Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity as a way to turn home equity into a liquid asset. Before you jump on a reverse mortgage, you need to understand the impact it can have on government benefits.
Reverse Mortgages and Government Benefits
The beauty of home ownership is found in the value of time. The longer you own a home, the more valuable it becomes to you as an asset. On one hand, you are paying off the mortgage over time, which is increasing the equity you have in your property. On the other, real estate tends to appreciate over time. This double whammy is what makes home ownership so attractive.
As your grow older and retire, converting your home equity into usable cash becomes an issue. Reverse mortgages are touted as a solution. A reverse mortgage is essentially a loan against your equity that does not need to be repaid until an event happens, usually the sale of the home. Essentially, you have reversed the process of a traditional mortgage. The lender is now giving you money in exchange for a piece of your home equity. You can get payments in lump sums, monthly or through credit lines depending upon the particular package you go with. As...