CONSUMER ALERT: Reverse mortgages

Get the facts before cashing in on your home's equity

Submitted by Harold Moldoff

(This is another in a series of public service columns. The following information has been compiled by the Federal Trade Commission.)

If you are 62 or older and looking for money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for healthcare expenses you may be considering a reverse mortgage. It is a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay additional monthly bills.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, wants you to understand how reverse mortgages work, the types of reverse mortgages available, and how to get the best deal.

In a regular mortgage, you make monthly payments to the lender. In a reverse mortgage, you receive money from the lender, and generally don't have to pay it back for as long as you live in your home. The loan is repaid when you die, sell your home, or when your home is no longer your primary residence. The proceeds of a reverse mortgage generally are tax-free, and many reverse mortgages have no income restrictions.

Types of Reverse Mortgages

There are three types of reverse mortgages:

• single-purpose reverse mortgages, offered by some state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations
• federally-insured reverse mortgages, known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• proprietary reverse mortgages, private loans that are backed by the companies that develop them

Single-purpose reverse mortgages are the least expensive option. They are not available everywhere and can be used for only one purpose, which is specified by the government or nonprofit lender. For example, the lender might say the loan may be used only to pay for home repairs, improvements, or property taxes. Most homeowners with low or moderate income can qualify for these loans.

HECMs and proprietary reverse mortgages are more expensive than traditional home loans, and the up-front costs can be high. That's important to consider, especially if you plan to stay in your home for just a short time or borrow a small amount. HECM loans are widely available, have no income or medical requirements, and can be used for any purpose.

Before applying for an HECM, you must meet with a counselor from an independent government-approved housing counseling agency. Some lenders offering proprietary reverse mortgages also require counseling. The counselor is required to explain the loan's costs and financial implications, and possible alternatives to an HECM, like government and nonprofit programs or a single-purpose or proprietary reverse mortgage. The counselor also should be able to help you compare the costs of different types of reverse mortgages and tell you how different payment options, fees, and other costs affect the total cost of the loan over time. To find a counselor, visit  www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmlist.cfm or call 1-800-569-4287. Most counseling agencies charge around $125 for their services. The fee can be paid from the loan proceeds, but you cannot be turned away if you can't afford the fee.

How much you can borrow with an HECM or proprietary reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including your age, the type of reverse mortgage you select, the appraised value of your home, and current interest rates.  In general, the older you are, the more equity you have in your home, and the less you owe on it, the more money you can get.

The HECM lets you choose among several payment options. You can select:

• a term option fixed monthly cash advances for a specific time.
• a tenure option fixed monthly cash advances for as long as you live in your home.
• a line of credit that lets you draw down the loan proceeds at any time in amounts you choose until you have used up the line of credit.
• a combination of monthly payments and a line of credit.

You can change your payment option any time for about $20.

HECMs generally provide bigger loan advances at a lower total cost compared with proprietary loans. But if you own a higher-valued home, you may get a bigger loan advance from a proprietary reverse mortgage. So if your home has a higher appraised value and you have a small mortgage, you may qualify for more funds.

Loan Features

Reverse mortgage loan advances are not taxable, and generally do not affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits.  You retain the title to your home, and you don't have to make monthly repayments. The loan must be repaid when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home as a principal residence.

In the HECM program, a borrower can live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 consecutive months before the loan must be repaid.

If you are considering a reverse mortgage, be aware that:

• Lenders generally charge an origination fee, a mortgage insurance premium (for federally-insured HECMs), and other closing costs for a reverse mortgage. Lenders also may charge servicing fees during the term of the mortgage. The lender sometimes sets these fees and costs, although origination fees for HECM reverse mortgages currently are  dictated by law.
• The amount you owe on a reverse mortgage grows over time.  Interest is charged on the outstanding balance and added to the amount you owe each month. That means your total debt increases as the loan funds are advanced to you and interest on the loan accrues.
• Although some reverse mortgages have fixed rates, most have variable rates that are tied to a financial index: they are likely to change with market conditions.
• Reverse mortgages can use up all or some of the equity in your home, and leave fewer assets for you and your heirs. Most reverse mortgages have a nonrecourse clause, which prevents you or your estate from owing more than the value of your home when the loan is repaid.
• Because you retain title to your home, you are responsible for property taxes, insurance, utilities, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses. If you don't pay property taxes, carry homeowner's insurance, or maintain the condition of your home, your loan may become due and payable.
• Interest on reverse mortgages is not deductible on income tax returns until the loan is paid off in part or whole.

Getting a Good Deal

If you're considering a reverse mortgage, shop around. Compare your options and the terms various lenders offer. Learn as much as you can about reverse mortgages before you talk to a counselor or lender. That can help inform the questions you ask that could lead to a better deal.

• If you want to make a home repair or improvement or you need help paying your property taxes, find out if you qualify for any low-cost single-purpose loans in your area.  Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) generally know about these programs. To find the nearest agency, visit www.eldercare.gov or call 1-800-677-1116. Ask about loan or grant programs for home repairs or improvements, or property tax deferral or property tax postponement programs, and how to apply.
• All HECM lenders must follow HUD rules. And while the mortgage insurance premium is the same from lender to lender, most loan costs, including the origination fee, interest rate, closing costs, and servicing fees vary among lenders.
• If you live in a higher-valued home, you may be able to borrow more with a proprietary reverse mortgage, but the more you borrow, the higher your costs. The best way to see key differences between an HECM and a proprietary loan is to do a side-by-side comparison of costs and benefits. Many HECM counselors and lenders can give you this important information.
• No matter what type of reverse mortgage you are considering, understand all the conditions that could make the loan due and payable. Ask a counselor or lender to explain the Total Annual Loan Cost (TALC) rates: they show the projected annual average cost of a reverse mortgage, including all the itemized costs.

Be Wary of Sales Pitches

Some sellers may offer you goods or services, like home improvement services, and then suggest that a reverse mortgage would be an easy way to pay for them. If you decide you need what�s being offered, shop around before deciding on any particular seller. Keep in mind that the total cost of the product or service is the price the seller quotes plus the costs and fees tied to getting the reverse mortgage.

Some who offer reverse mortgages may pressure you to buy other financial products, like an annuity or long term care insurance. Resist that pressure. You don�t have to buy any products or services to get a reverse mortgage (except to maintain the adequate homeowners or hazard insurance that HUD and other lenders require).  In fact, in some situations, it�s illegal to require you to buy other products to get a reverse mortgage.

The bottom line: If you don't understand the cost or features of a reverse mortgage or any other product offered to you or if there is pressure or urgency to complete the deal walk away and take your business elsewhere. Consider seeking the advice of a family member, friend, or someone else you trust.

Your Right to Cancel

With most reverse mortgages, you have at least three business days after closing to cancel the deal for any reason, without penalty. To cancel, you must notify the lender in writing. Send your letter by certified mail, and ask for a return receipt. That will allow you to document what the lender received and when. Keep copies of your correspondence and any enclosures. After you cancel, the lender has 20 days to return any money you�ve paid up to then for the financing.

Reporting Possible Fraud

If you suspect that someone involved in the transaction may be violating the law, let the counselor, lender, or loan servicer know. Then, file a complaint with:

• the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can do that online at ftc.gov or by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
• your state Attorney General's office or state banking regulatory agency.

       Whether a reverse mortgage is right for you is a big question. Consider all your options. You may qualify for less costly alternatives. The following organizations have more information:

        Reverse Mortgage Education Project

         AARP Foundation

         601 E Street, NW

         Washington, DC 20049

         www.aarp.org/revmort

         1-800-209-8085

        U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

         451 7th Street, SW

         Washington, DC 20410

         www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm

       1-800-CALL-FHA (1-800-225-5342)

        Federal Trade Commission

         Consumer Response Center

         600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

         Washington, DC 20580

         www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit.shtm Click on 'Mortgages & Your Home'


       1-877-FTC-HELP (�1-877-382-4357)


BE AWARE OF FRAUDULENT ATTEMPTS TO STEAL MONEY FROM YOU. If you have questions or concerns on offers of solicitations, we encourage you to contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at (603) 271-3641, or 1-888-468-4454 or Rye Police Department at (603)964-5522

Harold Moldoff is a volunteer Consumer Affairs Specialist with the Bureau of Consumer Protection and Antitrust, Concord, N.H. He is a resident of Rye Beach.


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July, 2010

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