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.