The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of HERO home improvement loans
I have some clients that had a broken down A/C unit in their home. They live in the desert and had to make a decision quickly with Summer fast approaching. They came across the HERO program and found it as an easy way to pay for a brand new system…
Reverse Mortgages used differently by the wealthy
As noted by Steven A. Sass of Boston College Center for Retirement Research: “Retirement planning generally focuses on the use of financial assets. However, home equity is the largest store of savings for most households entering retirement.” In fact, the 2010 US Census shows that the average American 65 and…
Don’t go broke in retirement, avoid these mistakes
After all the years you’ve spent building your nest egg for retirement and the hard work you’ve put in, you’ll want to be extra careful in order to avoid spending your money too quickly. In addition, you’ll also want to watch out for tax traps and fraudulent scams that can…
The “Flex Pay” LOC offers a choice of mortgage payments and is safer than a HELOC
FLEX PAY EXPLAINED In a market with rising interest rates a traditional Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) can be a scary thought for a retiree living on a set income. If rates rise, or more money is taken out, then the minimum payment required also rises, which may cut…
Free Movies, Free Steak, Free Ice Cream, Yes Please!
Everyone likes free dessert on their birthday; did you know you can get free movies, free bowling, pie, steak, and even a free jousting tournament? Copy this comprehensive list and score some freebies on your next birthday or take your grand-kids out for some Freebies on theirs. Restaurant Birthday Freebies…
Most retirees are missing 82% of net-worth in their retirement plan
Do you imagine retiring to a tropical Caribbean beach living your days with a tropical drink in your hand, but maybe your savings is more in line with living at Motel 6 and bagging groceries the rest of your retirement? As we are reminded every time we go to the…
How much money have you left unclaimed from the government?
Years ago, I had a savings account set up at First Interstate bank in California. My local branch was closed while I was living out of state and the money in my account was given to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). I had completely forgotten about this account…
Low housing inventories creating more cash to take out on reverse mortgages
“Joanne” was at a point in her life when her income was not keeping up with her bills and she realized that she needed to make a change in order to cover her high medical costs. A friend of hers had done a reverse mortgage with me and had nice…
Strategies that may increase your appraised value
The amount you can access on a reverse mortgage is directly related to your appraisal. The higher the appraised value, the more money you qualify for on this FHA program. Here are some suggestions that can pay big dividends to your appraised value and your pocketbook: Provide the appraiser a…
Putting off a living trust?
A wonderful friend of mine, Joan, recently closed her reverse mortgage. She was so excited to finally get a new car, and replace her A/C & Heating unit in her home. Her friend from Arizona left her a message and became worried when she did not call him back. After…
