Reverse Mortgages for Dummies »

Sarah Glendon Lyons is Assistant Editor of Mortgage Originator Magazine, the leading U.S. trade publication and Web site on the mortgage origination business.

John E. Lucas is a lecturer, educator, and reverse mortgage specialist with more than 38 years of experience in the mortgage industry.

For seniors who live on a fixed income, owning a home—and keeping it—can be financially challenging. Rather than face the choice of selling your home and moving or becoming a home-owning pauper, reverse mortgage products let seniors convert part of their equity into tax-free income that can be used for anything—even mortgage payments, living expenses, or medical costs.

Reverse Mortgages For Dummies covers all the basics of reverse mortgage products so you and your adult children can understand and take full advantage of these handy loans—and keep the home you love. Covering a full range of reverse mortgage options and topics, you’ll discover how to:

• Decide if a reverse mortgage is right for you
• Shop for the best reverse mortgage products
• Find out if your home is eligible
• Find a counselor who can help you

Written by Sarah Lyons, an Assistant Editor at Mortgage Originator magazine, and John Lucas, an experienced reverse mortgage specialist, Reverse Mortgages For Dummies explains these helpful loan products in simple, easy-to-understand language free of all the jargon. Once you understand how reverse mortgages differ from other loans—and what you could do with your reverse mortgage—the book covers the specifics you need to find the right loan for you, including:

• Special advice for adult children helping their senior parents secure a loan
• How to get a reverse mortgage and keep your second home legally
• Property requirements and financing fees
• Selecting among a multitude of lenders
• Spending and estimating leftover equity
• Sharing thedecision-making process with family and loved ones

If you’re a senior wondering whether a reverse mortgage can help you keep your home, this book gives you the information you need to make smart, informed decisions that are vital to you, and your family’s, security. Reverse Mortgages For Dummies will help you keep your home and live the life you want.

Introduction.

Part 1: Understanding the Basics of a Reverse Mortgage.

Chapter 1: Figuring Out the Reverse Mortgage Basics.

Chapter 2: Deciding Whether a Reverse Mortgage Is Right for You.

Chapter 3: Having the Right Stuff: Borrower Qualifications.

Chapter 4: Repaying Your Loan.

Part II: Going Shopping: Product Options.

Chapter 5: Following the Crowd: The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.

Chapter 6: Figuring Out the Fannie Mae Home Keeper Loans.

Chapter 7: Jumping into Jumbo Cash Accounts.

Part III: Taking the Plunge.

Chapter 8: Taking the First Step: Seeing a Counselor.

Chapter 9: Working on Step Two: Your Originator.

Chapter 10: Going Forward with Step Three: Getting Appraised.

Chapter 11: Sealing the Deal with Step Four: Closing.

Part IV: Giving Advice for Adult Children.

Chapter 12: Supporting Your Parents.

Chapter 13: Knowing the Impact of a Reverse Mortgage on Your Inheritance.

Chapter 14: Getting Durable Power of Attorney.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 15: Top Ten What Ifs When Considering a Reverse Mortgage.

Chapter 16: Ten Resources for Securing a Reverse Mortgage.

Chapter 17: Ten Common Mistakes Borrowers Make.

Appendix: Glossary.

Index.