Tag Archives: Home Equity Release

If I Release Equity, who is responsible for the maintenance of the house?

Equity release schemes can offer an important option to people who are looking to increase their cash flow and at the same time retain their home. If you are considering a home equity release, it is important to understand exactly what it entails and seek professional advice regarding the different policies available.

General information about equity release plans is widely available on the internet. There are many equity release FAQs available online, and this can give you a basic idea of what equity release means, as well as the associated benefits and risks. However, it is necessary to take advice from an independent financial expert about the specifics.

An independent financial adviser who has specialist knowledge about equity release plans and home equity release will have up to date information about different products and providers, as well as about which product is suitable for your particular situation. Another important factor is that an independent advisor has no affiliations to equity release providers and can therefore give far more impartial advice.

An equity release mortgage is a loan taken against the value of the house. Both home reversion loans, as well as lifetime mortgage equity release loans, need to be repaid to the lender once the house is sold. However, the house can only be sold after the owner has died or moved out and into permanent care. In case of joint applicants, this is done after the second applicant has died or moved into care.

When it comes to ownership, there is one key difference between lifetime mortgages and home reversion equity release plans. Home reversion involves selling part of the house and lifetime mortgage involves taking a loan against the house. As such, in home reversion the ownership of the house is transferred to the lender, and in lifetime mortgage, full ownership remains with the borrower. In both cases, the applicant is fully responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the house.

There are many equity release providers and increased competition in the market has resulted in more competition and better rates for customers. Also, improved and more flexible home equity release products are now available compared to mortgages available until a few years back. You can compare different equity release products on websites such as equity release supermarket.

What happens to my equity release if I want to move house?

As property prices have soared in the past two decades, home owners have seen an unprecedented rise in the value of their homes. As the cost of living increases, it is not at all surprising that the concept of releasing equity from your home to supplement your income during retirement has caught on furiously. Home equity release is essentially a loan that you can take against the value of your home, while continuing to stay in your property. This loan is recovered after the property is sold.

Home equity release plans are designed for older people, especially pensioners, who own a home but do not have sufficient cash flow to maintain a comfortable lifestyle or perhaps require additional money for a particular goal. The loan can be secured as a lump sum or more commonly in monthly installments. Home equity release is available in two main types of loans, home reversion plans, and lifetime mortgages.

There are no shortage of equity release schemes available on the market. There are many different companies offering different types of equity release loans, all promising to provide the optimum solution between keeping your property and increasing your income. As equity release becomes more and more popular, more flexible products are introduced to meet this growing demand.

One of the most common questions asked when it comes to home equity release is whether you can continue to live in the house for as long as you wish. The answer is yes, as most equity release loans are recovered only after the house can be sold. This can only be done after the owner has died or moved into long term care. However, it is absolutely necessary to understand all the terms and conditions of the equity release mortgage before going ahead with it.

While equity release mortgages work beautifully for thousands of pensioners who require an additional income, it also has its own drawbacks which could make it a wrong option for some. Once you have taken a home equity release loan, it is very difficult to back out due to the complicated terms of the contract. It is therefore vital to seek independent financial advice before signing an equity release loan contract.

You can get equity release explained by the financial expert who can guide you on which type of mortgage will suit you best. Independent advisers can give objective and fair advice on the pros and cons of different home equity release schemes for your particular circumstances. A lot of information is also available on financial resources on the internet, as well as on comparison sites which allow you to compare equity release plans.