Would you like to save 30 000? That is exactly what pensioners could save by choosing the right Equity Release Scheme.
Interest Rates for Equity Release Schemes have fallen from 8 to 6 percent, approximately, because of falling rates generally. The thing is, though, that the rates are fixed at the outset of the deal, so many people who have an existing scheme will have to switch providers in order to benefit.
The difference this makes can be tremendous because Equity Release borrowers do not make monthly mortgage payments. Interest is added to the loan each month instead. This has an accumulative effect with interest being added to interest so any increase or reduction in rate makes a far greater difference over time than it would to a normal mortgage borrower.
Equity Release Plans are set to become more popular because we have an aging population who need to have a better income. Provision for retirement has been insufficient in the past and some pension schemes have done very poorly one way or another. However, many people bought their home and have little or no mortgage upon it so they can take out a specialist Equity Release Scheme.
These plans give the pensioner a monthly income or a cash lump sum to spend as they wish, or even a combination of the two. However, the downside is that the loan will have to be repaid out of the property when it is eventually sold.
Falling house prices may mean that some people are unable to borrow as much as they would have been entitled to previously but they are still plenty of people who can benefit handsomely from such an arrangement, so long as they understand the pros and cons.
There are many different Equity Release Providers out there so people should carry out a great deal of research and choose the right scheme to match their needs. Some IFA (Independent Financial Advisors) specialise in such matters and they can give advice on the entire market place so that the ideal plan can be found to match an individual's needs.
People should also take the safeguard of selecting a solicitor who is specialised in these schemes because they require careful explanation. Their experience of dealing with many transactions will help people to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the plan they are taking out.
Again, people considering switch providers will need to act carefully and take advice. There will be a calculation to perform to see if it is really worthwhile because there are more costs involved than simply the rate of interest charged. There may be different charges made by different providers during the lifetime of a plan, for instance, and also costs involved in making the switch.
Some plan providers may charge fees for redeeming the loan and administering the switch, there may be survey fees and certainly legal costs involved. However, the drop in interest rates is sufficient to allow for many people to look into this option with a very good chance that it will be a worthwhile endeavour.
Pensioners will also be to benefit from "locking into" lower interest rates now which means that they will be saving even more if and when rates eventually rise again.
John Higgins worked in Financial Services for 20 years and now writes about all sorts of finance. He is author of http://www.equity-release-expert.co.uk which is a consumer information site about Equity Release. It includes help and resources from reliable sources.
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