A viatical settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy by the policy owner before the policy matures. Such a sale, at a price discounted from the face amount of the policy but usually in excess of the premiums paid or current cash surrender value, provides the seller an immediate cash settlement. Similar to reverse mortgages, viatical settlements involve insured individuals with a life expectancy of less than five years. In countries with high health care costs (such as the United States), this is a practical way to pay extremely high health insurance premiums and other senior care expenses that severely ill people face. Some people are also familiar with life settlements, which are similar transactions but involve insureds with longer life expectancies (two to fifteen years). - From Wikipedia and other sources 5/2007Finding Honest Reverse Mortgage Companies
With millions of Americans now at or approaching retirement age, the problems of failed pensions, inadequate social security, and escalating health insurance costs are threatening to cause a massive increase in the number of seniors who will be struggling to stay financially afloat during their golden years. Many of these people have turned to reverse mortgages as ways to supplement their retirement incomes, and if you are thinking of joining their ranks, you need to be sure your reverse mortgage is handled by a reputable lender.
Wherever there is money, there are people trying to steal it, and the reverse mortgage market is no different. It?s far from unusual for fraudulent reverse mortgage companies to demand huge up front application fees from their customers, all the time knowing that they have no intention of accepting them as borrowers.
The NRMLA
One sign that you might be dealing with shady reverse mortgage companies is if you are being asked to pay a large amount, say 5%, of the amount you expect to borrow, as an application fee. If you find yourself in that position, the first thing you should do is research the backgrounds of the reverse mortgage companies in question with the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.
The NRMLA has been working to protect the interests of reverse mortgage applicants since 1997, and its website identifies approved reverse mortgage companies according to their states. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, also has a website with information on various reverse mortgage companies. Both sites offer their resources at no charge.
The NRMLA website, in particular, is a terrific resource for those seeking information on reverse mortgage companies. It also gives you all the details involved in the process of applying for your reverse mortgage, and even offers a calculator which will tell you, based on the current market value of your home, how much money a reverse mortgage can bring your way.
The Code Of Conduct
Even better, the NRMLA has established a Code of Conduct which all its member reverse mortgage companies are required to honor. The Code of Conduct is written to protect the specific needs of older homeowners, and to keep member lenders from trying to use the applicants? lack of knowledge concerning reverse mortgages against them
The NRMLA has also drawn up a Code of Conduct to which any reverse mortgage companies must agree before being listed on the NMRLA site as an approved lender. Their Code of Conduct requires that approved reverse mortgage companies be sensitive to the unique needs of senior citizens, and do nothing to take advantage of their unfamiliarity with the reverse mortgage process.
When you?ve spent some time looking over your financial options for retirement, and have become comfortable with the idea of a reverse mortgage, head for the NRMLA site to look for the approved reverse mortgage companies in your area. When you have settled on the lenders nearest your home, use the contact information provided on the site to set up in-person appointments. And if you can find people who have already been through the reverse mortgage process, and will share their experiences with you, so much the better!
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