Know all about reverse mortgage in Australia
A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that allows homeowners ages 62 and older, typically who’ve paid off their mortgage, to borrow part of their home’s equity as tax-free income. Unlike a regular mortgage in which the homeowner makes payments to the lender, with a reverse mortgage, the lender pays the homeowner.
The most common method of releasing home equity in Australia is reverse mortgage, also referred to as a senior’s loan or senior’s finance.
How does a reverse mortgage work in Australia?
A reverse mortgage allows you to borrow money using the equity in your home as security. If you’re age 60, the most you can borrow is likely to be 15–20% of the value of your home. As a guide, add 1% for each year over 60. So, at 65, the most you can borrow will be about 20–25%.
Types of reverse mortgage:
There are several kinds of reverse mortgage loans:
(1) those insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
(2) proprietary reverse mortgage loans that are not FHA-insured
(3) single-purpose reverse mortgage loans offered by state and local governments.
What are the benefits of a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage’s key benefit is improving your long-term retirement funding. This, in turn, enables you to: Increase your retirement income Improve your retirement lifestyle Remain living in your own home Look forward with confidence Most importantly, a reverse mortgage allows you to enjoy the retirement you’ve worked hard for
What are the basic requirements for a reverse mortgage?
Aside from age, other reverse mortgage requirements include:
- Your home must be your principal residence, meaning you live there the majority of the year.
- You must have a low mortgage balance or own your home outright.
- Any federal debt, such as federal student loans or income taxes, is prohibited at the time of claiming.
Who is responsible for paying back a reverse mortgage?
Anybody can pay off a reverse mortgage, including the borrower, their spouse, their heirs or other relatives. This is most common in scenarios where the last surviving borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse dies, and the heirs choose to pay off the loan.
Can you get a reverse mortgage in Australia?
Reverse mortgages, which are available in Australia for homeowners the age 60 and older, don’t call for regular income, allowing you to keep your home and take advantage of all of its capital growth while having more monthly cash available for lifestyle expenses.
How does a reverse mortgage work?
A reverse mortgage allows you to access the equity in your home through a loan facility that doesn’t require repayment until you vacate the property. The amount you can borrow is a function of your age and the value of your home. The older you are, the more you can borrow. The Loan Value ratio – or LVR – increases by 1% for each year older than 60. As a guide, if you’re aged 60, the maximum amount you can borrow is 15% of the value of your home and if you’re aged 75, the maximum amount you could borrow would be 30%.
There are only around six lenders in Australia who offer reverse mortgages. Some people may prefer to deal with a broker, as they will explain the pros and cons of each lending arrangement.
2023’s Reverse Mortgage Principal Limit Factors
Age of Borrower Principal Limit Factor Current Lending Limit
2023’s Reverse Mortgage Principal Limit Factors
| Age of Borrower | Principal Limit Factor | Current Lending Limit |
| 70 | 42.00% | $1,089,300 |
| 75 | 44.90% | $1,089,300 |
| 80 | 49.30% | $1,089,300 |
| 85 | 55.40% | $1,089,300 |
What is the average rate of interest on a reverse mortgage?
The lowest fixed interest rate on a fixed reverse mortgage is 6.680% (8.094% APR), and variable rates are as low as 6.730% with a 2.000 margin.
Is a reverse mortgage a good idea for a senior citizen?
Income from reverse mortgages typically doesn’t affect a senior’s social security or Medicare eligibility and can be used as the senior desires. These benefits can take the financial burden off of a family and enable a senior’s estate to pay for long-term care or living expenses when other means are not available.
Why do people dislike reverse mortgages?
Reverse mortgages come with higher fees than most traditional loans, and borrowers are also faced with mortgage insurance costs of up to 2.5% of the home value. What’s more, most reverse mortgage terms require borrowers to stay on top of property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance costs to avoid default.
What is the average fee for a reverse mortgage?
2% of the first $200,000 of the property’s value and 1% of the amount over $200,000. A maximum of a $6,000 origination fee. A lender can charge a HECM origination fee of up to $2,500 if your home is valued at less than $125,000.
Reverse Mortgage Loan Limits
For the government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), the maximum reverse mortgage limit you can borrow against is $970,800 (updated January 1st, 2022), even if your home is appraised at a higher value than that.
Is the interest high on a reverse mortgage?
Reverse mortgages can have higher interest rates than traditional mortgage loans or home equity loans. The rate that you pay for a reverse mortgage can vary by lender, and you may have the option to choose a fixed or variable interest rate.
How long does a reverse mortgage payout?
Reverse mortgage loans must be repaid either when you move out of the home or die. However, the loan may need to be paid back sooner if the home is no longer your principal residence, you fail to pay your property taxes or homeowners insurance, or you do not keep the home in good repair.
Which type of property is ineligible for a reverse mortgage?
If your property must be considered your primary residence, vacation home, and secondary home, they do not qualify for the reverse mortgage loan. In addition, homes on income-producing land, such as a farm, are not eligible. A reverse mortgage loan must be the primary lien on your home to qualify.
What happens to a reverse mortgage when the owner dies?
The heirs are responsible for the mortgage money after the death of the borrower. The heirs have 30 days from receiving the due and payable notice from the lender to buy, sell or turn the home over to the lender to satisfy the debt.
