amortized monthly payment for 15 years.
• Use a HECM/Home Equity Conversion Mortgage; a “reverse” mortgage.   No payments or loan term.  It is in effect as long as the borrower continues to occupy the home and/or they”pass” away.

Let’s examine the options a little bit closer.  The first three choices all require the borrower to qualify using their income and credit, plus they will have monthly mortgage payments.

Initially, the first 3 options are less expensive in closing costs, but there are risks associated with obligating oneself for a mortgage payment in the later years of their life.

If the borrower is currently employed and plans on working for many more years, then maybe the first 3 choices are ideal.  But what if you want to retire?  The mortgage payments won’t go “away”, the borrower will have to continue to make them each month.

Doing a traditional “cash-out” refinance is certainly an option to consider especially if the existing mortgage is at a high interest rate or it’s an Adjustable Rate Mortgage  ( who knows what will happen with interest rates in the future?  They will probably increase).  And of course, there is a monthly mortgage payment to be made.

Is this a particularly good option for a senior to continue to maintain an ongoing mortgage for many more years?

See what my clients are saying!

I will discuss the other three mortgages in my next post and each of them can be appealing depending on the borrower’s circumstances and what they are attempting to accomplish.