Reverse Mortgage Industry Struggling - Nope!
I know mortgage loan officers all over the country. Each one tells a similar story. All their businesses have nose dived, and some have lost as much as three quarters of their business.
One common denominator of those crying the blues is that they are all in the forward mortgage segment of mortgage lending. On the contrary, reverse mortgages are booming.
The question is why? First, since banks on the forward end are so hesitant to lend out money one can see how a reverse mortgage, which does not require monthly interest or principal payments, might be a healthier investment for a bank or the banks investors.
The reverse mortgage company simply needs to lend such that it creates enough cushion between the value of the home and the cash it allows a borrower to pull out. As long as enough cushion exists here its a fairly safe deal for the lender.
Adding to the recipe, the over 62 market is growing like a weed. Many demographers believe the over 62 population will double by the year 2030.
Furthermore, with the ever increasing cost of living and this group's propensity to save less than its parents, the need for additional income will persist.
I haven't looked at the exact numbers of how much the stock market is down, but many seniors are running scared because of it. Many of my new reverse mortgage applications have been predicated on this.
This group must be feeling like they just got punched in the stomach. The safety net, which they've been building over the years, just had a bunch of holed cut out of it. These folks are looking for patches.
There is a ton of uncertainty in the marketplace, and this will remain so for the indefinate future. Home value are taking a beating and we really don't know how bad it will get.
The reverse mortgage industry could take a hit if house valuations take a deep plunge. However, with a softer landing the reverse industry will continue its upward curve.
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