Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner to turn the equity
in their home into a monthly income or lump-sum cash, BOTH
TAX FREE. NO PAYMENT is required for as long as you live
and maintain the home as your primary residence.
Q.How do I qualify?
The applicant(s) must be 62 years of age or above and own
a home. There are NO credit, NO income and NO health requirements.
Q.How much money can I receive?
The amount available is based on several factors: your age,
home value, current interest rates and the specific plan
you choose. Generally speaking, the higher the age, the
higher the value of the home, the more money is available.
Q.Who really owns my home?
You do. A reverse mortgage is just a lien similar to a traditional
mortgage. You can sell you home at any time.
Q.Is there more than one reverse mortgage?
Yes, there are six. The majority of reverse mortgages issued
are the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) “Home
Equity Conversion Mortgage” (HECM). They are federally
insured and come in two options, the monthly adjustable
option or the annually adjustable option. “FannieMae”
(FNMA) offers the “Home Keeper” reverse mortgage
and there are also three proprietary reverse mortgages for
higher valued homes. .
Q.Do I have to pay income tax on the proceeds?
Proceeds received from a reverse mortgage are loan advances
and not taxable income. For your specific situation, we
recommend that you consult your tax advisor.
Q.How safe are FHA insured reverse mortgages?
They are VERY SAFE. You or your heirs retain ALL ownership
rights. It is impossible to fall behind on payments because
there are none to make. And reverse mortgages are “non-recourse”
mortgages so a debt CANNOT be passed to your heirs as a
result of doing an FHA insured reverse mortgage.
Q.Can a person ever lose their home?
NEVER. As long as the home remains the borrower’s
primary residence and you keep the home insured and your
property taxes current.
Q.Who gets my home after my death?
Your estate does. Your heirs have the CHOICE of keeping
or selling the house. If they decide to sell the home, the
proceeds of the sale would be used to repay the mortgage,
with the remainder going to your heirs.
Q.Will this income affect my Social Security or Medicare
benefits?
NO. Money from a reverse mortgage is not considered income,
nor does it affect Social Security or Medicare. Homeowners
on SSI or Medicaid should observe pertinent rules.
Q.How can I take a look at my specific situation?
You can evaluate the different reverse mortgages with a
no-cost, no-obligation computerized comparison of the available
plans. Call Toll Free (888) 415-1955
Q.Please tell me about Griffin Financial Mortgage,
LLC.
Our goal at Griffin Financial Mortgage, LLC is to provide
service and knowledge above our customers’ expectations.
We are an Equal Housing Lender licensed by HUD and doing
business in 20 states. Our company, is headquartered in
Fort Worth, Texas.