The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created a "Shopping for Your Home Loan" guide for persons looking to buy home. This guide includes tips and advice before you purchase a home or settle on a home loan company.
Below is a module created by Idaho Legal Aid Services related to common legal issues surrounding seniors or the elderly and protecting their home in relation to issues like Medicaid, foreclosure, deed, reverse mortgages, and letting others reside with you.. The module is available in English and Spanish.
Are you considering a reverse mortgage? Better look before you leap. While a reverse mortgage could put money in your hands, the transaction is likely to be quite confusing. A reverse mortgage deal could also put a lot of your money in someone else’s pocket. Still, if you are a senior and a home owner and short of cash to make ends meet, a reverse mortgage can be a lifesaver. That’s because a reverse mortgage taps your home equity – that’s the market value of your house minus the outstanding balance on any existing mortgages – for cash.
If you’re 62 or older and looking for money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for healthcare expenses, you may be considering a reverse mortgage. It’s a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or take on additional monthly bills...
Reverse Mortgage Education Project - Financial strategies for low-income seniors in tough economic times.
Reverse mortgages are becoming popular in America. HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) created one of the first. The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is FHA's reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. The HECM is a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages in general by calling AARP toll free at (800) 209-8085.
The Lender List page allows you to lookup lenders using various selection criteria.
FHA funds housing counseling agencies throughout the country who can provide information on reverse mortgages.
What is predatory lending?
Predatory lending is the practice of preying on, or taking advantage of, an individual or group of people that may have a difficult time buying or refinancing a home such as people who may be poor, uneducated, elderly, or in a protected class. Under the Fair Housing Act, a protected class is a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, disability, familial status, and gender.
How do I know if I've been a victim?
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