Reverse Mortgage FAQ

A Reverse Mortgage is secured by the equity in your home. Unlike a traditional mortgage in which you make regular payments to someone else, a reverse mortgage pays you. 

The big advantage with the Reverse Mortgage is that you do not have to make any regular mortgage payments for as long as you or your spouse lives in your home. That’s what has made reverse mortgages such a popular solution in Canada, the U.K., the U.S., Australia and other countries.

The Reverse Mortgage is designed exclusively for homeowners age 55 and older. This age qualification applies to both you and your spouse.

You can receive up to 55% of the value of your home. The specific amount is based on your age and that of your spouse, the location and type of home you have, and your home’s current appraised value. You can contact me and I can quickly give you an estimate of how much you may be approved for.

You can choose how you want to receive the money. The Reverse Mortgage gives you the option of receiving all the money you’re eligible for in one lump sum advance, or you can take some now and more later, or you can receive planned advances over a set period of time. Planned advances are available on the Income Advantage product.

The homeowner keeps all the equity remaining in the home. In our many years of experience, over 99% of homeowners have money left over when their loan is repaid. The equity remaining depends on the amount borrowed, the value of the home, and the amount of time that’s passed since the reverse mortgage was taken out.
No. The homeowner retains title and maintains ownership of the home. It’s required for the homeowner to live in the home, pay taxes on time, have property insurance, and maintain the property in good condition.
Many of our clients use a reverse mortgage to pay off their existing mortgage and debts.
No. Many financial professionals recommend a reverse mortgage to supplement monthly income instead of selling and downsizing, or taking out a conventional mortgage or a line of credit.
There are no monthly payments required as long as the homeowner is living in the home.

Reverse mortgage rates, fees, and regulations

Yes, you must be at least 55 years old to qualify for a reverse mortgage.

However you like. Many Canadians use their reverse mortgage funds to repay existing loans or mortgages, help family members, purchase a new property, or simply to lead a more comfortable life.

Some of the banks charges a one-time set-up fee of $995. Much like a regular mortgage, there are additional appraisal and Independent Legal Advice fees that come with closing a reverse mortgage. Different fees apply per lender a agent from Citadel Mortgages will explain based on lender choosen.

To reduce interest accumulation, you can limit the amount of your initial advance and take out additional funds only as needed. There’s also the option of paying down interest monthly, without a prepayment charge.
Because no payments are required until the mortgage is due, reverse mortgage rates tend to be higher than standard mortgages. We offer a range of fixed and adjustable interest rates so you can choose the interest rate that works best for you.

There is a setup fee of $995.00, which will be deducted from the initial advance. Different fees apply per lender a agent from Citadel Mortgages will explain based on lender choosen.

Reverse mortgage planning

Since the Reverse Mortgage is meant for long-term lending with no quantified term, the due date of the mortgage is established on the occurrence of the earliest of any of these events:

  • Sale or transfer of the property
  • Default
  • When the last borrower moves into a long-term care or retirement residence
  • When the last borrower passes away

1Subject to certain conditions.

  • Principal and accrued interest
  • Default expenses, if any
  • Fees and costs
  • Prepayment charge, if any
Technically, you can’t “outlive” a reverse mortgage. As long as you meet your mortgage obligations, like paying property taxes and home insurance, the amount you owe on the due date will never be more than the fair market value.
If both spouses are registered as joint tenants, the surviving spouse can continue to be a borrower and is entitled to all the benefits a reverse mortgage has to offer.

The appraised value of your home must be at least $250,000.

At any time, the remaining equity on your home will depend on the difference between the home’s current value and the amount owing on the reverse mortgage.

Provided you have met your mortgage obligations, the amount you owe to the bank on the due date will not exceed the fair market value.

Fair market value is the amount that would be paid on the open market, on the applicable date, to buy the property, assuming there are no legal claims against the property. This value would be established by a certified home appraiser.

Get in touch with your Reverse Mortgage expert today.

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