A common situation that many retired Britons face is the struggle of living on a limited pension and personal savings whilst living in an equity rich property. Having cash tied up in your property instead of your pocket can be a frustrating situation but equity release plans could be the perfect solution to reversing the situation and freeing up your cash.
There are several reasons why individuals want to release equity from their property; perhaps to make improvements around the home, buy a new car, pay for a holiday or simply to make life more comfortable overall. You could even use the extra money to help family members climb onto the property ladder too. Equity release plans can be an easy way to essentially borrow money secured against the value of your home, with the debt being repaid from the sale proceeds after your death or entry into long-term care.
Equity release plan is an umbrella term for a variety of different schemes that provide you with options best suited to your own personal situation. You can generally choose from receiving a lump sum, a regular drawdown or even both. The lump sum can help you with any immediate plans you may have, whilst a regular drawdown could be just the boost you need to settle comfortably into your retirement.
A major benefit of releasing cash from your home is tax exemption. Any money released from your principle residence through an equity release plan is classified as tax free, which helps to increase the amount you receive a little bit further. It’s important to remember that if you were to invest any of the money you release, tax may be payable on any income or growth accrued.
Another important point to note is that with equity release, you can continue to live in your own home throughout the duration of the plan. However, releasing equity from your home could affect your tax position, your eligibility for means-tested benefits and ability to move or sell your property. It could also reduce – possibly to nothing – any inheritance that you decide to leave. You are also still responsible for keeping your home in good repair throughout the duration of the plan.
It is beneficial to explore other options before deciding to release equity from your home including downsizing to a smaller property or using existing savings and investments.
Indeed, many people have found equity release an effective way of releasing readily accessible capital from their home, enabling them to afford the life they want in retirement. Therefore, it may prove beneficial to investigate the options available to you and speak to a financial adviser to make sure you fully understand the features and risks of equity release.
This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as advice or used to make financial decisions. Expert financial advice should always be sought and any links contained within this article are included for information purposes only.
By: Victoria Cochrane
Archive for September 24th, 2009
Equity rates is a very difficult subject to most people and because taking a home loan is a very big and often life changing decision, hopefully this article can help you get a better understanding about home equity rates.
Everyone who is thinking about applying for a home equity loan or a mortgage has to consider slight differences of rates in the states they are living in, because the rates vary in the different states. Equity rates are variable with the changes in the economy.
Equity rates are controlled by several aspects, banks have a small impact on the rates while the Federal Government observe the economy inflation statistics to find out if the equity rates need to go up or down. Rates are different in Washington compared to New York, for example in July 2008 the equity rates for a $75K home equity loan FICO where 7.70% for Washington while in New York the rates where 7.55%. These are also vary on the type of loan and of course the length of the home loan.
Don’t get scared off because equity rates vary so much from state to state, to more you learn about it the easier it will become. Like with any subject the beginning is always a little harder.
As you know now, your state is calculated into the rates on home equity loans. Thus, when requesting for an equity loan, it makes perfect sense that you know what the rates are in your current state to get ready to talk terms with the lenders. It really is of no importance if you are an investor when requesting for equity loans because the only thing that matters is finding the best deals. You have to know that almost all lenders are rivals of each other and almost all of them will listen to your negotiation when discussing home loans. You have to keep informed and up to date on current rates and loan offerings if you are to negotiate.
As a final note, when considering home equity loans, you have to stick to the advice offered to avoid any losses. By listening to the advice, you can be prepared for the future, and spare yourself of financial burden.
Think about what you just have been reading about equity rates and I’m sure you will do a great job next time you are negotiating for a home equity loan.
By: Timmy Deleu