Definition of equity release
Articles - Retirement
Most of the people who reach the retirement age, often think about living life in a peaceful home. They dream for a powerful monetary security, a beautiful house and plenty of quality time to value those calm times with their family. But as the time passes, these dreams get tougher to fulfill. Daily expenditure has boosted considerably and the pays are still the same, not rising with growing price rises. Moreover, the prices of real estate sector are soaring high. Though, since the prices of homes are rising steadily from past few years, this has extremely benefited many home owners as the equity formed owing to high home prices assist them lead an excellent life.
by DavidMartin


Most of the people who reach the retirement age, often think about living life in a peaceful home. They dream for a powerful monetary security, a beautiful house and plenty of quality time to value those calm times with their family. But as the time passes, these dreams get tougher to fulfill. Daily expenditure has boosted considerably and the pays are still the same, not rising with growing price rises. Moreover, the prices of real estate sector are soaring high. Though, since the prices of homes are rising steadily from past few years, this has extremely benefited many home owners as the equity formed owing to high home prices assist them lead an excellent life.

Equity release helps the home owner to retain the use of their house and at the same time getting constant income through the higher value of home. The chief benefit is that they can return to the income provider later on, normally as soon as the home holder expires. With the help of equity release option, the home owners who don't want their heirs to own their property, can enjoy the benefit of this choice with equity release option.

Some advantages of equity release option are:

- Tax exemption on a large sum of money attained. This money can even be steady pay, known as annuity, for your remaining life.

- It reduces the amount of tax you are required to pay for your estate.

- If there is a crash in estate sector, the person who borrows is entirely secure because of NNEG-No Negative Equity Guarantee.

- Even if the interest rates slash down, there is no need to refinance mortgage by home owners at lesser costs.

The drawbacks of equity release option are:

- Your family will get lesser amount of inherited money after your death. These can take place merely if the property value rises at slower rate than interest rate on the mortgage.

- The amount that you can contribute to some charity, reduces greatly.

- Besides, a UK homeowner might not be proficient to enjoy all the advantages that are granted with equity release option.

In UK, lifetime mortgage is a type of equity release plan which is highly popular as the homeowner enjoys extra equity. But the houseowner should pay full sum for the existing finance and this payment is carried out with the earnings of equity release. The homeowners can access the equity as it is greater than the amount due on present mortgage. Every month the interest builds up and becomes higher than the amount that is payable on the lifetime mortgage. The homeowner or the last spouse in the home is not obligatory to pay back for the interest and proceeds.

A reversion proposal is different from lifetime mortgage. Here the homeowner sells some part or the entire home to the income provider. The salary giver in turn gives the right to the homeowner to reside in the house for his entire life. There is interest accumulated in this plan.

Pensioners and retired people are chief receivers of equity release options. However, the homeowner has to be 55 years of age or above.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.