Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Housing Bill - Changes in the Right To Buy Scheme

Presently council tenants are able to purchase their rented property after 2 years of tenancy. However, this is about to change. As of the 18th January 2005, the new Housing Bill becomes law and the current 2 years will change to a period of 5 years. This means, that once the proposals come into force, any new council tenant will have to wait 5 years before having the option of buying their property.

There is also a proposal to extend the period during which landlords can require owners to repay some or all, of the discount given on a property in the case of an early resale.

Currently, purchasers of a property that has been bought on the right to buy scheme, can sell after 3 years with no requirement to make any repayments of the discount. The proposal suggests this should be extended to 5 years. Therefore, anyone who sells a property bought under the right to buy scheme within 5 years of the purchase, will be requested to repay a percentage of the given discount. Repayment figures are as follows: -


Currently
Sale within the 1st year – 100%
Sale within the 2nd year – 66%
Sale within the 3rd year – 33%


Proposal amounts
Sale within the 1st year – 100%
Sale within the 2nd year - 80%
Sale within the 3rd year - 60%
Sale within the 4th year - 40%
Sale within the 5th year – 20%

With the predicted drop in house prices in 2005 (meaning lower property valuations) combined with the new proposals further restrictions on council tenants wishing to purchase, now may be a good time to consider a right to buy.

The proposed changes in the right to buy scheme include measures to reduce the attraction of purchasing a discounted property with the prospect of selling it to make a profit.

The initial idea of the right to buy scheme was to give ordinary families the opportunity to own their own homes, something they may not have been able to afford otherwise. However there are concerns about the effects this has had on local housing stock and a number of people profiteering from potential windfalls in expensive property areas.

Exploitation in the Right to Buy Scheme

There have been several schemes where third party companies encourage tenants to purchase their homes under the right to buy scheme, by offering them cash incentives. The tenant purchases the property at a discounted price under the right to buy scheme and simultaneously exchanges contracts to sell the property to the company after 3 years at which point no discount penalty will be repayable. The tenant will lease the property to the company and move out of the home with a cash sum. This leaves the company free to rent out the property at the current market rental rates.

After three years the tenant sells the property to the company. The company will either continue to rent the property at market rates or the property will be sold on at a substantial profit.

The incentive for the tenant is the lump sum offered, which can be anywhere from £5000 to £26000 but is usually a percentage of the equity of the purchased property. This could be attractive to tenants who do not wish to purchase their current home or hope to purchase a property in another area as it will give them a ready made deposit to buy another home.

The new proposals are designed to make this type of sale less attractive and prevent profiteering as well as securing local housing for the less well off.

The proposed changes in section 180 and 182-189 of the Housing Act 2004 will come into effect on 18/1/2005.

For more information on a right to buy mortgage, visit Right To Buy website.

Nicola Bullimore has been working with people to resolve debt problems for a number of years. For more information regarding debt issues, please visit Debt Questions website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicola_Bullimore

Are Biweekly Mortgages Really Worthwhile

You may have heard people, especially mortgage lenders, extolling the virtues of biweekly payments, saying that you can save thousands of dollars and take 5-7 years off your mortgage--and then offering to set up a biweekly plan for you for as little as $400. But you don't have to spend $400 to begin saving money and time on your mortgage. In fact, you don't have to spend anything at all! You can set up a money-saving mortgage payment plan yourself--easily and at no extra cost.

The key is to look carefully at the fine print in many biweekly plans. You find that even though you'd be making biweekly payments, the lender may only post them to your account on a monthly basis, which means that you wouldn't be saving anything on interest, because mortgage interest is paid in arrears (as opposed to rent payments, which are paid in advance). Your only real savings would be in the fact that you'd be making the equivalent of one extra payment a year. That’s a good thing, of course, but you don't need to pay someone $400-500, possible monthly maintenance fees, to be able to accomplish the same results.

Here’s how biweekly payments save time and money: By making biweekly payments, you actually end up making an extra monthly payment each year. Over the course of a year, you'd make 26 payments (one every other week for 52 weeks), which is the same as making 13 monthly payments. Making one extra payment per year will shorten the life of your loan and save you thousands of dollars.

But you don't have to make biweekly payments to obtain those savings. Here are a couple examples of how you can save big money, using the same basic idea:

If you get paid every two weeks, divide your monthly principal and interest payment in half and then send your lender a check for that amount during those months in which you receive three paychecks. Just sending in those two extra checks will be the equivalent of one extra payment a year.

If you don't want to send lump checks, you can get the same results by dividing your monthly principal and interest payment by twelve and then adding that extra amount to your payment every month. Normally, that figure won't put too much extra strain on your budget, and it will add an extra mortgage payment to your loan every year.

You really can save significant amounts of money and shorten the life of your loan by making extra payments, but you definitely don't have to pay a lender $400-500 to do it. Making those extra payments is easy to do yourself, and at no extra charge--which is always a good thing.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher is the author of "Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars," "Credit Help! Get the Credit You Need to Buy Real Estate," and other books. Real estate financing questions? Visit the new Real Estate Credit Help Center for articles, Credit Tips ezine, and blog: http://www.recredithelp.com

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How Good a Deal Is Your Banks Mortgage Insurance Plan

When you go to the bank to get a mortgage, you'll inevitably be asked to take out mortgage insurance. The idea behind mortgage insurance is simply that if something happens to you or your spouse then your loan will be paid off which is good news for your family and the bank. Most financial institutions act like they are doing you a favor by offering you mortgage insurance through their own group plan, but are they?

The truth is that you could probably get a much better deal and at least an equal amount of protection by shopping around for your own insurance policy.

Essentially, mortgage insurance is no different than term-life insurance. With both, your policy only lasts for a specified period of time and pays its benefits if something happens to you or your spouse. The real difference comes down to how much control you'll have over your policy and how much you'll pay for it.

If you choose to use the mortgage insurance offered by the bank, you will not be able to customize a policy to fit your needs and you'll be lumped together with other borrowers under a group plan. Because of this, you will only have limited control over your policy. For example, through a third party provider, you would be able to choose your own beneficiary, decide how to spend the proceeds if necessary, and cancel the policy at any time. You would not have these options with a lending institution.

Additionally, the bank maintains the right to not renew your policy and to cancel the policy when you sell the house. If you find your own insurance provider, you can make those decisions yourself.

The other big difference is cost. A third party insurance policy's premiums will not go up, so you would pay the same premium today that you'd pay ten years from now. You won't get that same guarantee from a bank which can and probably will increase your premiums during the life of the policy. In most cases, you'll probably pay more through a bank anyway. In fact, you could pay as much as 40% more than you would if you shopped around and found your own insurance provider. Not to mention that the policy you take out through your bank will gradually decrease in value while a plan you select from an outside source will be worth the same amount during the entire policy period.

Of course, many people don't mind paying more for their mortgage insurance because it's more convenient than dealing with insurance agents. The truth is that you can easily find a policy that fits your needs and provides affordable premiums via the Internet. An organization, such as the Hughes Trustco Group, can even generate quotes for you from multiple insurance providers so you'll know that you're receiving the best deal possible on the policy you want.

The bottom line is that mortgage insurance is important and should be part of your home buying or refinancing preparations, but that does not mean you need to pay more or let the bank make important decisions for you. Instead, you should find your own personal plan from a third party provider which will let you stay in control of your policy and will save you money in the long run.

Ivon T. Hughes, The Hughes Trustco Group Ltd. Canadian Insurance Broker - Get a FREE Quote TODAY! Tel: (514)842-9001 Email: info@trustco.ca Web: http://www.trustco.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivon_T._Hughes

Selling Your Business Note

efore I go further, let me ask a question- if you won the lottery tomorrow, would you take the payout in a lump sum or in monthly payments?

Most people would take a lump sum because even though it might be less than the total prize, they would have control over a large sum of money now and could let the time value of money go to work and increase their winnings.So why then would you opt to get paid on your business sale over several years rather than take a lump sum payout?

The answer is probably because you didn't know that you could get cash for your business note. Peacock Capital can help you to sell your business note at a discount and cash out now, rather than later.

Advantages to sell your business note include:

• Walk away from a business you didn't want without having a financial anchor still attached to you for the next several years

• Use the balance owed to you to fund a new business, pay off debts or finance education for yourself or your loved ones- now!

• Avoid the risk that the buyer will default on the loan

• Avoid the risk of the buyer going bankrupt

• No need to wait for monthly payments

If you are going to sell your business, the following criteria should be structured into your note so that it will be more attractive to investors for purchase:

• Down payment of 30% or more

• Personal guarantee from the buyer

• Short term financing - the shorter the term the better

• Minimal seasoning of the note is needed - usually two months at least, depending on the type of business.

A note for a business that has substantial tangible assets will be easier to sell compared to one that does not - example: machine shop versus a coffee stand.

***Afra AmirSanjari is the Principal for Peacock Capital. Peacock Capital specializes in solving the cash flow challenges of Small/Medium Businesses, Government Vendors and Individuals with innovative financial solutions by providing a network for securing operating capital.
http://www.peacockcapital.com
info@peacockcapital.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Afra_AmirSanjari

Turn That Fixed Rate Mortgage Into A Goldmine

When you purchased your home, you most likely got a fixed interest rate mortgage with a 15 or 30 year term. These are the most popular mortgages in the industry. Even in the summer of 2004, when the interest-only or simple interest mortgage loans became popular, the average American stuck to the fixed rate. You see, the fixed rate offers security to conservative people, and the average American home buyer and home owner is a very conservative person.

Today, it's time to ignore that conservative nature and throw out that fixed rate mortgage. If you have a home, no matter when you purchased or refinanced your mortgage, you now need to refinance your fixed interest rate mortgage to an adjustable rate mortgage.

Now, before you begin to panic and start calling me all kinds of unsavory names, read on, and you'll see why an ARM is actually a cash goldmine, and you need to start panning for this gold immediately.

When I was originating loans fulltime, I could barely get the word ARM out of my mouth, before the customer would say, “Oh no! I don’t want an adjustable mortgage. I’ve heard how the rates change and your payment skyrockets, and some people actually lose their homes. No, no, I don’t want my rate to change.” Of course, once I illustrated the thousands of dollars they would save in just a few years and quashed all of those myths about loan payments “blowing up,” most of them decided the ARM was not the “devil loan” it’s made out to be.

But why risk an adjustment of your rate, you may ask, when you can have it fixed for the life of the loan? The answer is twofold and quite simple. The first part is the most important, and that is the average American either sells or refinances his or her home in four to seven years. So, if the chances are that you’ll sell or refinance in five years, why fix your rate for 30 years at a higher interest than you can get on an ARM?

The second reason to get an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is because the interest rates are so much lower than fixed rates. And since these great rates are fixed for a particular period, five years on a 5-year ARM and three years on a 3-year ARM, there really is no risk, at all. Again, in most adjustable rate mortgage programs, the interest rate does not adjust monthly or yearly (although programs with these types of adjustment periods do exist at much lower rates).

For example, as of publication of this article in 2004, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage was going for around 5.75%, and a 5-year Adjustable Rate Mortgage was going for about 4%. Suppose you’re financing $100,000. The 30-year fixed rate of 5.75% would give you a monthly payment of $583.57 (not including your taxes and insurance, which vary from state to state and county to county). The same $100,000 financed at 4.0% interest yields a monthly payment of $477.42. The difference in these two payments is $106.15. This is $1,273.80 each year, and $6,369.00 for five years. I can hear you saying, “Wow, that’s hard to believe,” but these are real numbers and real savings. You may be saying, “Sure, but the rates change.” This is true, but the difference in the fixed rate mortgages and the ARMs is almost always the same, regardless of what rates the market bears, so you’ll always save a ton of money in the difference in these two payments.

The numbers are even more staggering if you finance $150,000. The fixed rate payment is $875.36 and the 5-year ARM payment is $716.12 – a monthly savings of $159.24 and over $9,500 for five years. If you buy or refinance a home and finance $200,000 or more, you’ll save between $13,000 and $15,000 over five years, with the 4% rate as opposed to the fixed rate of 5.75%.

Bank that money and you can buy a decent car for cash, or pay for a year of college, or take a European vacation. Pretty powerful stuff, huh? Now, if you’re one of those people who is really into cutting into the term of your mortgage, and you can afford the higher fixed-rate payment, simply apply the difference back to the principal loan amount. You’ll build equity in your home very quickly, and you'll always have the option of paying the lower payment.

So, get your adjustable rate mortgage today, and start using your own personal goldmine.

Check out more great loan information now at Direct Lending Solutions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Barnes

Bankers Do not Want You to Know That You Pay for Your No Cost Home Loan Forever

With mortgage rates continuing on a downward trend, the competition in the business is fierce. A day never passes that I don't hear some crazy advertisement about a new loan program that XYZ mortgage company has and no one else offers. One of the oldest programs remains steadfast in both its high profile and its duplicity. This program is the No Cost Home Loan -- the one bankers say is free, but you actually pay for as long as you have the loan.

The no closing cost home loan is virtually everywhere. It is advertised in the mail, on radio and on TV all the time. "Hey, refinance your loan today, and there will be no closing costs," the ads scream. Wow, a free loan. Imagine the money you'll save. So, if you are in the market for a refinance loan or home equity line, which you probably should be, with rates at all-time lows, you might consider running to XYZ mortgage company, who is now offering free mortgage loans.

Just be careful you don't go bankrupt, along the way. Remember, the old cliche, Nothing in life is free, because it makes a lot of sense. You actually can get a mortgage with little or no closing costs. What bankers don't tell you (one of their great secrets) is that you pay a higher interest rate than you really qualify for, when you get your loan for "free." So, you might save $2,000 or $3,000 in closing costs, but your monthly payment could be $100 to $300 higher than it would have been if you had actually paid the costs.

Imagine taking this loan and saving $2,000 in total closing costs. Perhaps you borrow $200,000. Now, if you simply pay all the costs and tell the banker you want the best rate available, let's say it is 6% for this example, you would have a monthly payment of $1,199. Now, let's assume the wiley banker convinces you to pay no closing costs and take an in terest rate of 7%. He might say, "Now, your interest rate will be a bit higher, but you'll save $2,000 in closing costs." Sounds great, you might think.

What he doesn't do, though, is spell out the difference in the 6% rate you could qualify for, versus the 7% rate you choose to take for your "free" loan. If you borrow $200,000 at 7% interest, your monthly payment is $1,330. This is $131.00 more each month than you will pay on the same loan at 6% interest.

If you choose to pay the closing costs and save $131.00 monthly, it will take you 15 months to get your $2,000 in closing costs back. Now, if you keep this loan for five years beyond that first 15 months, you will save an additional $7,860 at the 6% interest rate. If you listen to the crafty banker, selling the No Cost Loan, you'll allow nearly eight thousand dollars to drift right up your home's chimney.

Unless the difference in the interest rate on your no closing cost loan and the loan with costs is a tiny amount, say .125%, you are almost always better off paying the costs. Be sure to ask what the difference in the rates is. Then learn exactly what the total closing costs will be. Calculate the difference in the two monthly payments (one with closing costs and one without). If that amount will pay back your closing costs in two years or less, and you intend to remain in your loan for at least five years, pay the costs and take the better rate.

Use this method, and you'll never go wrong.

Check out more great loan information now at Direct Lending Solutions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Barnes

Home Improvements Via Cash Out Refinance

If there is sufficient equity on your home you’ll be able to get all the money needed to pay for the materials and professional fees with a quick and hassle free approval process. Financing through cash out refinance loan is a cheap source of funds that can provide you with additional benefits like a reduction on the interest rate you pay for your current mortgage or a reduction on the loan installments you pay every month and thus reducing your overall debt exposure. This can also increase your credit score because your income/debt ratio will improve too.

How Does it Work?

If you have a mortgage on your home and you’ve paid already some installments or if your property’s value has increased, you probably have some equity on your home. This equity is an excellent source of inexpensive funds. But instead of using a home equity loan you can request a cash-out refinance loan.

A cash-out refinance loan is basically like a regular refinance loan, only you request a larger amount than your outstanding mortgage loan. The main portion of the loan is used to repay your previous mortgage and with the extra cash you can do whatever you want. In this case, you can use the money to make home improvements. The extra money obtained is part of your new mortgage and thus it is under the same loan terms.

The above implies that you will be getting incredibly cheap financing for your home improvements by taking advantage of the equity on your home. But, that’s not the whole deal, by refinancing your mortgage you can get several other benefits that make these transactions worthwhile.

Benefits

By refinancing you can get lower interest rates, longer repayment programs and thus, smaller loan installments. This can really improve your credit stance even if your overall debt increases. This is due to the fact that even if you owe more money, your income will suffer less because your debt will be spread over a longer period and with lower interests. The result of these variables is a considerably lower debt exposure.

Moreover, home improvements will raise your property’s value, providing you with more equity on your home and a new source of credit. In the long run, you will be increasing your ability to get finance while saving money at the same time. If timing, loan term, interest rate and other variables are chosen correctly home improvement’s costs can almost be null due to being compensated by the gains they’ll provide.

Last, but not least, your credit score will eventually reflect these changes and soon enough will raise to show that your debt exposure has decreased, that the value of your assets has increased and that your income/spending ratio has improved on the income side thus providing you with the ability to cope with new and larger loan installments.

Kate Ross is a professional consultant at Speedybadcreditloans with fifteen years in the financial field. She helps people in the process of securing personal loans, mortgage, refinance or consolidation loans and prevents consumers from falling into financial scams. Visit her Website and get more articles and smart tips on this and other financial issues.

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Warning: Hurricane Approaching - Is Your Home Equity Safe

Despite the lack of a hurricane this year, Florida residents must start preparing for the next hurricane season. You receive many advertisements and preparation lists to help you in your planning. But what about protecting the equity in your home?

"Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare," said Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center. "One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season."

Today, many Floridians are learning from the families that lost most of their money last year because it was “stored” in their homes. However, there are only a few Floridians who have taken the necessary steps to prepare their homes’ equity for a potential disaster. They have taken out a new mortgage that allows them to increase their liquidity and keep the money in a safe investment just in case another disaster happens like Katrina, Rita, and Wilma last year.

Senator Trent Lott, of Mississippi, is a good example of what happens to your home's equity in a disaster. Senator Lott lost his home during Katrina last year and stated he lost $400,000 due to the storm, representing half of his retirement “nest egg”. He is still fighting with the insurance company to receive the funds necessary to rebuild the house, after he settles; he has to wait in line to have his house rebuilt, a process that could take years, before he can take out his equity in the shape of a mortgage. If he had taken out a loan prior to the storm, he would have cash in the bank to keep paying his families’ living expenses and would be able to recover quicker.

After Rita moved through Port Arthur, TX, Mayor Oscar Ortiz had his house burn to the ground. Do you think he said that he was happy he just paid of his house? Well, he actually said, “the sad thing is, we just paid off the house”. Will Floridians be saying something similar if another hurricane hits this great state?

Floridians must decide if they would rather have $100,000 in home equity or $100,000 in the bank. If they choose the latter, they are probably going to be better off. They will have cash on hand to get them through any financial crisis that may arise and can live with less stress knowing that they can pay the bills for a long period of time, even without any income.

Remember, if you have all of your money in home equity, you will not be able to obtain a loan if a disaster hits. A mortgage is a loan against your ability to repay and the house must be in saleable condition for the lender to accept it as collateral. Many Americans have lost their equity after disasters because they were unable to make their mortgage payments and defaulted on the loan. Floridians need to prevent this from happening by acting now, before the next storm hits.

For more information on home equity not being a safe investment, contact Robert D. Ashby, Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, at (954) 432-3450 or visit www.solidrockmortgage.com. Properly managing equity and debt makes all the difference.

Robert D. Ashby is President of Solid Rock Mortgage, a licensed Mortgage Brokerage Business in the state of Florida. He has been in the financial services business since 1998 and obtained his Series 6 and 63 Securities Licenses as well as Life and Health Insurance Licenses in the state of Virginia. He moved to Florida in 2002 and decided to focus solely on mortgages, obtaining his Mortgage Broker License for Florida in 2003 and then opening Solid Rock Mortgage in 2004. He has become Florida’s first Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and Florida’s Debt and Equity Management Expert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Ashby

Can a Mortgage Actually Save Your Life

Almost everyone has savings in the bank, right? Well, the data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that despite our personal income increasing, our personal savings has decreased .2 percent during the months of October and November of 2005. That was even before the Christmas season. Recent data shows that for sixteen straight months, there has been a negative savings number.

What does this data mean? It means that on average, the typical American family is spending more than it earns. That amounts to increased use of credit cards or reducing our savings accounts. Ultimately, we are heading down the path of destruction.

Did you know that financial planners and those books you read on personal financial planning, including “Personal Finance for Dummies” by Eric Tyson, states that you should have three to six months of living expenses tucked away as an emergency fund?

Obviously, most Americans do not have this emergency fund. Most Americans do have a lot of equity in their homes due to the appreciation of their homes over the last few years. So there is a simple solution to many Americans lack of establishing an emergency fund.

So how does a mortgage save your life? Simply, it allows you to have an emergency fund available and ready for you. This will allow you to survive during an emergency situation. As in the case of unemployment, if you do not have the funds, you may not be able to pay your mortgage monthly and will end up in foreclosure, likely resulting in complete loss of all equity, no matter how much you had. It may even give you the money needed to pay for medical procedures that are required to save your life. It will definitely relieve stress in your life, keeping you healthier overall, just by knowing you have money available to pay the bills if necessary.

Also, in a disaster such as a hurricane, which would you rather have, $100,000 in equity in your home or $100,000 in cash or other investments? You can ask the mayor of Port Arthur, Texas that question. His statement after his house burned down in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita was, “The sad thing is, we just paid off our house!” Remember, the money you keep in liquid investments can pay your bills for months, even years.

The solution is to take out a mortgage in some form now, before the emergency happens. One reason is if the emergency keeps you from working, you will not qualify for the new loan at the time you need it. Also, if the house is damaged, you are not likely to obtain a mortgage until it is repaired. If you do not have an emergency fund, and you have some equity in your home, you need to look into your mortgage options now, before it is too late.

Robert D. Ashby is President of Solid Rock Mortgage, a licensed Mortgage Brokerage Business in the state of Florida. He has been in the financial services business since 1998 and obtained his Series 6 and 63 Securities Licenses as well as Life and Health Insurance Licenses in the state of Virginia. He moved to Florida in 2002 and decided to focus solely on mortgages, obtaining his Mortgage Broker License for Florida in 2003 and then opening Solid Rock Mortgage in 2004. He has become Florida’s first Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and Florida’s Debt and Equity Management Expert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Ashby

Five Reverse Home Mortgage Scams to Watch Out For

By all accounts, reverse home mortgage growth is set to explode. Baby boomers are reaching retirement and, for most, home equity makes up the largest part of their nest egg. Reverse mortgages will be the tools that many of these retirees will use to tap into this nest egg for retirement living expenses. The number of new HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) already has increased more than percent in the first nine months of 2006 over the same period one year ago.

But along with reverse home mortgage growth come increased opportunities for fraud and scams. Reverse mortgages are different from traditional mortgages in ways that make them attractive vehicles for scam artists:

  • reverse mortgages are products specifically designed for and targeted to senior citizens, the population group most vulnerable to fraud;
  • scam artists know that a reverse mortgages provide the senior homeowner with relatively easy access to a sizeable pool of cash; and,
  • reverse mortgages are harder to understand than traditional mortgages making it easier for the scam artist to confuse and take advantage of victims.

In this article we look at some of the tactics scam artists are using and the precautions reverse mortgage borrowers can take to protect themselves.

Scam Tactic One – Downplay Pre-Loan Counseling

An educated borrower is the scam artist’s worst enemy – but it’s up to the borrower to educate themselves and take advantage of counseling and other opportunities to learn about reverse mortgages.

All three major reverse mortgage programs – HUD HECM, Fannie Mae’s Home Keeper and Financial Freedom – require potential borrowers to have counseling with an independent counselor specially trained in reverse mortgages before taking out a loan.

In a recent Detroit-area fraud case, a corrupt lender was able to keep the borrower in the dark about the amount she was eligible to borrow. She thought her loan would be for $61,000 when in fact she was borrowing $103,000. Guess who pocketed the $42,000 difference? A thorough counseling session would have given the homeowner an accurate idea of the true amount she was eligible for. Unfortunately for the victim, the prosecutor in the case says this never happened:

“A counseling meeting explaining the reverse mortgage process was required by Financial Freedom before the loan could be processed. Mr. James allegedly informed Ms. Schultz that he would be able to waive the counseling meeting by just asking a few questions over the phone.”

Precaution: Although counseling by telephone is allowed, it is always best to meet face-to-face with the counselor. If you find that anyone you’re working with in the process suggests that counseling can be done quickly over the phone or otherwise downplays the importance of pre-loan counseling, be highly suspicious.

Scam Tactic Two – Forgery

Forgery is a key part of many scams. In the Detroit case cited above, the lender requested the title company to prepare two checks payable to the homeowner: one for $61,000 which the homeowner received and a second one for $42,000 which the corrupt lender endorsed with a forged signature and deposited into his own account.

In one California case, two con artists – one working as a financial advisor the other a handyman - convinced an elderly homeowner to take out a reverse mortgage to pay for home repairs. The financial advisor opened an account for the proceeds of the loan and forged the victim’s name to gain access to funds.

Another California case reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows how dangerous it can be to sign "unfinished" documents:

Mrs. Sally Scott is 66 years old. While she receives Social Security and pension checks, she still can't make ends meet. She saw an ad for a "reverse" mortgage — a loan that allows seniors age 62 or older to receive cash by borrowing against their homes and does not require repayment as long as they live there. Seeking a little financial cushion, she spoke to a mortgage broker about a $10,000 reverse mortgage.

When she received the loan papers, she noticed that the loan amount was $200,000. The broker promised that he'd change the figure, but insisted that she sign the paperwork first. Trusting the broker, Mrs. Scott signed.

A week later, she received a check for $200,000. She immediately notified the broker, who apologized for the mistake and instructed her to wire the money back. As it turned out, the account that Mrs. Scott returned the money to belonged to the broker. He disappeared, leaving her with a mortgage in default and no way to repay the loan.

Precaution: Never sign documents with blanks to be filled in or corrections to be made later. Carefully protect access to your checking and other accounts. Review and reconcile checking account and loan statements regularly. If you find something awry, contact your financial institution immediately.

In the Detroit case cited above, the victim caught on to the scam when she received a loan statement indicating the balance of her reverse mortgage (including interest) totaled $131,000.

Also, take advantage of the free credit reports available to you under federal law. Reviewing your credit report each year is also a good way to catch unauthorized financial activities under your name.

Scam Tactic Three – Charging for Free Reverse Mortgage Information

The complexity of reverse mortgages means that it is natural for borrowers to seek assistance and guidance to help them understand the loan process, find a lender or, generally, better understand what they are getting into. Some scammers have seized on this to offer – for a fee - reverse mortgage information and services that are available to consumers at no charge.

For example, some senior homeowners have been contacted by firms offering to assist them in finding a reverse mortgage lender, in exchange for a percentage of the loan. This type of arrangement should always be avoided. According to HUD’s website:

HUD does NOT recommend using an estate planning service, or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender! HUD provides this information without cost, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. Call 1-800-569-4287, toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.

Precaution: Walk away from anyone who offers to find a reverse mortgage lender for a fee. Use the internet to find free information about reverse mortgages or, read one of the several excellent books that have been published in recent years.

If you feel you have need for a professional financial planner to assess your overall situation – including the reverse mortgage decision - find a certified financial planner (CFP) who works on a fee-only basis and who is knowledgeable of reverse mortgages (many aren’t).

Scam Tactic Four – Posing as a Government or Non-Profit Representative

The most popular form of reverse mortgage – the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) – is an official program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, neither the HECM program nor other reverse mortgage programs are marketed directly to senior homeowners by government employees.

Unscrupulous reverse mortgage salesmen have been known to represent themselves to elderly homeowners as government representatives or volunteers for non-profit organizations.

Precaution: Be sure you know who you are dealing with and what organization they represent. Do not be timid about asking for information such as their home office location and phone number. Use resources like HUD and the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) to check out the company. Also, check complaint sites like www.ripoffreport.com.

Scam Tactic Five – Bundling Things with Reverse Mortgage Financing

Smart consumers know that the best way to shop for a car is to separate the parts of the transaction – purchase, financing and trade-in – from each another. With a bundled transaction, it’s easy for the consumer to be befuddled and not understand the true cost of the overall deal. What appears to be a “great price” on the car may mask exorbitant finance charges or a low trade-in value.

Similarly, a common tactic of scam artists is to bundle reverse mortgage financing with something else such as home improvements, annuities, risky investments, living trusts or other estate planning products.

In one Seattle-area case, elderly consumers were told that living trusts must be purchased in order to obtain a reverse mortgage. In another case, seniors were encouraged to take out a reverse mortgage and use the proceeds to “invest” in truck-mounted billboards.

Frequently, two or more scammers work as a team. For example, in the California case cited earlier, an unscrupulous financial advisor steered the homeowner to a home repair contractor who was party to the scam and who grossly overcharged the victim for repair work.

If you find yourself dealing with someone who attempts to bundle a reverse mortgage with another product or service or steer you to a particular contractor/lender, be highly suspicious. If you feel at all uncomfortable or that the person is using high-pressure sales tactics, walk away.

Precaution: When home improvements or estate planning services are needed, shop for the best deal. It’s best for you to find what you’re looking for rather than them finding you. Homeowners should avoid doing business with anyone who comes uninvited to the door, makes an unsolicited phone call or whose name is found randomly on a flier.

When you’ve found the best deal, then weigh your financing options – including a reverse mortgage. Keeping these decisions separate will protect you from possible fraud and help ensure you get the most for your money.

Tim Paul is a financial management executive with more than 25 years experience. His websites focus on personal finance issues including HELOC Loans and reverse mortgages.

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