For Family Advisors

Special Info for Advisors

A note to trusted advisors of families in Ashland Oregon considering a reverse mortgage.

A reverse mortgage is not for everyone. Our goal is to work with trusted financial and legal advisors in Ashland Oregon to help determine if a reverse mortgage meets the needs of your Ashland client. We can accomplish this by providing detailed loan scenarios to you (with your client’s permission) and personal consultation with our staff to help reach a decision that is in the best interest of all parties, including adult children. We are up front with all our clients about the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage.

Advantages

Reverse mortgages provide many advantages for the senior borrower. Here is a short list of just a few:

  • Tax-free proceeds do not affect Social Security or Medicare
  • Frees up an illiquid asset (home equity)
  • Can allow senior to purchase a new home with no mortgage payment
  • Can provide source of income while borrower allows their investments to recover from market losses
  • Improves a senior’s standard of living or allows them to live out their dreams
  • Pays off existing mortgage, in many cases freeing up thousands in monthly payments or preventing foreclosure. No more mortgage payments
  • Allows the senior to maintain their independence while living in their own home
  • Provides money for in-home health care or medical expenses

Disadvantages

  • Spends part of the equity that would be passed on to the estate or children
  • Increasing loan balance, decreased equity over time
  • May affect eligibility for needs-based programs such as Medicaid
  • For those itemizing tax deductions, a reverse mortgage eliminates the deduction for home interest as no interest is paid out of pocket
  • Closing costs and insurance are expensive which means the borrowers should plan on living in the home for several years to reduce overall costs

The Ideal Client

While there is no stereotypical reverse mortgage client in Ashland Oregon, there are common characteristics you can look for in a prospective reverse mortgage holder.

  • Cash poor, house rich
  • Wants to improve lifestyle and has no concern about spending equity that would go to estate
  • Has taxable income they wish to postpone, while accessing tax-free income from reverse mortgage
  • Understands that their home is a retirement asset in which they live and wishes to leverage their home to improve current lifestyle