Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Friday, January 27th, 2012
With the latest round of equity release rate reductions, it seems both Aviva & Just Retirement are vying for top spot.
Currently, Just Retirement lead the way with their round of reductions a few weeks ago at a market leading 6.2% annual rate.
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However, Equity Release Supermarket have been notified that with effect from next week the Aviva flexi drawdown plan is set to become the market leader again by usurping Just Retirement with a reduction of 0.12% to a new market leading rate of just 6.1% annual rate.
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Mark Gregory – Director & founder of Equity Release Supermarket comments – “This is excellent news & the price war has been long awaited. Equity release interest rates have been in the doldrums recently compared to mainstream interest rates. We are getting back to rates from a few years ago & that sub 6% barrier is now not too far away. This new Aviva rate is exclusive with further benefits of a free valuation & an excellent £500 cashback on completion for the client. With gilts rates so low at present, now is as good time as any to be considering taking out an Aviva Equity Release plan.”
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Equity Release Supermarket are one of the leading independent equity release advisory firms in the UK currently & can be found on their informative website http://www.equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk.
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If you require information on the new Aviva Flexi deal please call 0800 678 5159 where one of the equity release team would be willing to assist & provide further details.
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Tags: Aviva, drawdown equity release, equity release, Equity Release Adviser, Equity release interest rates, equity release schemes, Equity Release Supermarket, Just Retirement, Roll up lifetime mortgage
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Sunday, January 15th, 2012
The current financial climate is quite simply awful for many people. Particularly, the retired & elderly are really struggling to make ends meet. Many retired people who left their work before the crisis hit have had to watch in horror as a lot of the value they had expected to retire on has been wiped away by stockmarkets & low interest rates with the banks & building societies. Sometimes, what is left in the pension isn’t enough, and their reaction is that they should sell their house in order to ensure a comfortable retirement.
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However, with equity release plans, this might not necessarily be required. Instead of selling the family home, why not release equity to cover the short term finances. We maybe only talking a small sum to tie you over until prospects improve. Therefore, for the sake of selling in a depressed property market, bide your time & think carefully about your options available. Equity release schemes can play an important role here.
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Equity release schemes are form of mortgage that enables people over age 55 to release locked up equity in their main residence. The typical and most commonly thought of equity release schemes are actually called lifetime mortgages. Lifetime mortgages are available to those over 55, and have specific characteristics which reflect this unique stage in life.
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Equity release schemes are like normal mortgages in that they are associated money & a property. However, where most mortgages are used to purchase the property over an extended period of time, equity release mortgages are new mortgages placed on properties which already have or virtually paid off the mortgage. The result is that while the property now has some debt associated with it, the value that is unlocked can be used for large scale projects or purchases, supplement pensions or more commonly home improvements.
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The other difference between an equity release lifetime mortgage and a normal mortgage is that with an equity release mortgage the assumption is that the balance will be paid off when the person who holds the plan sells the asset or as a part of the inheritance estate. This is why the over 55 age restriction on equity release schemes is so important. These financial products are designed to run for the rest of one’s life, so there is no call upon the repayment of the capital until death or moving into long term care.
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Many retired people watched the drop in markets sweep billions from the values of the pension funds, and therefore pushing significant financial pressure inwardly. It is easy to see how the equity release mortgage would be an excellent option for retired people who are struggling either for income or a capital lump sum. Where they were potentially considering having to sell the family home or go back to work, many retired people can supplement their pensions with the value withdrawn via an equity release scheme.
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As lifetime mortgage & home reversion plans are now members of SHIP, you always have the option of repaying the scheme during your lifetime. However, be wary of potential early repayment charges which some gilt related schemes can significantly impose. One way providers can recover their costs is through these means.
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Often people think that equity release is tantamount to putting debts on to the next generation. What is important to keep in mind that with lifetime mortgages the ownership of the property stays in the hands of the plan owner, just like a regular mortgage. In fact, usually the biggest difference between a normal mortgage and an equity release mortgage is that the terms of the equity release plan are more favourable as they consider the age of the owner of the plan, and factor that into the calculations.
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This means that those who inherit the property may also inherit the debt, but they now have the option to decide if they want to keep the property with a normal mortgage, or sell the asset and recover the rest of the equity. These are options which can be passed onward in an estate, making it easier for the family to make decisions which are appropriate for them.
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Selling one’s house is an emotive issue & needs to be discussed with those closest to you. Next step would be to discuss whether equity release schemes are a viable option & this is where Equity Release Supermarket can use their considerable experience & knowledge to help.
For an impartial & free initial consultation call Mark on 0800 678 5159 who can offer words of advice. Alternatively,in confidence email mark@equityreleasesupermarket with any questions you may have.
Tags: equity release, equity release mortgage, equity release schemes, Equity Release Supermarket, Financial adviser, FSA, home reversion, lifetime mortgage, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, SHIP
Posted in Advice, Equity Release, News | No Comments »
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
Following hot on the heels of Equity Release Supermarket’s recently advertised Aviva cashback/valuation/interest rate deal, Director Mark Gregory is pleased to report a further exclusive equity release offer from Just Retirement.
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‘We are pleased to advise that we now can provide a much improved offering to our customers from Just Retirement. On the back of a successful year in the equity release market, our achievements have now been recognised & rewarded by Just Retirement.’
Similar in nature to the Aviva deal, Just Retirement are to offer Equity Release Supermarket customers an amazing £700 cashback, FREE unlimited valuation & specially reduced interest rate of 6.35%.
The £700 cashback coupled with free unlimited valuation will enable our customers to submit an equity release application with NO upfront fees.
Major beneficiaries of the free valuation will be the applicants with higher property values, who will benefit from a completely FREE valuation. An example of this can be seen on a property valuation of £500,000 which will save such Equity Release Supermarket customers a sizeable further£500!’
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The combination of free valuation & cashback (which offsets the application fee) results in the only fixed set up cost to be the equity release legal fees. These can be offered to Equity Release Supermarket customers for as low as £349+VAT & disbursements.
Just Retirement are one of the leading equity release companies whose drawdown scheme has recently undergone a major review, the results of which are now becoming evident.
The Just Retirement drawdown facility, which used to be capped at 100% of the initial release, has now been revised for the first time since its inception over 5 years ago.
The review has resulted in Just Retirement’s drawdown facility being increased from 100% to 200% of the initial withdrawal. This now puts it in line with fellow equity release lenders such as LV= which uses the same formula for calculation of the size of the additional reserve facility.
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To request a quote on the special offer from Just Retirement please click here.
To find your local Equity Release Supermarket adviser please click here or call freephone 0800 678 5159.
Tags: cashback deal, drawdown equity release, equity release, Equity Release Adviser, Equity release interest rates, equity release schemes, Equity Release Supermarket, exclusive interest rate, free valuation, Just Retirement special offer
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Friday, November 11th, 2011
Equity Release Supermarket is pleased to announce its new equity release deal from Aviva.
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Commenting on the exciting new deal from Aviva equity release which offers clients a FREE valuation* plus a £500 cashback & specially reduced interest rate of 6.32%, director Mark Gregory states…
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‘the offer from Aviva is testament to the work & progress Equity Release Supermarket is making in the equity release market. Buoyed by the growing consumer confidence in equity release schemes, I feel that we are now positioned to increase our market share. Excellent deals from the likes of major equity release companies such as Aviva will help my team of advisers promote such competitive equity release plans.
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Equity Release Supermarket are now recognised as one of the major independent equity release brokers in the UK. Their market leading website offers all the current equity release interest rates & exclusive offers currently available.
Experience the Equity Release Supermarket website or to speak to one of their experienced equity release advisers call freephone 0800 678 5159.
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*Free valuation applies to property valuations upto £250,000
Tags: Aviva, Aviva cashback deal, Aviva equity release, Aviva free valuation, equity release, Equity release interest rates, equity release schemes, Equity Release Supermarket
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Thursday, August 11th, 2011
It is with regret that we are notifying all our Equity Release Supermarket enquirers that the Halifax Retirement Home Plan is being withdrawn with effect from the close of business on Wednesday 17th August 2011.
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After this date NO further applications will be accepted onto this scheme.
Therefore, to take advantage of this plan all applications must have been submitted by 8pm on the evening of the 17th August 2011.
There is some good news for existing retirement home plan mortgage customers in that they will remain unaffected & their terms & conditions will remain in accordance with their mortgage deed.
Post 17th August, no further applications will acceptable & this will be the last chance to gain access to this unique pensioner mortgage.
With further options for interest only lifetime mortgages remaining limited, act now to secure a last minute place on the Halifax Retirement Home Plan scheme.
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To make a last minute enquiry call the Equity Release Supermarket team immediately on 0800 678 5159 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
Tags: Halifa retirement home plan mortgage, halifax equity release, Halifax Retirement Home Plan, Halifax Retirement mortgage, interest only lifetime mortgage, interest only mortgage
Posted in Halifax Retirement Home Plan, News | No Comments »
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
More great news for the increasingly buoyant equity release market as Partnership re-enter with their Enhanced Lifetime Mortgage plan.
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Specialists in impaired life annuitys; Partnership are now bringing their underwriting expertise to equity release schemes. The logic behind their offering, provides a bespoke underwriting event for each client looking to achieve a maximum equity release status. Their experience from the enhanced annuitys market has led to a radical re-think in the equity release market where effectively the same principles can apply.
Consideration for impaired life equity release schemes is certainly gaining momentum as rumour has it other equity release companies such as Aviva may also be looking into the possibility of developing their own impaired product. In fact any of the existing equity release providers who offer an annuity proposition could be in the market with potential launches under their wings?
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So what is an impaired life equity release scheme?
Well firstly lets have a look at how an impaired life annuity works…
Primarily, an enhanced annuity provider will ask the annuitant a series of health questions which dependent upon their health conditions & severity, will determine the size of the annuity pension they will receive. In essence, the worse their health is the better, as they will potentially receive a more sizeable pension due to their life expectancy not being as long as a healthy person.
It may sound crude, however Partnership’s years of underwriting experience allows them to now offer the same principles in the equity release market by offering a bigger lump sum than standard equity release providers. The maximum release, dependent upon the health questionnaire is 55% of the property value.
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What illesses will qualify?
The questionnaire itself is not as detailed as one would imagine. Likewise the number & severity of the qualifying conditions is lower than expectations, thus making the underwriting aspect of the equity release plan simplistic in assessment. The health questions are as follows:-
- Have you smoked 10 cigarettes per day for the last 10 years?
- Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure, requiring ongoing medication?
- Have you suffered a heart attack requiring hospital admission?
- Do you suffer from diabetes, requiring insulin or tablet treatment?
- Have you suffered from a stroke (CVA), excluding mini-strokes (TIAs)?
- Have you suffered from angina, requiring ongoing medication?
- Have you been diagnosed with cancer requiring surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy?
- Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson`s disease?
- Have you been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?
- Have you taken early retirement on the grounds of ill health?
- Are you currently taking any prescription medication?
Given this information, the online Partnership equity release calculator will then produce a maximum lending figure taking also into account age(s) & property valuation. A signature will then be required on a declaration form to confirm the medical questions have been correctly answered as only a sample number of applications will actually be looked into with the clients general practioners. This makes the application process quicker & smoother putting the onus on the applicant accurately qualifying their ailments.
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Are their any other features in Partnership’s enhanced lifetime mortgage scheme?
The simple answer to that is yes.
Partnership have managed to squeeze in some important features that provide additional security & protection for applicants. Aside from being a member of SHIP & thus passing the protection features of the no negative equity guarantee, assured tenancy & ability to move home, there is also an Inheritance Protection facility.
The inheritance protection feature is included at no extra cost & provides the ability to protect a part of the final sale proceeds which can then be successfully passed onto the heirs & beneficiaries. Therefore, peace of mind reigns when the biggest objection to the use of equity release schemes is ‘how much will be left for the children when I die’.
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What is their lending criteria?
The Partnership Enhanced Lifetime Mortgage is currently only available in England & Wales on property valuations over £70,000. Their approach to property types is standard amongst the industry, although they will permit borrowings on some concrete build constructions such as Laing Easy Form & Wimpey No Fines which down to the valuers comments would pass as acceptable.
The minimum age of the youngest applicant must be 60 & at least one suffering from one of the aforementioned illnesses/conditions. The minimum loan on application is £25,000 which is higher then most equity release providers, however the plan is pitched at the higher release end of the lifetime mortgage market.
The major factor setting themselves aside from the alternative impaired life equity release offering from more2life is the FREE cost to market for any applicant. Partnership have initially launched with a tempting proposal of a FREE valuation & NO application or completion fee payable on set up. In fact they even go one step further with a CASHBACK of £250 on completion which goes some way to offsetting any legal fees incurred.
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Again, thanks to companies such as Partnership showing innovation, the equity release market has shown its durability over the past 12 months at a time of economic diffculties. Perhaps the old days when the two words – ‘equity release’ & ‘apprehension’ were associated, are now becoming more of a distant memory.
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If you would wish to find out whether you would qualify for an enhanced lifetime mortgage with Partnership, please fill in this Partnership enquiry form or call freephone 0800 678 5159.
If you smoke manufactured cigarettes, have you smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day for the last 10 years?
If you smoke rolling tobacco, have you smoked more than 3ozs or 85g per week for the last 10 years?
Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure, requiring ongoing medication?
Have you suffered a heart attack requiring hospital admission?
Do you suffer from diabetes, requiring insulin or tablet treatment?
Have you suffered from a stroke (CVA), excluding mini-strokes (TIAs)?
Have you suffered from angina, requiring ongoing medication?
Have you been diagnosed with cancer (excl. skin cancer and benign tumours) requiring surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy?
Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson`s disease?
Have you been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?
Have you taken early retirement on the grounds of ill health?
Are you currently taking any prescription medication?
Tags: enhanced lifetime mortgage, equity release, equity release schemes, impaired life, lifetime mortgage schemes, maximum lump sum, more2life, No negative equity guarantee, Partnership
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Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
On Thursday 3rd March 2011, the equity release market saw another welcome lender return with Stonehaven relaunching their Lump Sum & Interest Select plans.
Having been absent for over a year whilst new funders were sourced, Stonehaven have now streamlined & simplified their product range.
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One product in particular will answer a common question –
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“Can I have an interest only equity release plan where I can repay the interest?”
Well the answer is now categorically – ‘YES’
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Before discussing the Stonehaven Interest Select option in greater detail, let’s have a look at the two products launched.
Stonehaven now have two propositions available to customers: -
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1. Lump Sum Only Option
2. Interest Only Equity Release
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The lump sum option does as it says on the tin; namely two lump sum options which offer different loan to values. Stonehaven are not launching at the maximum release end of the market, but aiming competitively with lower interest rates.
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Lump Sum Lite has the lowest interest rate at market leading 6.13%.
Plans start at 55 & this product will release 11% of the property value at this age.
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The Lump Sum plan has a higher interest rate of 6.24%, with a higher release of 14% at age 55.
Both plans have no drawdown facility, but a simplified single lump sum option from the outset.
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Next we come to the Interest Select products.
These innovative plans allow you to choose how much of the interest charged you would like to repay each month, and also how long you wish to pay this for. You could pay off the whole interest, or if you have a specific budget just pay off part of the interest with the remainder rolling up onto the original capital borrowed.
In effect it can be classed as an interest only lifetime mortgage for pensioners.
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Traditional equity release may not be suitable for everyone, especially due to roll-up of interest & the reduction this will make to potential beneficiaries.
Therefore, particularly suitable for people with good disposable incomes & used to servicing & managing debt throughout their working lives, these people can now control how much inheritance they leave behind by these new equity release schemes.
Primarily, it can be regarded as a half way house between a conventional mortgages and roll-up equity release. The scheme is an interest only eqity release & has all SHIP safeguards and protection offered by the FSA.
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However, a major feature of the Interest Select plan is the ability to be converted over to a full roll up scheme at a later date. This could be when one party to the mortgage dies or financial circumstances dictate that no more monthly payments wish to be made.
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Simplification on the new Interest Select means that when conversion arises, the new rate on the equity release plan will only be 0.2% higher than on the previous Interest Select. However, better still, should the roll-over date be previously set, then roll-over will be at the SAME interest rate as the original interest only element.
With interest rates starting at 6.13% which are currently the lowest in the market, a particularly attractive proposition can be found here for those interest rate tarts!
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TIP – Should one be able to afford the minimum monthly contribution of £25pm for the minimum roll-over period of 12 months, then one can easily achieve a roll-up equity release plan with a 6.13% monthly interest rate thereafter!
Surely, a tip not to be passed by?
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There have been four Interest Select plans launched which surely indicates which way Stonehaven feels the market potential lies.
These range from the Interest Select Lite at just 6.13% & releasing 11% at age 55, upto Interest Select Max with an interest rate of 7.57%, but releasing a higher 19% at age 55.
An example of borrowing £40,000 on the Stonehaven Interest Select Lite at 6.13% would result in monthly payments of £205pm.
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Qualification Criteria for Both Schemes
All Stonehaven equity release products are available to people aged 55 and over, living in a main residence in England and Wales & must have a minimum property valuation of £70,000. The minimum release has been reduced to £10,000.
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Additional Features
No Negative Equity guarantee
There is the guarantee that when the property is sold on death or long term care, the proceeds payable to Stonehaven can never be greater than the property value itself. This guarantees there can be no excess debt passed to the beneficiaries.
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Protected Equity
A valuable inheritance protection feature applicable to the lump sum plans. There is the facility to choose to protect a percentage of the final sale value of the property. Point to note is that the no negative equity guarantee and the amount that Stonehaven will lend are based on the value of the unprotected portion of the property.
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Thus, another chapter unfolds in the equity release storyline; providing greater diversity in the whole of market lifetime mortgage product range. A welcome read & a promising sign of further things to come for the industry.
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If you have any questions, or wish to obtain advice on the Stonehaven range of products please contact the Equity Release Supermarket team on 0800 678 5159 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
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Tags: equity release, Equity Release Adviser, equity release schemes, Halifax Retirement Home Plan, inheritance protection, interest only mortgage, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, SHIP, Stonehaven, Stonehaven interest select
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Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
The main concern of equity release schemes is the reduced inheritance which is passed down to beneficiaries. Here we discuss the pro’s & con’s of roll-up equity release plans.
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First, let’s look at the effect on the beneficiaries & the source of the causes for concern. This then leads us to the equity release calculator with facts & figures showing how these schemes fair for the beneficiaries on final redemption of the plan.
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Ok, we’ve have all heard the saying; bad news travels faster than good news & this is synonymous with terminology ‘equity release’.
Although equity release plans were initiated in 1965, the news damaging these schemes generally dates back to the late 1980’s when the first home income plans were launched.
Linked to an annuities or regular income investment bonds & an interest only mortgage, plans such as these were destined to fail, relying heavily on investment performance in a period of falling property values & rapidly rising interest rates.
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The mid 90’s then introduced the much derided & chastened Shared Appreciation Mortgages (SAM’s), the focus of most causes for campaigns against equity release including Trevor MacDonald’s Tonight TV programme.
Therefore, its no wonder the industries reputation was soured.
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So what has the equity release industry done about repairing this negative sentiment?
At the time of the SAM’s debacle, SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans) was launched. Formed from its originators – Ecclesiastical Life, Hodge Equity Release, Home & Capital Trust & GE Life all members agreed to abide by a strict code of conduct, which still exists today.
Soon new lenders entered the equity release market, with household names such as Norwich Union & Northern Rock with their newly developed roll-up equity release schemes bringing a significant boost & trust to the industry.
Although equity release schemes began to blossom around 2003 with approximately 25,000 equity release loans completed, a lack of regulation still overshadowed the equity release sector. The market was still somewhat bighted by the previous misdemeanours.
Thankfully, partial regulation was soon imposed on the equity release industry with lifetime mortgages coming under the auspices of the Financial Services Authority on 31st October 2004. Home reversions soon joined lifetime mortgage schemes & by 2007 full regulation & confidence was brought back to the equity release marketplace.
Therefore, the market has evolved & strived to restore pride; a far cry from the negative perceptions of decades ago.
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So what does this all mean for today’s beneficiaries?
The main ‘clean up act’ came with the introduction of SHIP & its rules imposed on the members. The ‘no negative equity guarantee’ affords the greatest level of protection the industry has to offer.
Safe in the knowledge that any amount borrowed by their parents can never escalate to more than the eventual sale price of the property, they are at least guaranteed no debt can be passed onto themselves.
A crumb of comfort maybe, but certainly peace of mind for parents.
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As an equity release adviser, encouragement must always be shown to involve the heirs to the estate. With their input & assurance, feelings can then be vented either for or against equity release being taken as for many this is a major financial proposition.
Again qualified advisers should play an important role in explaining the pro’s & con’s of equity release mortgages & convey these issues to all parties concerned.
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What else does the equity release sector afford by way of protection?
Interest rates for home equity release schemes, albeit not the lowest ever, are still historically low. One positive feature of these schemes is the lifetime fixed rate on all equity release loans now.
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So what is the benefit of this?
If you borrowed an amount of capital, with a fixed interest rate for life it enables you to calculate the exact future balance.
This is building further reassurance for potential equity release applicants.
We know the equity release balance escalates over the lifetime of the scheme; this is the nature of plans & should never be entered into unless this has been clearly explained. The effect of the interest compounding annually, approximately doubles the balance every 10-11 years, depending on interest rate charged by the equity release companies.
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Sounds daunting? Well, let’s now look at the sums as promised earlier:
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One of the lowest interest rates around at present would be the Aviva Lifetime Lump Sum scheme, which currently has a fixed interest rate of 6.65% (6.9% APR) annual.
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A male, aged 65 borrowing a lump sum of £25,000 on the 6.65% Aviva Lifestyle lump sum would know exactly what the future balance will be, even before taking out the equity release scheme. The Key Facts Illustration provided by the equity release adviser will confirm these figures & also the costs & additional features involved.
For instance, based on a release of £25,000 in this scenario would lead to a balance in 10 years of £47,594 & after 20 years would be £90,606.
This may seem expensive given only £25,000 was borrowed initially; however there are two factors that could still rule in the equity releases favour.
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One common issue overlooked is the potential for property prices to increase. If so, & with 100% ownership of the house still retained the homeowner will fully benefit from any future escalation in the house price. This will then offset some of the compounding effect of the interest & mitigate its effect on the overall estate. Again, we are looking longer term & no guarantee can be given prices will go up; nevertheless historical data confirms they still have.
As a consequence, a rule of thumb is never to borrow anymore than required beyond the initial 12 months. Plans are now flexible enough with drawdown schemes being available that funds can even be drip fed over time as & when required.
hence, by taking a lower initial amount would result in less interest being charged, meaning more inheritance passed to the beneficiaries.
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The second factor affecting the balance accruing & is the main cause of equity release roll-up is purely down the fact that NO monthly payments are required. This helps retirees to have access to the equity tied up in their property & at the same time leave their budget unaffected.
Nevertheless, equity release schemes do have an increasing role in retirement planning for the over 55’s. Care must always be taken & never rushed into without discussion & involvement of third parties.
Advice should always be provided by an industry qualified equity release consultant. If so, & in the right circumstances equity release can provide a comfortable & enjoyable retirement.
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Finally, hopefully lessons have been learned from the past & the industry can move forward, innovate & develop further over time.
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To discuss any of these issues & with no obligation whatsoever, please contact the Equity Release Supermarket team on 0800 783 9652 or email mark@equityrelease supermarket.co.uk
Tags: drawdown equity release, equity release, Equity Release Adviser, equity release awards, Equity release calculator, equity release schemes, lifetime mortgages, No negative equity guarantee
Posted in Equity Release, News | No Comments »
Friday, February 11th, 2011
The resurgence of the equity release market gathers momentum in 2011 with the news that New Life Mortgages are set to re-introduce their landlord & second home equity release schemes on 11th February 2011.
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Following the additions of more2life & New Life Mortgages to the equity release market late in 2010, the latest launch from the innovative lifetime mortgage lender signals a degree of diversity to their portfolio.
New Life Mortgages temporarily withdrew from equity release market in 2009. They obviously haven’t been sat idle, but instead waited for their opportunity to re-enter at the right time & with the right products.
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Following on from my previous article on New Life Mortgages rejoining the equity release market in November 2010, here we discuss the features & benefits to landlords of this unique equity release plan.
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How does the scheme work?
The New Life Mortgages Landlord Loan provides a tax free cash lump sum based on a percentage of the value of the residential investment property & the age of the applicant. Plans start at age 55 & any landlord with a portfolio of upto 5 rental properties can potentially release some of the equity tied up within them.
This buy to let equity release has no set repayment date & no monthly repayments to make. The loan is eventually repayable on the sale of the property when the last surviving borrower has died or gone into care.
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How do I qualify?
- Minimum age of 55 (for joint applicants minimum age 55 of the youngest)
- Investment property must be in England & Wales
- Landlord loan minimum property valuation of £100,000 & a maximum of £1million
- Minimum release is £25,000 & maximum is £500,000
- The property should be standard construction with flats over 5 storeys excluded
- If leasehold property, then 80 years must be remaining on the lease
- Any existing mortgage must be repaid on commencement of the Landlord scheme
How Much Can I Borrow?
This is determined by the age of the youngest applicant & the value of the investment properties:-
- Age 55 – 16%
- Age 60 – 21%
- Age 65 - 26%
- Age 70 - 31%
- Age 75 – 36%
- Age 80 – 41%
- Age 85+ – 45%
Therefore, as an example a 65 year old landlord with a single investment property of £200,000 could potentially release a capital lump sum of £52,000.
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How does it compare to a normal equity release scheme?
The scheme in principle works exactly the same. You borrow the money, the interest accrues on a monthly basis & it is repaid when the property is finally sold.
The differences lie in the rental side; an assured shorthold tenancy agreement must be in place to qualify & cannot be let to family members.
Also, there are maximum borrowing criteria, similar to a buy to let mortgage. This states that the monthly interest charged cannot be more than the rental income received.
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What are the costs involved?
- Valuation fee dependent upon the value of the investment property
- Application fee which can be added to the loan
- Solicitors legal fees
- Lifetime fixed monthly interest rates of 6.39% (age 55-80) & 6.55% (age 81+)
- Early repayment charges only 5% for the first 5 years. No charges thereafter.
- Any advice fee charged by your equity release specialist
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Practical uses of the New Life Landlord buy to let mortgage?
The equity release funds can be utilised in many ways.
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With market opportunities growing in the rental market as house prices fall & yields increase, bargains are there to be had. Should any residential landlord wish to expand their portfolio & have concerns over the expense of buy to let mortgages they can consider schemes such as this.
Should a potential landlord spot a new investment opportunity, but has limited capital for deposit, then landlord equity release schemes could assist. The borrower could review all properties under his portfolio & by using an equity release calculator; assess how much could be released individually to meet the shortfall required.
Additionally, with the age group eligible for this buy to let mortgage there could be tax implications. Therefore, should some of these assets need to be disposed of, rather than selling the property & incurring capital gains tax, then equity release can be undertaken instead.
Finally & the most common purpose for this could be for debt consolidation purposes. Should financial difficulties arise on a buy to let mortgage or other personal finances, then subject to the amount that can be released, these debts can be repaid.
Perhaps one has just had enough repaying a buy to let mortgage & would rather receive the gross rental income to support their retirement?
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The uses of the New Life Landlord scheme can be many; so to discuss how the features of this unique buy to let lifetime mortgage can benefit you contact the Equity Release Supermarket team on 0800 678 5159 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk.
Tags: buy to let, buy to let mortgage, equity release, Equity release calculator, equity release schemes, landlord equity release, landlord mortgages, New Life Mortgages
Posted in Equity Release, News | No Comments »
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