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Reverse Mortgage and the Housing Supply

Posted on November 18, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

With the baby boomer generation coming of age, we’re seeing a noticeable shift in how seniors exist in today’s society. No longer are the days of nursing homes and wheelchairs, or moving in with adult children. Many of today’s seniors are more independent than ever before, outliving the elderly of yesterday by leaps and bounds. But this trend is creating a new scenario across the United States – demand for independent, affordable, and accessible housing. According to the Census Bureau stats, the population of Americans over age 65 increased by about five million between 2000 and 2010 and over the next 20 years, the aging of the Baby Boom generation will cause the senior population to grow by 30 million!

Although many face challenges to some degree, most elderly Americans want to remain in their home. Those who feel the need to move, still prefer to remain in an independent residence, usually just closer to family or without stairs. And senior housing communities are gaining in popularity for socially active retirees who thrive in a community situation. The options are vast – and will continue to expand as the demographic does.

Reverse mortgage is an accessible and viable option for many of these seniors aged 62 and older, and with minimal income and credit requirements. A reverse mortgage can be used to stay in a current home throughout the aging years while living mortgage payment free – OR – can be used to purchase a new home and still live mortgage payment free. As seniors take control of their housing situation and become more proactive about their futures, they will find an opportunity exists to ensure a financially stable future, while maintaining their independence, health, and dignity.

To learn more about obtaining a reverse mortgage on your current home, click here. And to learn about using a reverse mortgage to purchase a new home, click here.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Reverse Mortgage Boosts Cash Home Buyers

Posted on November 3, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

In this day and age, buying a home with cash is rare. And not because of the reasons you may think – such as who has that much cash nowadays? Well, that is part of the reason, but it’s a little more complicated than that. Those who have a substantial amount of cash are finding there are no homes available in their price range and suddenly they don’t have enough cash to be a true “cash buyer”. This diminishes their hopes of living mortgage payment free. For example, if a retired couple sells their home or allots other funds amounting to $170,000 for a new home, they will suddenly be facing a new dilemma – finding a home to meet their needs, that doesn’t need repairs, and is in the community they wish to live. With home prices quickly recovering in the Loveland and Fort Collins area, this scenario is playing out ever more often.

This is where the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase program can provide a solution. Not only will the program add funds to the buyer’s available cash making up the difference needed to purchase an appropriate home, it will also allow that buyer to live mortgage payment free.

Here’s how it works:

For seniors 62 and over, with minimal credit and income requirements, home buyers are able to use reverse mortgage to purchase a new home. The amount of the down payment required from the buyer will depend on the amount of the home they are purchasing. But unlike a conventional loan, not only will the lender provide the funds to make up the difference between the home price and the down payment, the new home owners will also be able to live mortgage payment free for as long as they remain in the home, freeing up income for other things – such as medical bills, in home care, or even vacations.

Click here to learn more about the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase program (aka HECM for Purhcase).

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Reverse Mortgage Helps Widow Buy a Home

Posted on October 15, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

It’s a scenario all to familiar for the elderly in Northern Colorado…

A spouse passes away leaving behind a widow. The remaining partner wants to move closer to family. But there’s a catch – although the widow’s current home is owned outright, they would typically need to sell it before they could purchase another. And they wish to move to an area where the median home price is much higher than the home available to sell.

Reverse mortgage for purchase may be an excellent option for this widow. Let’s look at the scenario in detail:

Predicament #1: Widow needs to sell current home before purchasing a new home.

Solution: With a reverse mortgage for purchase, this widow would not need to sell the home immediately. Any personal funds or assets used to purchase the new home could be replenished when the current home sells – and the funds from a reverse mortgage would supplement the initial funds needed. This would allow her to move and get settled immediately.

Predicament #2: The cost of a home in the area the widow is moving is much higher than where she currently lives, meaning the proceeds from her current home sale will not cover the entire purchase.

Solution: When utilizing a reverse mortgage for purchase, her out of pocket cost would be substantially supplemented. For example if she anticipates selling her current home for $200,000 and purchasing a home for $300,000, the reverse mortgage may cover the $100,000 difference allowing her to live mortgage payment free and best of all – near her family.

Reverse Mortgage for Purchase (aka: HECM for Purchase) is an FHA insured program for seniors 62 and over, with minimal income and credit requirements.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Marisol Senior Living Community in Loveland, Colorado

Posted on October 1, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

I recently had the honor of contributing to a piece in “At Home“, the real estate insert included in Loveland’s Reporter Herald newspaper. This piece highlighted a beautiful senior community called Marisol Senior Living located in south-west Loveland and I was pleased to discuss the reverse mortgage options available.

About Marisol Senior Living

Marisol is a 35 acre living community designed for seniors 55 and older. Housing options within the community include apartments, duplexes, and single family homes. With varied programs, a fitness center, free continental breakfast, bike trails and much more, this community is all inclusive for those wishing to socialize and stay busy year round. In addition, northern Colorado has long been considered one of the best places to retire in the nation – making Marisol even more attractive.

Using Reverse Mortgage to Purchase

Conventional financing is often the first stop when considering purchasing a new home, but at Marisol, reverse mortgage for purchase options are available for seniors 62 and older, with no income and credit requirements. Often times seniors will have substantial equity in their current home, but be leery of taking out a new loan and managing monthly mortgage payments, thus they stay in a home that no longer meets their needs. A reverse mortgage can be a great way to get into a new home without these worries. When purchasing a new home with reverse mortgage the down payment is determined based on the purchaser’s age and the value of the home and all loans are backed by the FHA. Learn more about how reverse mortgage can be used to purchase a home here.

For more information about obtaining a reverse mortgage in the Marisol Community or elsewhere, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (970) 646-8908 or via email here.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Reverse Mortgage for Purchase by the Numbers

Posted on September 11, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

The Reverse Mortgage for Purchase product allows seniors 62 years and older to use a reverse mortgage to purchase a home all in one transaction. By utilizing this product, along with a down payment, older Americans can fulfill their dreams of living closer to family, move to a senior community, downsize or upsize without a monthly mortgage payment.

With minimal credit and income requirements, many individuals are able to take advantage of this government insured program. Eligible properties include existing single family homes and FHA approved condominiums.

Here is an example of how the program works:

Rich and Carole Swartz want to sell their home and purchase a new home, they are 75 years old. They sell their existing home for $400,000 and use $100,000 of the proceeds to pay off their existing mortgage. That leaves them with $300,000 cash from the sale.

Now assume they want to downsize into a home that costs $300,000. Reverse mortgage proceeds would be $200,000 and the Swartz’s would need to contribute $100,000, leaving them with $200,000 after the purchase.

But what if they want to upsize to a home valued at $500,000? Reverse mortgage proceeds in this scenario would be $334,000 and the Swartz’s would be required to pay $166,000 leaving them with $134,000 cash after the purchase.

Either situation, they now live now live in their new home, free of a monthly mortgage payment, and have cash left over from the sale of their previous home.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

FAQ’s about Reverse Mortgage for Purchase

Posted on August 29, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

In a recent blog article, I discussed the various options to use reverse mortgage to purchase a home. One of those options is the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase program (aka HECM for Purchase). This is an excellent option to acquire a home in Fort Collins, Loveland or Greeley, Colorado – and offers flexible options for varying situations.

In this article I’m going to answer some frequently asked questions regarding this program.

What is needed to qualify for a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase loan?

you must be age 62 or older (each borrower on title must meet this criteria, although others residing in home do not)
the home you are purchasing must be your new primary residence
credit and income are irrelevant
you must have your “required investment” (down payment) from a HUD allowable source. The funds cannot be borrowed. The required investment can come from the sale of a currently owned asset or money you have had for at least 90 days.

Who owns the home that I am purchasing?

As the borrower and homeowner, you will always retain the title to the home, just like any other type of home loan.

What will my personal ongoing obligations be after purchasing a home?

It’s very similar to if you owned your home free and clear – you will NOT have a monthly mortgage payment. But as the homeowner, you will be responsible for paying property taxes, home owner’s insurance, HOA fees when applicable, and basic upkeep including home maintenance and utility payments.

When will the loan become due and payable?

With a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase the loan does not reach “maturity” until:

the last remaining borrower passes away
the homeowner sells the home
the last remaining borrower leaves the home for 12 consecutive months due to illness
the homeowner defaults on property taxes or insurance

Will I need to sell my my current home residence to qualify?

Simply put, no. As long as the loan on your current residence is not an FHA loan and your required investment comes from a HUD allowable source, you can keep your current residence – although it will need to be your primary residence. Your lender will ensure you are financially stable enough to support the ongoing obligations on all properties you own. If you decide to keep your current residence as an investment, rental, or vacation property – or you are awaiting the sale of home, it is rarely a problem.

What types of properties can I purchase?

Single family homes, town homes, and FHA approved condos are all eligible properties. The home being purchased will need to be the buyer’s primary residence.

Can I use the loan to build a new home?

These loans cannot be used as construction loans. Homes must have a Certificate of Occupancy issued before a loan application can be started

How is the “Required Investment” amount determined?

The “required investment” or down payment is determined by a calculation set by HUD based on:

The lesser of the sale price or appraised value
The age of the youngest of the borrowers
The current expected interest rate

What may disqualify me from a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase loan?

Foreclosures within the past 3 years.
Unresolved bankruptcy
Unpaid Federal obligations – i.e. federal taxes, defaults on prior government backed loans (such as student loans or government backed mortgages)
Income too low to support multiple properties
Unpaid judgments or tax liens

What is the HUD required “Reverse Mortgage Counseling”?

Prior to being approved for a reverse mortgage, HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires each borrow to participate in a counseling session with an approved agency. These not-for-profit agencies are funded by the federal government and work closely with both the FHA and lenders to ensure a smooth process. The goal of this session is not to steer a potential borrower in one direction or another, but to make sure they clearly understand all aspects of a reverse mortgage.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Click here to contact Jan and learn if reverse mortgage is right for you.

How to Purchase a Home with Reverse Mortgage

Posted on August 13, 2013June 17, 2014 by janjordan

There are many reasons a senior may want to purchase a new home versus staying in an existing home. Possibly they want to move closer to town or to family, or eliminate stairs, or reduce size and upkeep. As long as they are 62 years or over, the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase Program could be the right fit. Regardless of the reason, many northern Colorado seniors have family in the Fort Collins areas, as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming – and getting situated then staying put is important to them.

There are three ways to use a reverse mortgage to purchase a new home or even build a home to their own specifications.

Here’s a brief run down of how each works:

Option 1: Buy with cash, then utilize a Reverse Mortgage

This option is quite simple. Using cash the borrower has, they purchase a home or have a new home constructed. Once the home is occupied they will utilize a reverse mortgage, allowing them to live mortgage payment free. In order to qualify for a reverse mortgage on a newly constructed home, the home owner must have the certificate of occupancy. Often the homeowner will need to liquidate assets or tap into savings in order to purchase the home, but once the purchase or or new construction is completed they can then take out a reverse mortgage on the home, filling the reserve that was used to make the initial purchase, and live payment free. A downside to this option – the homeowner would likely incur settlement and closing costs twice.

Option 2: Buy with a Reverse Mortgage

With the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase Program, a senior can sell their current home, purchase a new home, and obtain a loan for the new residence and a reverse mortgage at the same time with only one set of settlement fees. And if a senior is not currently a homeowner but wants to be, the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase Program can help them purchase a home, even if they are a first time home buyer with limited income and credit. A downside to this option is that it cannot be used to construct a new home, but can be used to purchase a newly constructed home that has never been lived in before. The homeowner must also take residence in the home within 60 days of purchase.
When utilizing this program, seniors will need to have the means to pay the difference between the sale price of the new home and the maximum amount they can draw on the reverse mortgage, essentially requiring a down payment. Often this down payment comes from the sale of a previous residence. But – the homeowner will live in their new home free of a mortgage payment.

Option 3: Take out a conventional loan on a new home then utilize a Reverse Mortgage

If a homeowner is looking to have a new home constructed to their own specifications, but doesn’t have the funding to buy with cash, this becomes an option. Once the purchase or new construction is complete, the senior homeowners would be eligible for a reverse mortgage and can live payment free in this new home. Downsides to this option include: the borrower would likely incur closing and settlement costs with each loan, and there would be income and credit limits as with any conventional home loan.

With any of these options, the homeowner will always retain the title to their home. The Reverse Mortgage for Purchase program is backed by the FHA and is highly under-utilized. Talk with a reputable lender to learn more or to have your questions answered.