Finance

By Alain Valles, CRMP Everyone has heard the words “reverse mortgage.” But few people really know how one works. However, most of us know the challenge,...

By Alain Valles, CRMP No other loan product is wrapped in as much mystery and misinformation as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), more commonly...

By Alain Valles, CRMP, MBA, CSA You've heard the term “reverse mortgage,” but do you know how it works? A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)...

By Alain Valles, CRMP, MBA, CSA Is 62 the best time to start receiving Social Security? According to the Social Security Administration, you may start receiving...

Things that keep us up at night The ramifications on the world economy of Britain leaving the European Union, increasing tensions between China and Russia, a contentious Presidential election, terrorism, the ongoing Middle East crisis, and the global warming debate. All are examples of events that we have little control over but are causing tremendous concerns.

It’s no surprise that the older adult population in Massachusetts is increasing rapidly. In 2010, those aged 65 and older accounted for 14 percent of the state’s population. However, by 2030, that figure will grow to 21 percent. To be economically secure at any age, one’s income must cover basic living expenses. If housing, health care, food, transportation and other incremental expenses are not sufficiently covered by household income, we must support effective strategies to fill the gap or the household will suffer severe economic hardship in retirement.

Reverse mortgages are a unique, government insured loan program that allows eligible homeowners 62 years old or older to access their home equity for immediate cash, a line of credit, a monthly check, or a combination of the three. In all cases, the homeowner has the right to never again make a monthly mortgage payment, as long as the real estate taxes and insurance are paid and other requirements are met.

By Alain Valles, CRMP Reverse mortgages often conjure dire outcomes. But the facts are just the opposite. With changes to the government-insured loan program, formally...

On the heels of a new report showing the top scam in Massachusetts involves debt collection, the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers tips so you can learn how to protect yourself from the five top scams reported by Massachusetts residents in 2015. According to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, of the 46,414 Massachusetts complaints recorded last year, 37,884 were fraud-related, ranking the Bay State at number 22 of 50 states.

Reverse mortgages, also called Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), are government-insured loans that allow qualified senior homeowners to convert illiquid home equity into available tax-free cash for immediate or future use. Although reverse mortgages have been available since 1987, they still only account for about 1 percent of the total mortgage industry.