Monthly Archives: February 2014

Equity Release

The Most Popular Lifetime Mortgage Scheme

Features of lifetime mortgages have evolved over the recent past and a lot of changes have taken place. Equity release schemes provide a number of benefits that enable you to take advantage of your home value. An example is the ability to repay the mortgage without fear of penalty payments. Another is the option of saving a portion of your home without selling it or using the equity in it to provide an inheritance. Other schemes like the drawdown lifetime mortgage offer you away to take out only the money you need and the ability to take more later should your needs increase.

The drawdown lifetime mortgage is the most popular type of equity release scheme in 2012. This is due to the flexibility of the schemes as funds can be taken on a drip basis from an overall reserve facility. What normally happens is that interest is calculated on the basis of the initial amount borrowed and it compounds as time goes by. Therefore, if a huge lump sum is taken from the beginning, interest charges will be high and will remain on the upward scale.

The drawdown plan has a host of benefits in lifetime mortgage but the most significant one is that they provide a pre-contract agreement whereby a limit is put on charges according to the value of your property. In most equity release plans the lender comes up with the amount to be deducted from the start, and normally it is somewhere around £10,000 and £25,000. The drawdown balance is available for the duration of the term, but terms are subject to change if the market changes.

Today there are so many lenders in different forms who have come up with customised terms in order to lure clients. The borrower of the mortgage must be clear with the terms beforehand because if there is one tricky field in financing, it has to be mortgage and loans. People often get themselves in situations they can barely get out of, which can give you a lot of headaches.

When you have a lot of information it can be best to look at a list of advantages and disadvantages. You also have to realise that drawdown lifetime mortgage plans can vary from provider to provider thus this generalised information can improve upon speaking with an agent or turn you off the idea altogether. It depends on who you speak with and how many agents you speak with. Always get three opinions when it comes to your financial planning regarding your retirement and lifetime mortgages.

Advantages of Drawdown Mortgages
1. You can be 55 and apply for this mortgage.
2. You can decide how much you withdraw on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Typically the provider will require an initial lump sum at a certain amount, then you can take as much or as little as you want from the account. Obviously you cannot take more than the account has available.
3. Every 3 to 5 years you may need to reassess your drawdown mortgage to see if you should increase the amount of equity you use. This is an option with most providers.
4. The cash you receive is tax free.
5. You can use the cash as you wish for expenses, house repairs, emergencies, holidays or other special things you wish in your retirement.
6. You do not pay interest or any principle balance until the end of your life or you move to a care facility.
7. You only pay interest on the amount of money you withdrew from the account, not the funds available to you in the account.

Disadvantages of Drawdown
1. Drawdown lifetime mortgage is a mortgage.
2. You will owe money at the end of the mortgage including any interest that has accrued.
3. Most providers require the house to be sold within 12 months for their repayment or immediate repayment if your beneficiaries do not wish to sell the home.
4. It can be difficult to leave an inheritance behind if the housing value drops into negative equity.
One important clause to write in your contract is a negative equity clause. The clause should state you or your beneficiaries are not liable if your home is in negative equity at the time of your death or removal to a care facility.

To be safe with your lifetime mortgage plan, shop around for the most suitable choice. You can gather information from the internet or try to seek professional advice from a mortgage expert. This will save you a lot of headaches after your retirement.

Equity Release

Understanding the Drawdown Lifetime Mortgage

Taking equity from one’s property has been slowly gaining a lot of popularity over the years as the recession has hit most households. This is since a release of equity offers a chance for a person to get cash from the bricks and mortar within their property. In addition, the interest rates that one pays on the capital sum borrowed are usually reasonable compared to those of conventional mortgage rates. There are a number of schemes available when it comes to equity release like drawdown lifetime mortgage. Lenders will always insist on people obtaining equity release advice before letting them decide on the scheme they want.

However, today there has been a surge of interest in one of the more flexible equity release schemes known as the drawdown lifetime mortgage plan. This is an option that is popular in the field of lifetime mortgages and it has features that other plans do not offer. For instance with a drawdown lifetime mortgage it is possible for you to withdraw a bulk amount which can be lower than the maximum available. This still leaves a surplus of tax free cash held by the lender. This is the cash reserve facility that one can draw upon whenever further funds are required.

This is a feature that other plans do not have, and that is why there has been a growing interest in the Drawdown Lifetime Mortgage. In fact, at the moment this facility offers the best retirement solutions for many people looking to take equity from their property. So, it would be advisable to research and consider the option of the drawdown scheme.

Other features that make this financial product really popular is that it is flexible as you are usually charged lower interest rates, for instance Aviva currently offers their flexi lifetime mortgage at just 5.92% with companies such as Equity Release Supermarket. Therefore, there are many features that have propelled this plan to be one of the most popular by home owners looking for equity releases. Another benefit of the drawdown lifetime mortgage is you are only charged interest on what has actually been withdrawn.

Quick View of Drawdown Benefits
1. Interest rates are usually lower than standard mortgages.
2. You are only charged interest on the sum you withdraw from your credit account versus the amount available to you.
3. You can take out this mortgage at age 55 or up.
4. You can take a lump sum and then smaller payments or take small payments as you need them.

You have other lifetime mortgage options such as enhanced lifetime mortgage. Enhanced mortgages are for individuals that suffer from health issues that may reduce their life expectancy. Like the drawdown option this enhanced version does not work for every home owner. It is meant to give a large lump sum for the person’s expected lifetime versus the possibility of more years and retirement needs.

There is also the standard option which is a lump sum payment or instalment choice after you receive a lump sum. In this standard lifetime mortgage you do not pay interest until the end, but you do accrue interest on the lump sum you have taken or the instalments you intend on taking.

The last option is an interest-only lifetime mortgage, which allows you to make monthly payments of interest leaving only the principle balance in the end. For those with reserve income it might be the best option to ensuring an inheritance is left for your family members.

Family should be a part of your decision making process on any lifetime mortgage including drawdown lifetime mortgage plans. Your family or beneficiaries will be left to deal with your debts when you die and may be needed when someone goes into a retirement facility. Leaving a burden of debts that requires the family home to be sold may not be what your family desires.

Before entering into any contract understand the disadvantages of these schemes too. This helps you and your family make a decision, as well as, helps you understand the financial advice you received from an agent.

Drawdown Lifetime Mortgage is popular and for good reason. However, if you are looking for the best plan, it is best to get the advice of an equity release adviser so that you may know the best choice to make. Taking equity on your home is a big deal, and it is best that you take your time and do the right equity release.

Equity Release

Beat the Taxman Today

Lifetime mortgages can help many people and one of the many ways that they are beneficial is how they give you a lump sum of cash. If you are over the age of 55, lifetime mortgages are potentially available for you. There are several types of lifetime mortgages such as interest only, drawdown lifetime mortgage and the general lump sum schemes. Lifetime mortgages provide you tax free cash, which helps you get the money you need without paying extra to the taxman.

Drawdown lifetime mortgage schemes are a good option for people who want to release cash from their home, especially if nearing the end of their existing mortgage agreement. It is essentially a drip fed mortgage which means that you do not have to take all of the cash offered to you at the beginning. Instead, you can take a small amount initially and then withdraw the remaining reserve facility as and when you require it.

It is important to seek independent equity release advice about drawdown mortgages to see if they are right for you. For example, unexpected emergencies could change your needs and you might find that a drawdown mortgage could work because you can use from the pool of cash that you got for the first instalment.

Another popular type of mortgage that helps people beat the taxman is the lump sum mortgages. These are fantastic, especially if you want to do any extra DIY or renovations on your home. The lump sum mortgage that you can apply for gives you the scope to get your hands on the cash you need to do so. Projects can vary far and wide from simple kitchen improvements to full blown extensions and conservatories, in many cases changing people’s lives.

One important aspect to remember about lifetime mortgages is the fact that they are not on a fixed term. Interest is added onto your loan monthly or annually and this is something you need to be aware about. This is especially important if you are taking out a mortgage as a couple, because you both need to know the ins and outs of the finances required for a lifetime mortgage if either of you dies or needs to move to a long term care facility.

Top tip: Look into your lifetime mortgage contract to check if there is any negative equity built into your contract. It is important to know that you have the right to be protected against negative equity if your lifetime mortgage loan is bigger than the actual value of your property. This is to ensure consumers are protected at all times when taking on a financial risk such as a mortgage. Any company who is a member of SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans) must have this included.

Drawdown Mortgage Benefits
A lifetime mortgages have benefits; however, there are some special aspects of a drawdown lifetime mortgage that might better fit your lifestyle.

1. Interest accrues only on the amount you have withdrawn from your lifetime mortgage account. You may have £100,000 in equity in your account; however, if you only take out £10,000 during your lifetime then you pay interest that accrues on the smaller amount. Regular lifetime mortgages are not the same.
2. You can take an initial lump sum in a drawdown mortgage and then take monthly, quarterly, or other withdrawals.
3. The cash you withdraw is tax-free.
4. You can use this method to provide monthly income to cover expenses while you are alive, go on holiday, or improve your home.
5. You have an option of restructuring your drawdown lifetime mortgage after 5 years if your housing value has changed or you wish to increase the amount available in your account.
6. There is a negative equity clause with SHIP lenders ensuring your safety. You will not owe anything if your home is sold and it does not cover the entire lifetime mortgage and interest accrued.

When shopping for lifetime mortgages and gaining money that is tax-free, remember that each lifetime mortgage plan will have benefits. Even the regular lifetime mortgage is tax-free and can include the negative equity clause. Always speak with an advisor and your family before you consider taking out one of these mortgages. There are some disadvantages regarding inheritance.

Your home may need to be sold to pay for the mortgage, which does not leave it for your family. If you have a lower value in your home than the mortgage amount owed, your family will receive nothing. This is why the drawdown lifetime mortgage can be beneficial as you have a potential option of leaving an inheritance.

Equity Release

Where to Find an Accurate UK Equity Release Calculator

The development and expansion of the internet has made it far easier to access financial products and services. Consumers of today can easily type a question into a search engine and receive pages and pages of information, with sources readily available to access instantly. When considering financing or re-financing, there are quite literally hundreds of sites to source the information that you need to answer your question. This is especially the case in the equity release marketplace. With the plethora of different equity release calculator, UK residents can explore all the options available to them. There are even equity release supermarket calculators which allow comparisons between different products and services.

Using an Equity Release Calculator

When using an equity release calculator, UK residents can quickly determine their eligibility for equity release and the amount of release possible. These online tools can deliver instant results which are accurate enough to be relied upon when moving forward. By supplying a few basic details such as your age, gender, totals of any mortgages or secured finance currently in place and the value of your home, the calculator will assess your eligibility against the set criteria and determine the amount of release possible.

Some of the more sophisticated tools such as the equity release supermarket calculators will also ask questions about the state of your health. This is because they have access to enhanced plans and schemes which offer additional release sums based on the impaired lifespan of the applicant due to poor health history, terminal condition or even habits such as smoking.

With a number of forms of equity release calculator, UK residents can also explore a number of different equity release options. Some calculators can only supply details based on a specific range of products. However, in depth models such as the Equity Release Supermarket Calculators will provide details on alternative schemes such as drawdown lifetime mortgages. A draw down lifetime mortgage allows the home owner to receive a smaller initial lump sum but have a draw down facility available to them. This allows for funds to be called down as and when they are needed. The main benefit to this type of scheme is that you would only begin to pay interest on funds when they are drawn down. This can save a great deal in interest charges in the long term and prevent you from losing your eligibility of means tested state assistance and benefits.

Tips for Finding an Accurate UK Equity Release Calculator

Finding an accurate equity release calculator UK, need not be stressful or difficult. There are a great number of accurate online equity release calculators. However, there are a number of tips to ensure that you find the best possible tools.

• Look for independence: Independent brokers have calculators which are linked to a great number of products in the equity release marketplace. For example, the Equity Release Supermarket calculators are not tied to a specific company or provider. They offer wider access to a larger range of schemes and plans including enhanced schemes and other types of lifetime mortgage. Calculators on company websites are limited by the product range offered by the specific company, which may not represent the best possible choice for you.
• Use more than one different calculator: With an equity release calculator, UK residents are not committed. They can use more than one different calculator and in fact are advised to do so. In order to be assured that you have gained an accurate insight into the marketplace, you should use several different calculators and compare the results.
• Be wary of providing personal contact information: Most calculators will allow people to use them anonymously without providing any contact information. Some may ask if you would like an adviser to contact you, but you should be wary of any calculator which will not permit you to use it unless you provide contact details. In a best case scenario you are likely to be badgered by sales calls or spam e-mails, but in a worst case scenario, you may make yourself vulnerable to internet fraud or cyber crime.

With an equity release calculator, UK residents can have a greater degree of control over their research of equity release schemes and solutions. The popularity of these tools has encouraged brokers and companies to develop more sophisticated tools such as the Equity Release Supermarket calculators. This ensures that people have a greater access to information which will allow them to make informed choices and decisions about their financial future and whether equity release is best suited to their needs.