With Equity Release Schemes, You Can Get Money Today
The equity you have in your home is determined by the market value it has minus any secured debts you have on it such as an outstanding mortgage. An equity release scheme lets you get some of this equity in cash without the need to meet an ongoing monthly payment, and allows you to +still reside there. They come in two basic types.
The basic types of equity release plans are called home reversions and lifetime mortgages. You have to be a certain number of years old for these plans. The exact age is dependent upon the company you work with but it is usually at least over 50, sometimes much older.
With the home reversion plan, you sell either all or part of your home to a reversion company. They will generally pay you out in a lump sum. You can continue to live in the home either for no rent or for a nominal fee as long as you wish or until you pass on. How much you will receive depends on the percentage of the property being sold, its value and your current age.
Lifetime mortgage plans come in several options. For each one, you will still retain ownership of your home. The money is borrowed against its value and you still pay your mortgage each month.
The first type of lifetime mortgage plan is called the Roll-up Plan. You can receive your loan in either a lump sum of cash or as a regular monthly payment. Interest is added to the loan but not paid until the home is actually sold either when you move out die.
The interest will accrue on the loan and all prior interest so when you take the loan in a lump sum, it adds up fast. With the drawdown version of this plan, the money is taken out in smaller regular payments or only as needed. This way, the debt does not grow as quickly.
Drawdown equity release mortgages are amongst the most popular as they can significantly reduce the rolled up interest that would otherwise be added to the loan. A minimum initial lump sum of between 10,000 and 25,000 is usually set by the equity release provider.
With an interest only lifetime mortgage it can be possible to agree at outset a defined length of time that interest will be payable for, before the loan reverts to having the interest roll up against the loan. This is often considered by those below the age of 60 – 65 who are still able to afford the interest payments in the short term, but wish to have the security of fixing their lifetime mortgage rate now.
Home income plans also involve being paid in a lump sum but this is used for purchasing an annuity to provide a regular income. The income is then used partially for paying the interest which is usually at a rate that is fixed. How you use the remaining income is at your discretion. When your home is sold, the loan is paid off. This type of plan is more advantageous if you are older rather than recently retired.
There are a lot of factors to think about when engaging in an equity release. Be sure that you understand all the terms involved. It is a good idea to get some expert advice before you commit to one of them.
An equity release allows home owners access to equity in cash without having to sell or move out of their homes. We have got the best inside information on lifetime mortgage
Tags: equity release, lifetime mortgage, Mortgages, personal finance

