40 comments
A reverse mortgage lets you tap into your home equity without the burden of monthly payments. But here's a lesser-known perk: you can make payments on a reverse mortgage if it suits your goals — turning it into an interest-only loan or paying down the principal penalty-free. Why would you want to? Let's explore three key advantages and how this... Read Full Article
18 comments
The economic downturn has taken its toll on many American households and especially on retirees. In fact, one study from Wider Opportunities for Women indicates that more than half of older households have incomes that don’t cover their basic living expenses. To help, many baby boomers are turning to the equity they’ve built up in their homes to help by... Read Full Article
54 comments
[arlo_toc] Tax Benefits of Reverse Mortgages: What’s Deductible? Similar to a conventional mortgage, some costs associated with a reverse mortgage are tax-deductible, as are interest payments a borrower chooses to make. Joe Diaz, owner of American Essential Services, a tax preparation company in Kissimmee, Florida, explains that borrowers can claim origination fees, broker fees, and even “discount points” if a... Read Full Article
8 comments
How would capital gains tax and California’s Proposition 13 affect my ability to get a reverse mortgage for purchase? Prop 13 and the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase, sometimes called an “H4P,” is a product that allows a borrower that’s at least 62 years of age to take out a reverse mortgage in... Read Full Article
8 comments
You can be forgiven for not knowing exactly how tax reform will affect reverse mortgages -- after all, with the legislation itself passed hastily to capitalize on rare consensus among Congressional Republicans, accountants, and other financial professionals will likely be busy sorting out the implications through tax day and beyond. For many homeowners, the disappearance of a tax deduction for... Read Full Article
2 comments
One of the most important benefits that reverse mortgage borrowers receive at closing is the freedom of no longer having to make required monthly mortgage payments to their lender. It is this feature of the reverse mortgage product that makes it so unique - and as such - so difficult for those outside of our industry to comprehend and understand!... Read Full Article
4 comments
Oregon reverse mortgage borrowers made headlines recently when they were suddenly cut from a tax deferral program many had been enrolled in for several years or more. Previously, reverse mortgage borrowers in Oregon were eligible for the state’s senior property tax deferral program—a program that allows people over the age of 65 to defer their property taxes over time while... Read Full Article