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- Basic Needs   - Understanding Long-Term Care
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            -                   Reverse Mortgages              

# Reverse Mortgages

## Costs & Who Pays

                    -  Overview 
                    -  Who Pays for Long-Term Care?                        -   Using Life Insurance to Pay for Long-Term Care 
                      -  Buying Long-Term Care Insurance 
                    -  Costs of Care 
                    -  What is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance?                        -  Coverage Limits Chart 
                    -  What is Long-Term Care Insurance?                        -  What Long-term Care Insurance Covers 
                      -  Receiving Long-Term Care Insurance Benefits 
                      -  Where to Look for Long-term Care Insurance 
                      -  Long-term Care Insurance Costs 
                    -  Paying Privately                        -  Reverse Mortgages 
                      -  Annuities 
                      -  Trusts 

A reverse mortgage is a special type of home equity loan that allows you to receive cash against the value of your home without selling it.

**For most reverse mortgages:**
                  - You can choose to receive a lump-sum payment, a monthly payment, or a line of credit
                  - There are no restrictions on how you use the remainder of the money
                  - You continue to live in the home and you retain title and ownership of it
                  - You are also still responsible for taxes, hazard insurance, and home repairs
                  - However, you do not have to repay the loan as long as you continue to live in the home.                     - Instead, the amount you owe, based on loan payouts and interest on the loan, becomes due when you or the last borrower, usually the last remaining spouse, dies, sells, or permanently moves out of the home 

**To qualify for a reverse mortgage:**
                  - You must be age 62 and older
                  - Unlike a traditional mortgage, you do not have to provide an income or credit history to get the loan
                  - The home must be your primary residence

**How to apply:**
                  - You must meet with an approved reverse mortgage counselor before you can start the loan process. These counselors can help you decide whether a reverse mortgage is right for you.

**Important considerations:**
                  - You must use the funds you receive to pay off any existing mortgages or other debt against your home and to make required home repairs
                  - As long as you spend the payments you receive in the month that you receive them, the money is not taxable and does not count towards income or affect Social Security or  Medicare  benefits
                  - Does not count as income for  Medicaid  eligibility
                  - Once you have a reverse mortgage, it is very difficult to borrow any more against your home. But you can refinance a reverse mortgage if the house increases significantly in value.
                  - If your heirs want to keep your home, they can repay the reverse mortgage. They can also keep the difference if the home's sale price is greater than the reverse mortgage loan balance when they repay the loan.
                  - Reverse Mortgage Types
                  -  Most people get reverse mortgages through a **mortgage lender**. Some credit unions and banks, with state and local housing agencies, may offer these loans as well.  Generally, there are **three** types of reverse mortgages:                      - Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)   		The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers HECMs and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures them. HECMs are the  most popular  reverse mortgages, representing about 90 percent of the market. The federal government regulates most upfront costs for HECM loans. There are limits on the total fees and interest rates that you must pay
                    - Fannie Mae Home Keeper Loan   		The loan limits for Fannie Mae Home Keeper Loan is  higher  than for HECMs. Therefore, you may receive more cash from these loans than with a HECM
                    - Financial Freedom Cash Account Loans   		Financial Freedom Cash Account Loans are designed for seniors who own  expensive homes 
                  - Conventional vs. Reverse Mortgage
                  -  The concept of a reverse mortgage may be simple, but there are many details to consider before purchasing one. Below is a comparison chart to help you understand and help you decide if a reverse mortgage is right for you.  Conventional vs. Reverse Mortgage Conventional mortgageReverse mortgagePurposePurchase a homeGet cash from home equityAt the time of closing:You owe a lot and have little equity in the homeYou owe little and have a lot of equity in the homeDuring the loan:- You make monthly payments
- The loan balance decreases
- Your equity grows
- You receive monthly payments (as a lump sum, monthly payment, or line of credit)
- The loan balance rises
- Your equity decreases
At the end of the loan:- You owe nothing
- You have substantial equity in the home
- You may owe a large amount
- You may have little or no equity in the home
Closing costs- Based on the amount of the loan
- Can be financed as part of loan
- Based on appraised value of the home
- Can be financed as part of loan
In short...- Falling debt
- Rising equity
- Rising debt
- Falling equity
 

*Last modified on 02/18/2020*

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