RA Equity Release For People Over 60

What is equity release from RA Equity Release?

When most people think about retirement, they imagine a time when they can finally stop working and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

But what happens if you still have debts to pay or bills to cover? What happens if you want to help out your children or grandchildren financially? What happens if you just don’t have enough money saved up?

How it works an introduction

Equity release is a way of accessing the cash in your home without having to move out or downsize. There are two types of equity release: lifetime mortgage and home reversion. With a lifetime mortgage, you take out a loan secured against your property.

The loan, plus interest, is repaid when the property is sold after your death. With home reversion, you sell all or part of your property to a provider in return for a lump sum or regular payments. You continue to live in your property until you die or move into long-term care when it’s sold and the provider gets their money back.

Equity release is only an option if you’re over 55 and own your own home outright, or have a small mortgage that can be paid off with the proceeds of the equity release.

The amount of money you can release depends on your age and the value of your property, but it’s typically between 10% and 60% of the property value.

The interest on a lifetime mortgage is usually charged at a fixed rate, which means you know how much the loan will cost you over the term of the mortgage.

Lifetime mortgages

A lifetime mortgage is a type of home equity loan that allows you to borrow against the value of your home. The loan must not be repaid until you die or sell the property.

Lifetime mortgages can be a good option for seniors who want to stay home but need extra money to cover expenses like healthcare or repairs. The money from the loan can be used for any purpose, and no monthly payments are required. However, the interest on the loan will accrue over time, and the loan balance will increase. This can reduce the inheritance that your heirs will receive when you die.

Home reversion plans

A home reversion plan is an equity release product available to over-55s in the UK. It allows you to sell all or part of your home in exchange for a lump sum or regular payments while still being able to live in your property until you die or move into long-term care.

The main advantage of a home reversion plan is that it can provide a much larger cash lump sum than a lifetime mortgage.

With a home reversion plan, you can also take advantage of the no negative equity guarantee, which means that even if your property’s value decreases, the amount you owe will never exceed the sale price.

There are some drawbacks to consider when planning a home reversion plan. For example, you will not be able to benefit from any increase in your property’s value, and you may need to pay an early repayment charge if you want to sell up before the end of the term.

If you are considering taking out a home reversion plan, it is essential to compare different providers to find the best deal for your circumstances.

It is also worth speaking to an independent financial adviser to get impartial advice on whether this type of product is right for you.

Is equity release safe?

Is equity release safe? Many people ask this question when they are considering using equity release to free up some cash. There are some equity release costs.

There are many factors to consider when answering this question, but the main thing to remember is that equity release is a way of borrowing money against your home.

This means you could lose your home if you do not keep up with the repayments. With this in mind, it is important to make sure that you understand the risks involved before taking out an equity release plan.

As with any type of borrowing, equity release has risks. However, these risks can be minimized by choosing a reputable provider and understanding the terms of the agreement.

One of the most important things to remember is that you will still own your home after taking out an equity release plan. This means that you will be responsible for paying any fees or charges associated with the plan and repaying the loan itself.

It is also worth noting that the value of your property may decrease over time, which could impact how much money you are able to borrow against it.

Despite the risks, equity release can be a safe and convenient way to free up some extra cash in retirement.

Do you pay back equity release and when?

This is a common question heard by those considering taking out an equity release plan.

The short answer is that with most types of equity release, the money you take out does not have to be repaid until either you or your partner dies, or you move into long-term care.

However, it’s important to understand the different types of equity release and how they work before making a decision.

As we have mentioned, there are two main types of equity release: lifetime mortgage and home reversion.

With a lifetime mortgage, you take out a loan secured against your property. The loan, plus any interest that accrues, is only repaid when the property is sold – usually when you die or go into long-term care. You can choose to make voluntary repayments of up to 10% of the original loan amount each year without incurring any early repayment charges.

With home reversion, you sell all or part of your property to a provider in exchange for a lump sum or regular payments. The provider will usually only offer you around 60% of the property’s current market value because they will benefit from any future increase in its value.

What happens at the end of the equity release?

When you take out an equity release plan, you borrow money against the value of your home. The money you borrow, plus any interest that’s accumulated, is repaid when your house is sold – usually after your death.

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, your house will be sold by a licensed equity release provider. If you live in Scotland, it will be sold by the solicitor who acted for you when you took out the plan.

Your family or beneficiaries will only get what’s left after the debt has been repaid. They might have to move if they want to stay in the property.

If the sale of your home doesn’t cover the amount you owe, your family or beneficiaries won’t be responsible for paying off any debt.

Before taking out an equity release plan, think about how it might affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits and whether it could reduce the value of your estate. You should also consider whether there are alternatives to releasing equity from your home.

Pros and cons of RA equity release

Benefits of releasing equity:

Equity release can be a great way to access the cash tied up in your property, whether you need to fund home improvements, pay off debts or simply enjoy a better retirement.

There are several different types of equity release schemes available, but all of them enable you to access the value of your property without having to move out.

Here are some of the key benefits of equity release:

Peace of mind: Equity release can give you peace of mind in retirement by providing a regular income or lump sum that can cover essential bills and day-to-day living costs.
Improved standard of living: With the extra cash that equity release provides, you can enjoy a better standard of living in retirement by funding home improvements, holidays or treats for yourself and your family.
No repayments: Most equity release schemes have no monthly repayments, so you can enjoy your retirement without worrying about money worries. The interest on the loan is usually rolled up and repaid when the property is sold after your death.
Flexibility: Some equity release schemes offer flexible features that enable you to make partial repayments or even cancel the scheme entirely if your circumstances change.

Here are some potential drawbacks of equity release:

First and foremost, it can be a costly way to borrow money. The interest rates on equity release products are often much higher than traditional mortgages, meaning borrowers may repay significantly more than they originally borrowed.
Additionally, equity release can reduce the value of your estate, which may not be ideal if you hope to pass on your property to your children or grandchildren.
Finally, there is always the risk that you will outlive your equity release plan, meaning that you will still owe money to the lender when you die.

For these reasons, it is important to consider all of the potential drawbacks of equity release before deciding whether or not it is the right option for you.