Reverse Mortgage guidelines will change dramatically March 2, 2015.
Under current guidelines, age (62 or older) and equity are the basic Reverse Mortgage qualification requirements.
However, starting in March, verification of income, assets, monthly expenses, indebtedness, and an acceptable credit history will be taken into account. New guidelines do permit the factoring in of certain extenuating circumstances.
Needless to say, for many in their retirement years the new rules will make qualifying for a Reverse Mortgage notably more difficult.
Part of the Reverse Mortgage process is completion of an informational counseling session with an FHA-approved housing counselor. (For an overview of the counseling process, see: http://services.nrmlaonline.org/NRMLA_Documents/Preparing_For_Your_Counseling_Session.pdf )
Severe congestion is anticipated in counseling availability as the new guidelines draw near. Because an FHA case number cannot be issued until receipt of the Certificate of Counseling, few counseling appointments may be available in the weeks prior to the guideline change.
This means anyone considering moving forward with a Reverse Mortgage may be well advised to complete counseling as soon as possible. To find a counselor near you, FHA’s counselor search site can be accessed at: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hecm_agency_look.cfm. You may also give me a call and I can provide you with a list of both locally- and nationally-available Reverse Mortgage counselors.
Guideline changes coming in 2015 are the most dramatic in the program’s history, and may put a Reverse Mortgage out of reach for some seniors who previously would have qualified.
If you or someone you know is considering a Reverse Mortgage, now may indeed be the time to move forward.
Call at any time. I always love hearing from you.
Laurie
Laurie MacNaughton [506562] is a freelance writer and Reverse Mortgage Consultant with Southern Trust Mortgage.
She can be reached at 703-477-1183 Direct or LMacNaughton@SouthernTrust.com
Laurie MacNaughton 703.477.1183 