February 15, 2011
We've warned readers in previous blog posts about mortgage scams and third-party companies that try to charge consumers for services they can get for free. The FHA official site has plenty of warnings in its pages about being an informed borrower, advising FHA loan applicants to contact the FHA directly if they have questions about fees they should or shouldn't be paying.
February 14, 2011
An FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan (or HECM for short) is available for qualified borrowers age 62 and older who have equity built up in their home and want to borrow against it. HECM loans are described by the FHA as being a great deal different than the traditional second mortgage for several reasons; "With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments...."
January 7, 2011
FHA Reverse Mortgage Loans, also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages or HECM, provide a way for seniors age 62 and older to borrow against the equity in their homes. Under HECM loan rules, the borrower does not make monthly mortgage payments--the home is paid off when it is sold or when the borrower dies. But that lack of monthly mortgage payments may lead some borrowers to assume there are no payments due on the home whatsoever. This is not true--property taxes are still due, as are hazard insurance premiums or other commitments.
January 6, 2011
FHA reverse mortgages, also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, are a way for qualified borrowers to take out a home loan against the equity built up in them without having to worry about monthly mortgage payments. The FHA reverse mortgage program requirements are set up for a specific group of eligible borrowers. Do you know if you qualify? Here are the basic facts about FHA-insured Reverse Mortgages or HECM loans:
December 30, 2010
FHA HECM loans are designed for borrowers who are 62 and older who want to take advantage of the equity built up in their homes. HECM, which stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage and is also known as an FHA Reverse Mortgage, allows qualified borrowers to apply for an FHA loan which uses equity as the security for the loan. HECM loans have no monthly mortgage payments. The borrower pays off the loan in full if the property is sold or the borrower dies. Because of the structure of FHA HECM loans, the borrower can use the proceeds from the loan as a line of credit, choose to get monthly payments instead, or a combination of the two.
December 28, 2010
FHA HECM loans or reverse mortgages are designed for borrowers age 62 and older. These mortgages are designed to let qualified applicants take out a loan against the equity in the home--loans that can be used for living expenses, home improvements, even the purchase of a primary residence if the borrower is willing to pay (in cash) the difference between the FHA HECM loan amount and the sales price and closing costs. According to the FHA, HECM loans differ from typical home loans or second mortgages because, "no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence or fail to meet the obligations of the mortgage."
December 21, 2010
There are many myths to dispel about FHA home loans. The most popular ones include the notion that the FHA actually lends money (it doesn't) and the idea that if you earn "too much" money you can't apply for an FHA mortgage (you can). There are also myths about age. According to FHA rules, there is no maximum age limit for FHA borrowers. Anyone who qualifies for an FHA home loan is eligible to apply regardless of how old they are. All income, credit, and occupancy rules apply to FHA borrowers regardless of age, but there is no "cut off" point where the government would refuse to guaranty a loan simply because of how old the applicant may be.
November 19, 2010
The FHA offers a wide range of home loans and government home loan refinancing programs, but one in particular is just for seniors who have equity in their homes. Known as a HECM or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the FHA advertises HECM loans as "a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements and more."
May 28, 2009
When you take out an FHA reverse mortgage or HECM, no payments are due until you sell the home. Did you know there are other situations that could make your loan come due? Here are four situations to be aware of that cause your FHA reverse mortgage to come due even if you haven't sold your home.
May 20, 2009
Homeowners who want to take advantage of the equity built up in their homes over the years have conventional loan options to choose from, but did you know the FHA also offers reverse mortgages to those who qualify? The FHA offers Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loans, also known as FHA reverse mortgages.