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Reverse Mortgage Application Process

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Sure, retirement may sound like the perfect end to your career, but it won’t be fun without money to spend, right? 

Luckily, there is a solution for you. You can take out a reverse mortgage, also known as a retirement loan.

This can help with your financial woes. If you are not familiar with this kind of loan and how it works, I have some tips that may help you. 

Paying Back the Loan

With this type of loan, you don’t have to worry about paying back the loan in monthly installments like you would with a regular mortgage.

When you take out a reverse mortgage, you can access money for your retirement that is determined by a percentage of the value of your home. There is no payback date and you only have to start repaying the money if you move out of your home. 

However, the choice is yours whether or not you want to repay the money immediately or once the loan is over. Since this type of mortgage is so flexible, you have more control over how you choose to repay what you have borrowed. 

How to Get Your Money

If you are approved for the reverse mortgage, you will need to figure out how you want your money. Luckily, there are several simple ways to obtain your funds. 

You can choose to set up monthly payments, just like a salary. This gives you more control over budgeting and spending limits. It is the most common option amongst those who get a reverse mortgage. 

Second, you can take out a line of credit. This gives you the freedom to spend the money when you need it. It’s kind of like using a credit card. 

Lastly, you can take the whole amount as a lump sum. This is the ideal option if you already know you have to cover large expenses such as a wedding, car repairs, or medical bills. 

Don’t Push Your Limits

Sure, the reverse mortgage may seem like it’s on top of the pedestal when compared to a regular mortgage, but it’s important that you don’t get too carried away. One of the downsides of reverse mortgage loans is you are still responsible for paying the interest that comes with borrowing the money. If you can’t pay back the complete amount at the end of your loan, you will need to sell your home to cover the cost of the reverse mortgage. 

For this reason, you will need to correctly calculate what your home is currently worth.

This will help to obtain the proper percentage that you can borrow from in the form of the reverse mortgage. When you go to the lender with your plan, they will use a reverse mortgage calculator.

It will take into consideration the age of your home, location of the property, and the overall condition of your home when determining its value. You can’t borrow the full value under federal laws, but the calculator will make the application process fair and equal for all parties involved.