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4 basic questions answered about reverse mortgages

A reverse mortgage is a loan that allows individuals older than 62 to improve their financial well-being. They can convert part of their home equity into lump sum cash, fixed monthly payments, or line of credit, according to their preference. The money can be used to pay for medical bills, in emergencies, or to pay off a mortgage. Here’s what you should know about reverse mortgages in case you’re looking for one.

How much can you borrow?
For reverse mortgages, the loan amount can’t exceed the value of the property against which it is borrowed. Federal regulations require lenders to ensure that the loan amount doesn’t exceed the value of the house by structuring the transactions accordingly. Additionally, these regulations state that the owner/borrower is not liable to pay off the balance amount in case it exceeds the property value.

How are reverse mortgages paid for?
A reverse mortgage is payable when the borrower sells the house, relocates permanently, or dies. Unlike forward mortgages, reverse mortgages don’t need the borrower to make any monthly payments. They are only liable to pay interest on the money received, which is rolled back into the loan balance. While the owner gets to keep the title to the home, their home equity reduces over the loan tenure.

Who can take a reverse mortgage?
This type of loan is ideal for seniors and retirees whose net worth comes mostly from the value of their home. Seniors who don’t qualify for a home equity loan or can’t refinance due to limited cash flow or poor credit can opt for reverse mortgages. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for purchase is a reverse mortgage that allows seniors to buy another property. That said, it is complex, and you should study the risk factors before getting one.

What are the risks associated with reverse mortgages?
Reverse mortgage scams are not unheard of. Unreputable vendors could offer to help seniors secure reverse mortgages by undertaking house repairs. They don’t provide quality results and get away with the homeowner’s money instead. For spouses living together in a home with only one spouse named as a borrower on a reverse mortgage, the other spouse can lose the home if the borrowing spouse dies first. Besides, reverse mortgage lenders charge fees and closing costs and may also charge mortgage insurance premiums for federally-insured HECMs.

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Pros and cos of getting a reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that allows homeowners to receive payments on their house as opposed to them making payments to the lender. At first glance, this option seems too good to be true. But, before committing to it, there are some nitty-gritty details that people must consider when opting for this type of financing. So, here is some information regarding the pros and cons to consider when getting a reverse mortgage.

Advantages

  • Multiple options of disbursement
    One of the biggest advantages of opting for reverse mortgages is that you can choose your payment method: whether it is in the form of monthly payouts, or receiving it in bulk.
  • You retain ownership of your home
    As opposed to other mortgages where you have to vacate your house, in a reverse mortgage, you can continue to own and live in your house without any interruptions. It is a great way to improve your immediate finances and is preferable to moving or selling the property.
  • No tax liability
    The payments that you receive as a part of a reverse mortgage are not considered to be taxable by the IRS since it is considered to be a loan advance instead of taxable income.
  • Retirement safety
    These mortgages are actually a great option for retired and senior citizens, since it allows them to have access to funds, which might otherwise be stuck in the form of a fixed asset like a house or a property.

Disadvantages

  • The property must be occupied
    For properties that have been reverse mortgaged, it is important that it remains occupied at all times. Lenders visit the houses from time to time to verify that the house is occupied throughout the year.
  • Risk of foreclosure
    If you fail to pay your property taxes, HOA fees, homeowners insurance payments, and other costs on time, your house is at a risk of being foreclosed for violation of tax laws.
  • High fees
    When signing up for a reverse mortgage, information you must know is that there are several expenses involved in completing the entire procedure, which may include the mortgage fees, FHA insurance charges, as well as closing costs.
  • Accumulation of interest
    Since there is no monthly payment plan or schedule involved in a reverse mortgage, the amount that you borrow incurs interest over time. As a result of this, one needs to be careful to not default on any payment to avoid accumulating further debt.
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5 types of Discovery Plus plans

Discovery Plus is one of the largest streaming platforms that provide content across categories like business, food, paranormal, science, and history from all over the world. You can stream shows from various devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Microsoft Xbox One. Discovery Plus also offers subscriptions for all budgets, so there’s something for everyone. Read on to know the various plans.

  1. Free Trial

Are you unsure about whether or not you will enjoy Discovery Plus? No worries, you can simply try out their 7-day free trial. All you need to do is login and enter your personal and card details. If you enjoy the content and the platform, you can opt for one of the subscriptions mentioned below, or you can cancel the subscription before the last date of streaming.

  1. Subscription with Ads

Discovery Plus offers subscriptions for people of different budgets. If you do not want to spend too much, you can opt for the $4.99/month subscription. This will allow you to view all the content available on the platform, including new releases and originals. However, there’s a catch. This subscription comes with limited ads. That means that you will see advertisements along with your content. You can upgrade your plan or cancel it whenever you want.

  1. Subscription without Ads

If you dislike ads and have a decent budget, this subscription is ideal for you. It costs $6.99/month and includes everything that Discovery Plus has to offer, minus the ads. Moreover, you can change the subscription plan whenever you want to do so. Your subscription will be effective from the next date of billing. Moreover, your subscription will renew every month unless you cancel it.

  1. Free subscriptions with Verizon

Several Verizon users can now get free Discovery Plus subscriptions on their plans. “Do More Unlimited” and “Start Unlimited” plans offer a six-month free subscription with Discovery Plus. Similarly, “Get More Unlimited” and “Play More Unlimited” plans offer a one-year free subscription. People with both new and existing plans can access this offer. After their subscription ends, you will be billed $6.99/month.

  1. Subscription with Vodafone (UK specific)

Vodafone and Discovery Plus have partnered together to make their content available to Vodafone users in 12 markets. People with subscriptions to Vodafone TV, Fixed Broadband, and Mobile will benefit from this. People who have Sky Broadband’s connection (Sky Q Box only) can also access a 12-month free Discovery Plus trial.

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3 ways for Verizon users to get a free Discovery Plus trial plan

With new OTT platforms being launched one after the other, it comes as no surprise that Discovery Inc. has followed suit. Its new streaming service, Discovery Plus, which launched on 4th January, features over 2,500 shows from HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, and originals from other production companies. While anyone is eligible for a free 7-day trial, Verizon users can get a free 12-month subscription.

Users can access the free Discovery Plus subscription from the My Verizon app by going to the Add-ons & Apps section and selecting “Discovery Plus” under Entertainment.

Here’s how Verizon subscribers can get a free Discovery Plus subscription:

  • Get More Unlimited or Play More Unlimited
    Verizon customers who have opted for the Play More Unlimited or Get More Unlimited service are eligible for a free 12-month Discovery Plus subscription. Both plans come with 5G total access, 5G Ultra-Wideband, 5G Nationwide, free access to the Disney bundle and Apple Music, and a 12-month free subscription to Discovery Plus. Play More Unlimited offers a 6-month free Apple Music subscription as opposed to the one-year free subscription available on Get More Unlimited. These services cost anywhere between $45 and $55.
  • Start Unlimited or Do More Unlimited
    Similarly, those who want a 6-month free Discovery Plus subscription can opt for either the Start Unlimited or the Do More Unlimited plan. The Start Unlimited plan costs $35 and offers unlimited talk and text, 6-month free Disney+ and Apple Music, and Discovery Plus subscriptions. The Do More Unlimited plan costs $45 and offers 5G total access, 5G Ultra-Wideband, 5G Nationwide, and 4G LTE data. It comes with a 6-month subscription for Disney+, Apple Music, and Discovery Plus. It also includes 600GB of Verizon Cloud storage and 50% off on unlimited connected device plans.
  • New Verizon Fios or 5G Home Internet Connection
    New Verizon customers who have Fios or 5G Home Internet Connection are eligible for a one-year free Discovery Plus subscription. This means that existing subscribers or those with a Verizon business account are not eligible for this offer. The cost of Fios Internet is between $39 and $80 per month, depending on the plan one chooses.
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3 best Black Friday carpet and area rug deals

Revamping the living space for the festive season is an exciting household chore. It adds a fresh new look to your home, making it ready to welcome the occasion. And is there a better place than the Black Friday sale to buy home decor items? Be it area rugs or carpets, retail and e-commerce stores offer generous discounts at this time of year on almost every product. The following Black Friday carpet and area rug deals will help you revamp your living space without straining your budget.

Kafra Jkcr61l Rug
The Kafra JKcr61l is a traditional rug made from 50 percent jute and 50 percent polyester. It is a flatweave construction ideal for the bedroom, living room, hallway, dining room, and even home offices. It is available in different colors and comes in three sizes: 4’x6’, 5’x8’, and 7’6”x9’6”. With a discount of up to 30 percent, you can buy the area rug between $120 to $400 depending on the size. You may also be eligible for another 80 percent discount.

Tulsa Lea Southwestern Geometric Crimson Area Rug
This is one of the best Black Friday carpet or area rug deals on the internet. The Tulsa Lea Southwestern Geometric Crimson is a stain-resistant area rug made from polypropylene, using the power loom technique. The construction is an array of traditional Persian, Southwestern, and Moroccan design that can be matched with any decor. The area rug is available at an unbelievable discount of more than 50 percent. It comes in multiple sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits the dimensions of your living space.

Luciana Hand-Knotted Wool Gray Area rug
If you are looking for a carpet or area rug with a minimalistic design, Luciana Hand-Knotted Wool Gray Area Rug is for you. As the name suggests, it is made of wool and is hand-knotted. The rug is available in more than 20 different shapes and sizes. The smallest is 2’x3,’ weighing not more than 3lbs and the largest is 12’x18’ that weighs more than 80lbs. The various sizes, shapes, and designs of the rug make it the best choice for any living space. Being available on Black Friday carpet and area rug deals, you can buy it at a jaw-dropping 80 percent discount.

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