First, make sure the reverse mortgage loan is for the right purpose. You never want to end up with a loan for a home that you don’t need. Especially if you have been living in it for several years and have no mortgage or other equity built up, you might be better off putting it to work for you. And it would make it easier to sell in the future – if you plan to move on and go into a different home or apartment, you will have much more bargaining power when negotiating for a sale.
But if you are still planning to live in your home, then it’s a good idea to find a company that offers a reverse mortgage loan that’s right for you. In fact, you should take some time and research the companies that offer them so you get the right kind of help for your situation. Don’t settle for a reverse mortgage, just because it’s on your credit report – that could hurt your chances of getting any other type of loan in the future.
So, why do people get a reverse mortgage? There are two main reasons. The first is to provide a “down payment” on a new home. That’s a good reason for getting one, but a poor reason for overusing it.
When you get a reverse mortgage company to lend you money, you’ll be required to pay that money back over a specific amount of time. Even though you don’t have to pay it back at all, you’ll still have to make it to the company as payments, or else you will lose your home to foreclosure. That is why many of these reverse mortgage lenders require you to make regular monthly payments and not simply give you cash right away.
As mentioned above, these loans are very complex, and you should carefully research the mortgage companies that offer them. You should always get an independent opinion from a professional financial adviser about which companies are best to get a loan from – never choose a lender based on price alone. Be wary of the fees that are hidden in the fine print or hidden in terms and conditions.
There are many companies that advertise that they will be able to help you buy your home without requiring a loan. While this is true in some cases, if you do decide to get such a loan, you will want to be careful you do not get scammed.
Reverse mortgages can be a great way to provide for your future, but use caution when getting any type of loan. If you can’t afford to pay off your debt now, don’t get one, because it might come back to haunt you later.
With your research in hand, you should then contact a reverse mortgage company and see what kind of advice they can offer to help you determine if the program is right for you. They will be able to tell you if you qualify for a reverse mortgage and can also give you an idea of how much money you will owe over the life of your loan.
Most of the companies will report to the credit reporting bureaus on a monthly basis. This helps to monitor your credit score and to determine if you’ve been a good or bad borrower. You should always be prepared to answer a few questions, so the reporting company can confirm this.
You will probably have to pay a higher interest rate on your loan if you have bad credit. Because of this, you should make sure to keep up your payments on time to avoid the interest rate increasing. If you have bad credit, it’s a good idea to check with the reverse mortgage company to make sure that you can afford your loan when it comes due.
