Real Estate Information and Advice

Archive for June, 2010

Nowadays when people want to buy real estate, they prefer to choose Condominiums. There are many advantages in buying a condominium than buying a regular house. Once you read this article, maybe you can consider buying a condominium.

First of all, condominiums are sold at a much lower cost as compared to a house in the same locality. It may seem wiser to many people who buy condominiums if they are looking to live in a place where the real estate price is expensive. They would enjoy the same surroundings for a much cheaper price!

It is not just the price that seems attractive about a condominium. There are a lot of other benefits that come within the same price. Condominiums will remove the worries you may have of what you needed to do to maintain the front or backyard! There would be no hassle of a garden. You, as an owner, would be provided with parking and it hence spares you the despair of parking during winter or your driveway maintenance.

Most of these condominiums also have various recreational facilities like a gym or a swimming pool which is an added advantage for you as you would not have to look elsewhere for the same facilities. Some of them also have provisions for doing your laundry. This would avoid you the trouble of going out and finding a washer and dryer.

This option would also cut out on many other expenses. You would not have to think about repairing your roof due to some damage or other exteriors like getting a paint job done, or replacing your doors and windows. One would not have to think about the initial expenses at all that you would otherwise have to in case of buying a house. A house owner will have a lot of responsibilities like regular upkeep and maintenance of the house. Most people either have not enough time, capital or sometimes health to ensure the house is well taken care of. Condominiums would eliminate all this worry and you would not be so tormented.

Something else that may be of interest is that condominiums would be much simpler to resell in case the need arises. Suppose you do not want to sell it but instead only want to relocate keeping the place, you can just rent or lease the condominium. People would prefer a condominium to a house due to the fact that it is more convenient and hence would allure many more prospective tenants. Areas around the waterfront are also quite popular for condominiums if you wish to be close by the waters. People who own waterfront properties generally decide on condominiums as they provide accommodation to many more than what an independent house can provide. Condominiums are a more viable option for people who intend to build houses for the purpose of selling them. This is so because they are cheaper and one piece of land can provide place to many more condominiums than houses which in turn is more profitable for the owner.

So as you may have realized, condominiums are gaining popularity these days and there are abundant reasons explaining the same.

A Reverse Mortgage is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can’t be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.

Most Reverse Mortgages today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.

Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?

All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.

How can a borrower use the money?

The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams.  The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:

Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards

Home repairs and remodeling

Living expenses

Travel

Health care or long-term care

Easing the financial burden on children

Education

Hobbies

Escalating property taxes

The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.

What are the costs?

As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.

What consumer protections are in place?

Reverse Mortgages are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.