Posts Tagged ‘lifetime mortgage schemes’
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Retired homeowners can now safely make plans for their future with the help of an equity release scheme.
There are a number of equity release schemes available today in the market. Some of these are:
- Interest only mortgages
- Lifetime mortgages
- Home income plans
- Home reversion
Amongst these schemes, the interest only mortgage is very popular. It can either have a fixed or tracker rate of interest which is to be paid at the end of every month. Interest only mortgage schemes have gained popularity in recent times.
This scheme is highly suited to people who are retired and it can help them in their old age. Those retirees who are opposed to the roll-up effect of conventional equity release schemes, can find solice in these interest only lifetime mortgage schemes. The reason being is that the balance will always remain the same & never increase, thus protecting any beneficiaries inheritance.
The interest only mortgage scheme is considered as the safest option by many people. It promises a fixed capital lump sum to spend on anything they wish in retirement.
In other plans such as home reversion, one sells all or part of the property & can thereafter live rent free in the home for the rest of their lives. These schemes do not start until age 65 & now only account for 3% of all equity release plans taken out.
It should be noted that none of the interest only schemes put the retired person at a risk to lose their right to live in their property. However, monthly payments must be maintained in order to not default on their mortgage. Obviously, these interest only mortgages always come with the health warning – Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Should you have any questions on lifetime mortgages, home reversion schemes & interest only mortgages please contact the Equity Release Supermarket advisory team on 0800 678 5159 or alternatively email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
Tags: equity release, equity release schemes, Equity Release Supermarket, Halifax Retirement Home Plan, home reversion, home reversion plans, home reversion schemes, interest only mortgage, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages
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Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Equity release schemes have become extremely popular amongst retired individuals due to their myriad of benefits. The most notable benefit of these form of lifetime mortgage is that you do not have to move out of your home to get equity from your property & you have no monthly mortgage payments to make. Similar to any other financial scheme, it is important to consider your needs and requirements before you arrive at a decision.
Mentioned below are some important factors that you need to understand before selecting an equity release scheme.
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No negative equity guarantee
Most equity release schemes have a no negative equity guarantee provided free of charge & automatically incorporated into any SHIP equity release plan. A no negative equity guarantee will ensure that your outstanding debt will never exceed the overall value of your property. At the same time, any outstanding debt will not be transferred to your family after you pass away. Therefore, your beneficiaries can be safe in the knowledage that by you taking equity now, will not make you pay for it later.
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Moving to a new property
It should be noted that moving to a new property is permitted by the equity release provider you choose to go with. However, as long as the property you are moving to is of standard construction & if leasehold has a lease still in excess of 75 years then it should still be possible to transfer your scheme. Because of this reason, it is recommended to look for a reutable equity release scheme that caters to your specific needs.Again, all equity release schemes that are members of SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans) must have this facility to transfer the mortgage built within the terms.
If you are looking to downsize, then a repayment maybe required to bring the amount riased in line with the equity release providers loan to value. This amount would usually come from the equity that has been raised by downsizing so there would be no need for alarm. Additionally, as you are making some form of repayment, then NO early repayment charge would be applied by the lifetime mortgage provider.
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Criteria
It should be noted that you will need to meet the equity release companies criteria to become eligible for equity release schemes. For starters, you need to be at least 55 years of age & own your own home. At the same time, the market value of your home should be at least £60,000, although some equity lenders do impose higher valuations so check beforehand. Ensuring you meet these criterion’s will help if you are planning to opt for one of best equity release plans.
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However, help is always on hand. Therefore to establish whether equity release is the correct path for you to follow then speak to the specialists at Equity Release Supermarket. Call freephone 0800 678 5159 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
Tags: equity release, equity release schemes, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, No negative equity guarantee, SHIP
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Sunday, May 29th, 2011
The Halifax equity release scheme is an interest only lifetime mortgage plan. It is specially developed for retired individuals to boost their retirement standard of living. With this type of scheme, the outstanding balance remains unchanged throughout the plan tenure. The applicant only needs to pay interest regularly to the lender.
Traditional roll-up equity release schemes do not require the applicant to make interest payments. However, the interest keeps rolling up over the tenure period. This means that the outstanding loan keeps rising all the time. With the present interest rates, the loan amount will keep doubling after approximately every 10-11 years dependent upon the equity release interest rate. This means, if you have a loan of £10,000, after 10-11 years, you will owe £20,000.
Retired individuals, who can afford to make monthly repayments from their state benefits or pension, should opt for a Halifax equity release plan. While considering opting for equity release, it is important to get the right advice from the professionals. As professionals have the required knowledge and expertise, they can help you get the right scheme that will cater to your needs.
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Why do people opt for a Halifax equity release plan?
The Halifax equity release scheme, being an interest only mortgage plan for pensioners, does not require any form of repayment. This is also one of the most exclusive features of the Halifax equity release plan. With this kind of scheme, your mortgage is automatically allocated for a term of 40 years. However, should you live longer than this period then this lifetime mortgage plan will continue until death or the last person has moved into long term care.
It is due to these reasons that the Halifax equity release scheme has become extremely popular amongst retired individuals.
Contact the mortgage desk on 0800 783 9652 or email admin@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk for the latest rates & information.
Tags: equity release, Halifax, Halifax Retirement Home Plan, Home Retirement Plan, interest only lifetime mortgage, interest only mortgage, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, mortgages for pensioners, pensioner mortgages
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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, March 2nd, 2011
With the main concern over equity release schemes being the inheritance passed down to beneficiaries, here we discuss the pro’s & con’s of these lifetime roll-up mortgages.
Firstly, we look at the effect on beneficiaries & the sources of these areas of concern. This then leads us onto the equity release calculator with facts & figures showing how these schemes fair for the beneficiaries at the end of the day.
Ok, we’ve have all heard the saying; bad news travels faster than good news & this is synonymous with term ‘equity release’.
Although equity release plans originate back to 1965, the damaging news about them generally dates back to the late 1980′s when ‘home income plans‘ were initially launched.
Linked to an annuity or investment bond & an interest only mortgage, these plans were destined to fail, relying heavily on investment performance in a period of falling property values & rapidly rising interest rates.
The mid 90′s then introduced the much derided shared appreciation mortgages (SAM’s), the focus of most causes for campaigns against equity release including the Trevor MacDonald Tonight programme.
Is it any wonder reputation was soured?
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So what has the equity release industry done about it?
At the time of the SAM’s debacle, SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans) was launched.
Formed from its originators – Ecclesiastical Life, Hodge, Home & Capital Trust and GE Life all members agreed to abide by a strict code of conduct, which still exists to this day.
Soon, new lenders entered the market with household names such as Norwich Union & Northern Rock introducing the first roll-up schemes & bringing a significant boost & trust to the industry.
Although the volume of applications began to blossom around 2003 with 25,000 loans completed, a lack of regulation still overshadowed the equity release sector. The market was still somewhat blighted by its previous misdemeanours.
Thankfully, partial regulation was soon imposed on the industry with lifetime mortgages coming under the auspices of the Financial Services Authority on 31st October 2004. Home reversions joined lifetime mortgage schemes soon after & by 2007 full regulation & confidence was brought back to the sector.
Therefore, the market has evolved & strived to restore pride; a far cry from the negative perceptions of decades previous.
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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 this industry can 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, beneficiaries are at least guaranteed no debt can ever be passed onto themselves.
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A crumb of comfort maybe, but peace of mind for the parents.
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An equity release adviser should always encourage involvement of 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 elderly people this is a major financial proposition.
Again qualified advisers should play an important role in explaining the pro’s & cons of lifetime 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 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 mortgage applicants.
A client will always be made aware that the equity release balance escalates over the lifetime of the scheme; this is the nature of these 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.
Sounds daunting? Well, let’s now look at the sums as promised:
One of the lowest interest rates around at present would be the Aviva Lifetime Lump Sum plan, which at the time of writing this article has a fixed lifetime interest rate of 6.65% (6.9% APR) annual.
A male, aged 65 borrowing a lump sum of £25,000 on the Aviva Lifestyle lump sum at a fixed interest rate of 6.65% 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, given the aforementioned figures at the end of 10 years the mortgage balance would be £47,594 & after 20 years it 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 favour of the a lifetime mortgage scheme.
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One common issue overlooked is the potential for property values to increase. If so, & with 100% ownership of the house still being retained, then the homeowner will fully benefit from any escalation in the house price. This will then offset some of the compounding effect of the interest & mitigate its effect on the estate somewhat. Again, we are looking here at the longer term & no guarantee can be given they will go up; nevertheless historical records show they have indeed.
Consequently, a rule of thumb is never to borrow anymore than required beyond the initial 12 months. Plans are now flexible enough & with drawdown equity release schemes introduced & now being the most popular roll up lifetime mortgage, then the funds can be drip fed over time as & when required.
Additionally, by taking a lower initial amount, results in less interest being charged, thus meaning more inheritance passed onto the beneficiaries.
The second factor affecting the balance accruing & is also the primary cause of roll-up & that is purely down to the fact that NO monthly payments are required. This helps retirees to have access to the some of the equity tied up in their property & at the same time having NO effect on their budget.
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Finally, equity release schemes do have an ever increasing part to play in the retirement planning for the over 55′s. Care must always be taken & should never rushed into without discussion & involvement of third parties. Advice should always be provided by an industry qualified equity release adviser.
Hopefully lessons have now been learned from the past & the industry can move forward, innovate & develop further over time. If so, & in the right circumstances equity release can provide for many, a comfortable & enjoyable retirement.
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If you require furthjer advice on equity release schemes, please call freephone 0800 783 9652 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
Tags: drawdown equity release, equity release, Equity Release Adviser, Equity release calculator, home income plan, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, SHIP
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Monday, December 20th, 2010
Should you have already purchased your annuity from your pension scheme, then unless it is indexed linked by inflation you may now be feeling that has lost some of its purchasing power over the years. With inflationary fears currently still persisting, even with the recent downturn in the UK economy, then people are looking at extra ways to enhance their retirement income & lifestyle.
Obviously, once a pension has been purchased then it is fixed for life, so alternative sources of boosting one’s retirement income need to be sourced.
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So how can equity release assist?
Equity release allows you to enjoy the monetary benefits of your assets without having to sell them. This is one of the ways to use the equity locked in your property. Equity release schemes are available only for retired individuals over the age of 55.
There are two types of equity release schemes: Lifetime mortgages and home reversion schemes. Consider the benefits of these two and choose one that suits your requirements. It is prudent to opt for independent financial advice when dealing with equity release schemes.
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Lifetime mortgage schemes: These schemes are designed for property owners. They help in gaining money by mortgaging the property. A major benefit of opting for this scheme is that you still remain the sole owner of your property. Individuals over 55 years of age are eligible for lifetime mortgage schemes.
One type of lifetime mortgage scheme called drawdown equity release could be a solution here. The lender will calculate an overall maximum that can be released & from this the applicant can withdraw this reserve facility in small amounts at times to suit one’s requirements. This could be monthly, half yearly or even annually, but the choice is yours. Therefore, by opting for a drawdown scheme could boost your retirement finances with flexibility.
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Reversion schemes: Contrary to lifetime mortgage schemes, home reversion schemes require you to sell a part or all of your property to enjoy monetary benefits. A lump sum from one of these schemes can be used to purchase an annuity which could therefore supplement any existing pension scheme.
Dependent on the lump sum raised, age & health & options built into the annuity would determine the regular income to be paid by the annuity provider. Always shop around or seek the advice of an independent financial adviser to ensure the maximum possible income is achieved.
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Eligibility
You should be the sole owner of your property prior to mortgaging it. The aforementioned schemes have different age requirements. While lifetime mortgage schemes require an individual to be 55 years of age, home reversion schemes need the individual to be 65 years of age to qualify. Your property will be surveyed and you can qualify for these schemes only if it is worth £60,000 or more.
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Equity Release Supermarket have independent financial advisers that can provide advice on both equity release & how to maximise your retirement income with annuities & pensions.
Contact us on freephone 0800 678 5159 if you wish to discuss whether any of these products can help your retirement financially.
e: mark@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
w: http://www.equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
Tags: drawdown, equity release, equity release schemes, home reversion, home reversion schemes, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, pension annuity, purchased life annuity
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Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Do you need extra more money during your retirement?
If the answer is yes, then equity release can be an ideal solution. Today, many equity release companies exist who provide different mortgage schemes to homeowners who are above 55 years of age. By opting for these schemes, you can release equity or money against the value of your home. Before taking a final decision, it is important to consider few factors. These include:
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Flexibility – You have to check how flexible your equity release plan is. Choose the scheme which allows you to draw more money or allows you to sell the property, if required. There are lenders who also allow the applicant to make ad-hoc repayments off the balance (subject to early repayment charges)
Fees – The fees for purchasing equity release schemes depend on the provider. Consideration should be given to the plan whose fees are the lowest. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be classed as the over riding factor. Special offers such as cashbacks, free valuations all help to keep the costs down. Check with Equity Release Supermarket to see what offers they can find you.
Interest rates – Similar to fees, the interest can vary on the basis of the scheme or mortgage chosen. Before choosing, it is recommended to compare the interest rates of different schemes. Rates currently can vary from as low as 6.59% up to 7.59% & this can have a massive effect on the final balance at the end of the day. Always check aswell that the interest rate being quoted is annual. Some equity release companies quote on a monthly & some annual basis. A monthly interest rate of 6.59% is actually higher than an annual interest rate of 6.59%, due to the quicker compounding effect of monthly v annual interest.
S.H.I.P (Safe Home Income Plans) – This is an organisation which was set up to protect the rights of consumers or purchasers of home equity schemes. Whichever scheme you choose, ensure that the lender is a member of this organisation. As a result of using a ship equity release company, means that the solicitor will have to sign a SHIP certificate to say that they have acted on the clients behalf & they understand what they are entering into. Additionally, being a member of SHIP means the scheme has to meet certain criteria – to be able to be repaid; to be able to move house & inlcude a no negative equity release guarantee.
Financial Services Authority (FSA) – The FSA is a regulatory body in the UK which takes care of the rules and regulations followed by the financial companies. Always choose a company which is registered with the FSA thus affording the protection the FSA provide.
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It is advisable to hire a qualified financial consultant before investing in any one of the equity release schemes currently available in the market.
Equity Release Supermarket have experienced advisers who can source the whole of the market to find the best equity release deal for you.
Call freephone 0800 783 9652 or email mark@equityreleasesupermarket to discuss your requirements further.
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Tags: equity release, equity release advisers, equity release schemes, Fees, FSA, interest rates, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, SHIP
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Monday, December 13th, 2010
An increase in the standard of living has caused a shortfall in pension provision. This has affected the individuals who are on the verge of their retirement. An equity release scheme can be a solution for this problem. The following are some of the important aspects of equity release schemes:
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What is an equity release scheme?
Equity release schemes allow you to release the equity in your home. Such schemes are already immensely popular among the individuals in their retirement. They can thus cover the shortfall in their income by getting more value for their homes.
Several pensioners as well as their children consider equity release as a good option. Such schemes provide them with a steady flow of cash in their retirement days. They can thus maintain as well as improve their quality of life in their retirement.
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Equity release schemes
Equity release is basically a term used to cover different financial products that release home equity. However, the individuals do not need to meet any monthly payment. Keep in mind that equity release schemes can only be purchased by individuals above the age of 55 years.
Equity release products are divided into two broad categories as follows:
Out of these two options, a lifetime mortgage is popular among most retired individuals. Sometimes, the lifetime mortgage providers provide a lump sum amount which is decided on the basis of the individual’s age and value of the property. This amount can also be given as an ongoing monthly amount.
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The following are some of the other benefits of opting for equity release
- Fixed rate of interest for life and no monthly payment
- Mortgage can be transferred to a new property (subject to property criteria & valuation)
- Plans can be repaid at anytime (subject to potential early repayment charges)
Thus, equity release schemes hold the key to an improved lifestyle post-retirement.
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Hopefully equity release solutions exist for you. Please call freephone 0800 783 9652 to chat to one of our friendly equity release advisers.
Tags: equity release, Equity Release Adviser, equity release schemes, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages
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Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
Today, equity release schemes are preferred by many people because they help unlock money against the value of their homes. If you are 55 years of age or older and facing financial constraints then you should consider equity release schemes. They are specifically designed for older people who own their own home and seek to live a better life.
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How do equity release schemes work?
With the help of these schemes, you can obtain 15% to 50% of the value of your property. To qualify for equity release, you must also have no or very little outstanding debts. If you have any secured debts then they must be fully repaid, either before or actually on completion. In exchange for a value of your property, the lenders will pay you a lump sum amount of money or a monthly payment.
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Two different types of equity release scheme
To fulfill different needs, two different types of equity release schemes have been introduced. These include lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans.
If you choose a lifetime mortgage, you can receive a lump sum amount of cash against your property. The best thing about this scheme is that the repayment is made when the homeowner dies or moves to a care home. Today, different types of lifetime mortgages have been introduced by different financial institutions.
Home reversion plans allow you to sell a part or all of your property in exchange for a cash payment. You will receive a lifetime tenancy agreement & have no rent to pay for the rest of your life.
All equity release schemes we advise on are regulated by the FSA (Financial Services Authority) & are members of SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans).
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To establish which of the two lifetime mortgage schemes are suitable for your requirements, contact the Equity Release Supermarket team on 0800 783 9652.
Tags: equity release, equity release schemes, home reversion, home reversion schemes, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
On a daily basis we get serious financial queries from people looking to alleviate their money woes in retirement. This could be due to a number of lifestyle issues,; perhaps due to a lack of pension provision over the years, divorce, business failure, the list is endless.
However, to all these scenarios equity release can potentially be a saviour in one way or another. This is why it is so important that advice from a qualified equity release adviser is sourced.
From an equity release advisers point of view it gives us most pleasure to see how life changing equity release schemes can be to clients & the benefits they bring.
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Equity release is specifically designed for homeowners who want to release capital against their homes. If you have a situation that requires a capital lump sum to resolve the cash flow problem, then equity release schemes may be the solution.
However, which is the right equity release depends upon your requirements & attitude towards your beneficiaries.
In general, all equity release schemes will provide some form of tax free lump sum, but it is the method of its withdrawal that will determine the most appropriate equity release scheme that is correct for you.
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Criteria to qualify for equity release
If you want to opt for equity release then the youngest age of the homeowners must be over 55 years of age. In addition to this, your main residence must be worth a minimum of £60,000 & if any secured debts are outstanding on the property, then they must be repaid at completion of the new equity release plan. Therefore, unless there are savings to cover the repayment of the mortgage, then sufficient funds need to be raised on the new equity release plan to redeem the existing mortgage.
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How much equity can you release?
The cash lump sum received depends on various factors. These include your age, the value and your health situation. The scheme you choose can also affect the amount of receivable money. The older the age of the applicant, the greater the potential equity release available. The higher releases are often found on home reversion schemes which is where you sell a percentage of the property to the home reversion company.
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Is the money tax-free?
Yes, the lump sum money which you will receive against your home will be tax-free as it is classed as a withdrawal of capital. However, what happens to these monies next will determine whether these equity release funds remain tax free.
Once, the tax free lump sum is received from the solicitor & placed into the clients bank account, then if you are a basic rate taxpayer or higher, then you will be taxed at source on the interest generated. If you are a non-taxpayer then remember to have Inland Revenue form R85 completed, which will allow the bank or building society to pay interest with NO tax deducted.
The fact the equity release cash lump sum is tax free on receipt means that the funds should go further long term & allows you to spend the cash in various ways. The list for this is endless but most popular prove to be debt consildation, home improvements, buying a new car or go on a holiday or pay off outstanding debts.
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Will you own the property?
If you have opted for a lifetime mortgage scheme, then the property will still be 100% yours, albeit the equity release company will have placed a legal charge on the property & lodged it with the land registry. This protects the provider in that when the property is eventually sold, they will have first bite of the cherry & recieve the original cpaital borrowed, plus compounded interest to that date.
In the case of home reversion plans, the whole or a part of your property will be owned by the lender. Therefore, dependent on how much of an equity release cash lump sum is required, will determine the percentage of the property that needs to be sold. This could be as little as 10% or even as much as 100% of the total property value. Obviously, if 100% of the property is sold then you will forfeit certain rights. These would include there being NO inheritance to pass onto any potential heirs, no equity to negotiate on if you want to upgrade to another property & you will require the home reversion company to approve any building work or changes to the property you require.
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Please think carefully before entering into any long term equity release mortgage arrangement. The equity release market is highly regulated by the financial services authority (FSA) with advise not only coming from an mortgage specialist such as Equity Release Supemarket, but also from a legal representative which will ultimately by your solicitor.
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To discuss your equity release options further & to request a free initial NO obligation financial planning service meeting, then contact the Supermarket team on 0800 783 9652 or email admin@equityreleasesupermarket.co.uk
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Tags: equity release, Equity Release Adviser, equity release schemes, home reversion, home reversion schemes, impaired life, lifetime mortgage schemes, lifetime mortgages, Roll up lifetime mortgage, SHIP
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