After having put in years of service, when a person retires, it is time for him to peacefully enjoy the security of a home. Often this dream becomes a mirage, as living costs spiral year after year. Similarly home prices increase making it difficult to keep pace, though increased home values have benefited homeowners relying on equity of their homes. Equity Release helps the owners to continue to live in their homes for rest of their life, without making any more payments.
Giving them the peace of continuing to live in their house for the remaining part of their life, and also waiving the necessity to pay monthly installments, which in fact leaves them with some excess funds, which can grow in time to a sump from which they can even settle the mortgage.
However, accruals of interest tend to increase on the unpaid balance, on monthly basis. Till the spouse leaves the property, you will not be required to pay interest as well as proceeds.
On the other hand, if you opt for a Reversion Plan, the homeowner can sell his home either in full, or partly, to a person who provides finances to clear the mortgage, and in return he would have a right to live in his home for his lifetime. However such a plan will not attract interest accrual. Transaction terms can be sorted out to ensure the excess equity amount is paid in lump sum, if there is any.
Pensioners and retirees can benefit from these plans. To quality for release of equity, the homeowner living in the home should be over 55 years of age. Double benefits await pensioners. While, on one side, payments which were due monthly on mortgage are no more to be paid, leaving more cash in the hands of the pensioner, while on the other, the proceeds from annuities invested can also bring income.
The plan is related to the value of the property. Whether the concerned person will be able to meet his future installment demands or whether he is earning anything are not considered. The owners of the house are required to maintain the property, pay out taxes, and insurance charges on the house, and continue to occupy the home.
The reversion plans are directly related to property value. They do not take into consideration the ability of a person to meet his future commitments in respect of installments, or his present sources of income. On their part, owners are expected to properly maintain the house, pay taxes and insurance charges and continue to live in the house. When the surviving spouse leaves the property permanently, repayment becomes due. Such issues like depression in the economy, or scarcity of funds do not affect a Reversion Plan, or the mortgage, during your lifetime.
To ensure you can avail the equity on home, you are not required to shift from you house, which an advantage considering that owners used to sell their property just to manage their retirement. Now Equity Release can come to your rescue enabling you to live in your home apart from safeguarding your security. You deserve the peace.
There are many pros and cons to a lifetime mortgage, and so independent advice about all equity release options is essential. Take advantage of free equity release advice, and book a consultation today!
Occupation: SEO Consultant
Jerry Figueroa-Lee has been involved in online marketing since 1999 and the formation of a financial services company. Whilst still marketing a number of websites that generate enquiries for other independent financial advisers, Jerry now dedicates more time to website development and search engine optimization for other companies throughout the UK. Jerry writes articles regularly on the following subjects: Equity Release, Mortgages, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation, Printing Services and Marketing and general home related finance issues.