Reverse mortgage counseling sessions have increased as more seniors seek out ways to soften the financial shock endured by the country during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, but the reasons that seniors ultimately seek a reverse mortgage are not uniformly consistent. This is according to perspectives compiled from counselors at three major agencies which conduct reverse […]
The modern reverse mortgage product landscape has grown significantly in recent years to include a variety of different options that are either sponsored by the federal government, or that don’t include the government at all. As proprietary reverse mortgage options continue to become more prevalent, there is potential for the product landscape to become more […]
Understandably, counseling is an element of the reverse mortgage transaction which has been noticeably affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Reverse mortgage industry players at all levels often relate how senior clients prefer to conduct financial business transactions through face-to-face interactions, but given the recommendations and orders made by local, state and federal […]
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) business in the state of Massachusetts has been effectively put on pause by the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, since a face-to-face counseling requirement within the state makes it impossible for seniors to move forward with reverse mortgage loans while adhering to business restrictions and social distancing guidelines put […]
Borrower inquiries related to proprietary reverse mortgage offerings appear to be steady in the early days of 2020 compared with their figures in late 2019, according to reverse mortgage counseling professionals. While steady for the moment, lenders and industry observers have noted increased levels of business activity that can be at least partially attributed to […]
While counseling for both Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) products and their proprietary counterparts largely follow the same guidelines, some specific differences and lingering issues in borrower education prior to counseling can make the process more difficult for borrowers, lenders and counselors alike. This is according to a panel discussion between counselors and reverse mortgage […]
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week announced the organizations that will receive a total of $42.8 million in counseling grants, including reverse mortgage counseling. “HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are on the front lines of helping individuals and families to find affordable rental housing or make more informed homeownership choices,” said HUD […]
Counseling for prospective reverse mortgage borrowers is not only required, but it’s also a critical component of understanding how a new reverse mortgage loan is created. In order to make sure that the borrower fully understands exactly what kind of a transaction they’re getting into, the counselor guides the borrower through the features and obligations […]
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced earlier this month a new process for condominium approvals, effective October 15, which will expand FHA financing for qualified first time homebuyers as well as seniors looking to age in place, allowing those seniors to engage in reverse mortgage loans for single condominium units. While HUD […]
Gray divorce, a term used to describe a divorce that takes place for couples over the age of 50, continues to rise in the United States. According to 2017 data compiled by the Pew Research Center, the rates of gray divorce have doubled since 1990, and the reverse mortgage industry has taken notice by viewing […]
