Tag Archives: Home Reversion

How Far Has The Lifetime Mortgage Evolved?

The concept of lifetime mortgage to release the equity held in one’s property initially started somewhere in the mid of 1960s. It is based on a simple process to use the value of your property without having to move out of it. These schemes were not as popular then, as they are today because they were neither systematic nor regulated, which gave birth to several poorly devised products called Shared Appreciated Mortgages that made it look like a poor product in those times. Even today, we cannot forget the stigma that still lingers on amongst today’s elderly population in 1990s.

The government understood the need of regulating equity release schemes to provide consumer protection after the sad events that happened in 1990s. There was a need to protect the consumer rights which motivated the introduction of Safe Home Income Plan, abbreviated as SHIP. It laid down certain voluntary measures to be followed by the institutions offering these lifetime mortgage schemes to get their schemes included under the scope and definition of SHIP. Ship has now been superseded by the Equity Release Council (ERC) which lays down the precedents by which all equity release firms & advisers must adhere to.

These new equity release schemes that meet the ERC criteria have to leave the consumer with the right to repay the loan at anytime which secured against the mortgage of the property, if they want, although against some early repayment charges may be levied. It is even mentioned at www.equityrelease2go.com that all the lifetime mortgage plans must have the inclusion of no negative equity guarantee, so that the consumers need not worry about the liabilities stretching beyond the value of the property. With the increasing flexibility and portability, the consumers even got the rights to move to a houses freely and either transfer the equity release scheme or repay it.

All these schemes are today regulated under the guidelines laid down by FSA as well as Equity Release Council. In 2004, the Financial Services Authority fully regulated these schemes as well as the institutions offering these schemes so as to guard the interest of consumers at large all across UK.

Home reversion plans were merged with lifetime mortgages under the guidance of FSA in 2007. Today, these schemes offer greater flexibility to the consumers, enhanced plans for people suffering from several health ailments as well as the options of only paying interests through the interest only lifetime mortgage plan.

Lifetime mortgage schemes have evolved today as one of best products available, in the right place, at the right time to enhance the lifestyle of people even beyond the age of 55.

Is It Hard Releasing Equity From Your Home?

It is not at all hard to release equity from your home under the given market conditions. Releasing equity from your home can be a straight forward event under the right advice from brokers or independent financial advisers. It is important that you seek advice only from the qualified and approved independent financial advisers. They can help and guide you in understanding all the key features as well as the associated risks related to the different equity release schemes regulated by the Equity Release Council.

The eligibility for taking an equity release on your home in not difficult. You must be at least 60 year old for opting a home reversion plan, however the minimum age for lifetime mortgages is defined as 55 years by most of the equity release providers. You must also own a home in UK, which is in reasonable state and free from any outstanding mortgage.

If the house is under some shared arrangement with your spouse or partner then the equity release can be taken jointly by the consent of both the partners. Moreover, in joint occupancy cases, the age of the youngest homeowner must be at least 55 years. The process starts by fixing an appointment with a financial independent adviser or broker. Financial adviser will recommend you some equity release schemes depending on your individual requirement and financial state.

The application process for releasing equity from your home starts by filling an application form with the help of your financial adviser. He will also help you to submit the form to an equity release provider along with the required fees. The equity release provider will appoint a RICS qualified surveyor to visit your home and do the valuation of your property after your application form is received.

An offer will be made to you stating the amount that can be borrowed and your solicitor will help you understand all the legal terms and conditions attached to it. You as well as your solicitor will be required to sign the acceptance form and send it back to the equity release provider. After completing all the legal checks and formalities, the equity release provider will release the funds to your solicitor who will assist you to get the money transferred in your account.

Are you entitled to an Enhanced Equity Release Plan?

One of the most discussed financial topics these days is equity release. Most people are still unaware of equity release plans and their benefits; however, those who are aware of these plans are using them to their full advantage to fund their retirement. Equity release is your solution to having a comfortable life after retirement when your income sources will not be the same or as much as you were accustomed to before. Therefore, if you own a property and you are in retirement, you can use your property as an income source during your lifetime as a retiree.

There are two types of enhanced equity release plans: lifetime mortgages and home reversion. This article will focus mostly on the enhanced lifetime mortgage as this is the most common plan availed by customers and will try to highlight the details which can help you in finding out whether you are eligible or not for either.

Lifetime mortgages and enhanced lifetime mortgages may sound familiar but in reality they are two different plans. Actually, the lifetime mortgage is designed for those who own a property and may need the money to maybe maintain their standards of living, pay for bills etc. The enhanced lifetime mortgage is the same as a lifetime mortgage but it also enhances the payout for your business. This equity release scheme is a bit more generous and allows the user to avail more benefits as compared to the normal lifetime mortgage. This is indeed perfect for all those who are looking to borrow more money in order to meet their health care needs.

Well, in order to avail this enhanced equity release scheme you have to appear in front of a tribunal which will ask you various questions related to your health and lifestyle therefore it is important you should know about the questions beforehand so you can answer confidently. The most commonly asked questions are as follows. What is your weight? What is your height? If you smoke, which brand do you mostly use? They even ask you questions related to your eating habits, blood pressure and other details related to your lifestyle.

Your answers to these questions will determine whether or not you are eligible to receive the benefits of enhanced equity release. There are not many providers in the market who are offering enhanced equity release. You can check out their plans and choose the one which suits you the best.

Why Has Aviva Ditched their Home Reversion Plan?

A home reversion plan is an equity release scheme that gives homeowners the opportunity to sell their property or a part of it in order to obtain money that they can spend on whatever they want. A home reversion plan allows homeowners to remain in their home although they have transferred the legal title of their home to the home reversion provider. They are free to remain in their home rent free until they pass away or until they are no longer capable of taking care of themselves.

A home reversion plan is portable. This means that if for any reason homeowners need to move to a new home, the plan can be transferred to the new home as long as the new home is eligible. One of the advantages of a home reversion plan is that homeowners are not required to sell their entire property. If they sell just a part of it, they can leave the other part as an inheritance for their family.

The home reversion plan is not one of the most popular equity release schemes due to the fact that the property is sold for less than its market value. The home reversion provider purchases the property for a lower value as a form of compensation for allowing the homeowners to continue to remain in the property. If the homeowners would like to buy back the share of their property that they sold, they will have to pay the full market value. So they still end up losing.

Aviva is one of the best known & trusted equity release provider. Aviva has been providing home reversion plans as well as lifetime mortgages to homeowner over the years via Grainger PLC. However, they have now decided to withdraw its home reversion plan with immediate effect.

Most people choose the home reversion plan because it provides them with the option of being able to leave an inheritance. This option is now being included in the roll-up lifetime mortgage schemes of Aviva which is why it has decided to no longer place emphasis on the home reversion plans.

When homeowners are considering equity release, it is advisable for them to involve their family in the decision process as any decision will impact on their eventual inheritance.

How does a Lifetime Mortgage Scheme and a Home Reversion differ?

As people live for longer, planning carefully for retirement becomes more and more important. Living costs are on the rise, and there are a growing number of people who own valuable property but are strapped for cash during old age. This is why equity release schemes have become a popular concept. Because it allows people to free up the equity tied up in their homes, without the need to sell the property or move.

Equity release schemes have come a long way since they were first introduced to the market. Rising demand for equity release solutions resulted in increased competition among providers, and today, the equity release market is much more favourable for customers. Equity release plans available today are much more flexible, and interest rates are also generally lower than a few years back.

The two main types of equity release are lifetime mortgage deals and home reversion schemes. Both types of equity release allow customers to free up some of the equity built up in their home and use it as cash. The amount can be taken as a lump sum or in the form of monthly installments. Most equity release schemes need to be repaid only when the owner has died or moved into care, which is when the property can be sold.

A lifetime mortgage is a loan that is taken out on the property. In this case, the applicant retains full ownership of the house. The loan along with the accumulated interest is repaid once the property is sold. Interest that is incurred on the amount is added to the principle amount, so that effectively, interest is charged on the previous interest. This is known as compound interest. One of the most common concerns with compound interest is that the debt can quickly grow very large.

There are some new lifetime mortgages known as interest only mortgages, which do not incur any compound interest. Instead, interest is paid monthly, and in the end the amount to be repaid remains exactly the same as the original amount that was borrowed. Interest only lifetime mortgages may have higher interest rates in order to be financially viable for the lender.

Home reversion plans involve selling a certain portion of the property to the lender. The ownership is transferred into the lender’s name, and the customer retains some portion of the ownership. When the house is sold, the lender retains the same proportion of the sale value. Both home reversion and lifetime mortgage equity release schemes have their own pros and cons. If you’re considering equity release as an option, consult a financial advisor for objective and professional guidance.

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.

When does the Equity Release Lender require their money back?

It is all very well to own a real estate property, but when it comes to day to day life, what is required is cold, hard cash flow! One way of turning a home into cash is to sell the property and move into another place. Another option is to get an equity release mortgage on the property. Equity release schemes allow you to free up some of the value built up on the property without the need to sell or move out.

One of the main attractions of equity release is the fact that it allows you to continue living in the same house, while giving you the flexibility to use up a portion of the equity built up on the property as cash. This is essentially a loan, which is repaid to the equity release provider once the house is sold. So when is the house sold? Equity release schemes work in such a way that the property cannot be sold until the owner has either died or moved into permanent care. Once this happens, the house is sold and the money recovered.

A common concern is that an equity release mortgage can run up huge debts that can even turn into negative equity on the house. This means that once the house is sold, if the sale price of the house is lower than the amount owed, this needs to be paid as well. While this may have been a potential risk with some equity release schemes in the past, most modern equity release plans come with a no negative equity guarantee.

An equity release mortgage is designed to last over a long period of time, however, this is not to say that the loan cannot be repaid earlier if chosen. Many equity release schemes, however, have early repayment charges which apply if the loan is paid ahead of the contract term. These charges are meant to protect the lender from losses incurred due to early repayment.

Whether it is a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan, most equity release schemes have certain guarantees that ensure that the owner can continue to live in the property for as long as they live, and that the property cannot be sold until then. However, an equity release mortgage is a big thing and has serious implications. It’s important to seek expert unbiased advice to find out whether it is the right option for you.

How is my Equity Release paid off?

Equity release is a relatively new concept in the world of finance. When property prices began to soar over the last two decades, a situation arose where many people owned valuable properties, but due to rising costs of living did not have enough income to support their lifestyle during retirement. Equity release was an answer to this gap in the market.

Equity release mortgages allow you to free up some of the equity built up on your property, without the need to sell the house. It allows you to continue living in the house, but free up some of the value of the house and get it as a loan, either as a lump sum or in smaller regular installments.

The two main types of equity release mortgages are lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. A lifetime mortgage is a loan taken against the home. Interest is generated on the loan, which usually compounds and results in a debt much bigger than the original loan. However, such loans do not need to be repaid until the homeowner dies or moves into permanent care, and the house is sold.

Modern equity release mortgages have a no negative equity policy. This means that if your debt becomes larger than the sale value of the house, the negative equity does not need to be repaid and is written off by the lender. This is how lifetime mortgages are repaid. In case of a joint application, the loan is expected to be repaid only after both the applicants have either died or gone into care.

Home reversion is a way to sell a portion of the house notionally, and take the loan of that amount. The loan and interest are repaid when the house is sold. The principal amount that needs to be repaid is the same proportion borrowed of the total sale value of the house. Therefore, the amount that needs to be repaid reflects the market value when the property is sold.

When interest builds up on the principal amount, this interest is added to the principal and the next year, interest is charged on this bigger amount. This compounding interest can result in huge debts, which is one of the main risks concerning equity release mortgages. Equity release lenders now offer what are known as interest only lifetime equity release mortgages wherein unlike roll up mortgages, you only pay the interest every month and when the equity release scheme ends, the amount to be returned remains the same as the amount borrowed.

Can anyone else live in the property if I take out Equity Release?

Equity release schemes are essentially loans that one can take out against the value of their property. This loan plus the interest that has accrued on it over the years is repaid once the owner has died or moved into long term care, and the house is sold at market value. In a time when living costs are on the rise, home owners are turning towards equity release as an option for financial planning during retirement.

There are two main types of equity release plans, the lifetime mortgage plan and the home reversion plan. Lifetime mortgage is exactly that – it is a loan that is designed to last the entire life of the applicant, and is repaid along with the interest when the house is sold. The applicant legally owns the house and can live in it as long as they live or move into long term care. In case of joint applicants, the house cannot be sold until both the applicants have died or moved into care.

In home reversion plans, a part of the house is sold to the lender. Once the house is sold, proportional share of the sale value of the house is repaid to the provider. Home reversion is not a loan against the house, but a notional selling of part of the house. Both equity release plans accrue compound interest on the loans.

One of the main advantages of an equity release scheme is that you can continue to live in your own home. Of course, that it generates an additional income is also an important advantage, but this could also be achieved by downsizing. Applicants can live in their home for as long as they live. Many people also use equity release loans to pay for home care, so that they can go on living in their own home.

Once the applicants have moved out or died, the equity release scheme ends and the house must be sold. The applicant’s family cannot continue to live in the house after this, unless the full amount of the loan plus interest can be repaid immediately by some other means. In case of home reversion plans, the loan amount increases in proportion to the market value of the house when it is sold.

Sometimes it may be necessary to add another applicant to an existing equity release plan. In cases where joint applicants get divorced, it may also be necessary to remove an applicant from a plan. It is possible to do this, in theory, but is subject to the lender’s terms and conditions for that particular loan. It is therefore important to seek specialist advice and guidance before taking any step related to equity release.

Do I need insurance if I apply for an Equity Release Plan?

As property prices have risen dramatically over the past two decades, thousands of homeowners find themselves in a position where they own valuable property but require additional cash flow to support them during retirement. This has led to equity release plans becoming increasingly popular in recent times. These loans allow homeowners to continue living in their property whilst freeing up some of the value of the house in the form of a cash lump sum, or monthly payments.

There are mainly two types of equity release schemes, lifetime mortgages and home reversion mortgage. A home reversion plan is where you sell a proportion of the property in terms of value, and this loan is repaid after the house is sold. A lifetime mortgage means that you mortgage the home against the loan, and make interest payments over your lifetime. In both the loans, the balance is recovered after the house is sold. This is usually after the owner has died or moved into long term care.

As the equity release market has matured, mortgages have become more flexible in their terms. Today there is a wide variety of loans available in terms of how you repay, period of repayment etc. There are equity release comparison sites that can help you get an idea of the different types of loans on offer.

Equity release plans essentially offer loans against the property as collateral. As such, most equity release lenders require the applicant to have a valid home insurance policy on the property. This is meant to protect the property from damage due to different causes, such as fire or flooding. Home insurance in this case means buildings insurance and not just home contents insurance.

An independent financial adviser can give you objective and sound advice on equity release in general and give you information about the different equity release plans available. Too much choice can be confusing and an adviser can help you choose the right loan for you. An adviser can also provide accurate guidance on the procedure of applying for an equity release mortgage and the type of insurance you are required to get etc.

Equity release loans do not suit everyone, but could be the perfect option for many. Whether you’re looking to raise extra cash for a specific goal, or boost your regular monthly income, freeing up some of the equity in your property without selling your home could be just the option you’re looking for.