There’s no denying that Suze Orman, a financial advisor with an established reputation, has made a significant impact on countless individuals with her financial insights and opinions. This post explores her thoughts on a somewhat controversial financial product – the reverse mortgage – and its potential long-term implications.
Firstly, who is Suze Orman? With over three decades of experience in the financial industry, Suze Orman is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, the author of 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, and a motivational speaker on personal finance. Her philosophy of “people first, then money, then things” emphasizes the importance of financial freedom.
Now, let’s tackle the question: what is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a loan for homeowners who are 62 or older. It lets them convert part of their home equity into cash. In this arrangement, the lender, not the borrower, makes the payments. This is the opposite of a traditional mortgage. For retirees needing extra income, this may seem appealing. However, Suze Orman highlights several crucial long-term implications to consider.
Firstly, Orman is a firm believer in the principle of owning your home outright in your retirement years. A reverse mortgage inherently contradicts this principle as it involves a gradual selling-off of your home equity in return for cash. This goes against her advice of having a paid-off home as part of a secure retirement plan.
The long-term implications can be profound. When you take a reverse mortgage, your heirs will not simply inherit your home. Instead, they would have to repay the loan balance to keep the house, which can be higher than the original loan amount because of the accumulated interest over time. This can impose a financial burden on your heirs, which contradicts Orman’s advice of leaving a clean and clear financial legacy.
Another major point made by Orman revolves around the ‘non-recourse’ feature of reverse mortgages. This feature means that you can never owe more than your home’s worth at the time the loan becomes due. However, it also implies that your other assets and income aren’t protected if the loan balance becomes due and the home isn’t worth enough to pay it off. This is something that Orman believes potential borrowers often overlook.
In addition, Orman cautions about the costs associated with a reverse mortgage. Fees, interest rates, and insurance premiums can add up, increasing the overall cost of the loan. Over time, these costs can erode the equity in your home, leaving you with less wealth and potentially reducing what you could leave to your heirs.
Orman further expresses concerns about the potential for financial scams in the reverse mortgage market. Elderly people, unfortunately, are sometimes targeted by unscrupulous lenders, and the complexity of reverse mortgages can make them easy targets. She advises extreme caution and recommends consulting with a trusted financial advisor before proceeding with a reverse mortgage.
Orman advises treating a reverse mortgage as a last resort. It may make sense in certain situations. For example, homeowners struggling with healthcare costs may find it useful. This is especially true if they have no other financial resources. But, Orman recommends considering other options first. These include downsizing, renting out part of your home, or taking a part-time job in retirement. Only then should one consider a reverse mortgage.
In summary, Suze Orman’s view on reverse mortgages is one of caution. She advises individuals to consider the long-term implications, including the impact on your financial legacy, the potential for unforeseen costs, and the possibility of finding oneself in a difficult financial situation should the home’s value decrease over time.
Financial decisions, especially those that could significantly impact one’s retirement, should not be taken lightly. And in this case, Orman recommends that before committing to a reverse mortgage, it’s crucial to consider all the potential implications and to explore all other possible options. As she often says, “The only way you can take care of your money is to take care of the people in your life.” Making prudent financial decisions can certainly contribute to this aim.