Tag Archives: equity release

EquityRelease.net Publishes New Beginners Guide Factsheet For Equity Release Mortgages

 The equity release resource website EquityRelease.net is pleased to announce that they have added The Essential Equity Release Factsheet to the website to provide UK residents with a concise and easy-to-read introduction to equity release schemes in the UK. EquityRelease.net is an independent equity release information resource website that provides a detailed information resource of equity release as well as free equity release advice and quotes.

Many older UK residents look forward to retirement as a time when they can engage in hobbies and activities that were not possible when they worked. Unfortunately, there is growing concern over whether people’s pension and retirement savings are enough to maintain their standard of living and spend their time as they please. As many retiring homeowners look into equity release as a means to provide the income they desire in retirement, the information website EquityRelease.net hopes to answer their basic questions with the addition of “The Essential Equity Release Factsheet” to the website.

“Our goal as always is to help older UK residents understand how equity release in their homes actually works, and the new infographic reduces our voluminous information contained on the website to its most basic terms, primarily using graphics to explain how equity release works,” said an EquityRelease.net representative.

As an introduction to equity release, the fact sheet begins by explaining the basic nature of home equity release. The equity of a home is the current value on the open market minus the debts held against it. Equity release allows the homeowner to obtain cash for this value without having to move out of their home. Equity release is for individuals over the age 55 who own property valued at around £70,000 or more, and most schemes also stipulate a minimum and maximum amount that can be released.

A common question answered by the fact sheet is who can take advantage of equity release. The new infographic shows the general profile of people that routinely take advantage of equity release as well as the eligibility requirements that they must meet to qualify. Many people have a fear of losing their home with equity release schemes so the fact sheet explains the limited risk of losing a home and how it can be avoided.

When it comes to the basics of releasing equity, readers will learn about its two forms, which include lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans, which are both approved and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). While the Essential Fact Sheet infographic is meant to be an introduction to equity release, readers can find far more detailed information on the website about all aspects of equity release. Website visitors can also take advantage of free advice and a quote provided by one of their specialists. For more information, please visit http://www.equityrelease.net/

About EquityRelease.net
EquityRelease.net is an independent UK-based resource, providing information and guidance to help homeowners learn more about the pros and cons of releasing equity in their home. The website contains detailed information on all aspects of equity release regulating bodies as well as alternatives to equity release. Visitors to the site can also take advantage of free equity release advice from one of their professionals and obtain a free quote.

Contact Details: Daniel Smith
http://www.EquityRelease.net
275 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EL England

Research Show 4.4 Million over 21s Still Rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad, reports Bower Retirement Services

Research from LV = reveals 4.4 million over 21 year olds still borrow money from their parents. The average monthly donation from parents to adult children is £175. This is used to cover rent, bills and help pay off debts. Additionally £9,476 is awarded to fund weddings, holidays, further education and to help young adults get onto the property ladder. Although it helpingyoung adults is hardly surprising, the research revealed parents expect to continue to support their ‘children’ until the age of 38, now the average age of a first-time property buyer.

This obviously puts great financial strain on Britain ‘s parents. It eats into retirement funds and one in ten parents surveyed by LV = admitted they had spent everything they had on their children. The issue isn’t going to go away soon, particularly if predictions that the average age of a first-time buyer will be 41 by 2025 are correct.

Parents need to prepare for the future early to ensure they are well equipped financially to provide for themselves and help out their grown-up children when necessary. There are several options available, but with interest rates currently being so low, saving plans aren’t the most viable option.

Equity release plans are a more effective option for homeowners. Bower Retirement Services, an award-winning equity release advice service, can help homeowners find anequity release plan that’s right for them.

There are four types of plans available: lump sum lifetime mortgages; lifetime mortgage with flexible cash release, also known as a drawdown mortgage; interest only lifetime mortgage and home reversion plans.

The most suitable, and now the most popular comprising 68% of the market, are drawdown plans. Homeowners are lent money based on their property’s value and additionally can withdraw regular cash amounts at a frequency and value chosen by the individual. Interest is charged, but it’s only repaid when the homeowners die or move into permanent care. These mortgages allow parents to look after themselves during retirement but also offer the ability to provide assistance to their offspring.

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Address: Essex Technology & Innovation Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0GA
Phone No: 01277 262724
Email: info@brsequity.co.uk
Website: www.brsequity.co.uk

Equity Release Becoming Popular Retirement Fund Solution for Baby Boomers, say Bower Retirement Services

The total value of equity release advances from April to June 2012 was £224.8 million, reported the Equity Release Council, an increase of 22% on the same period of 2011. Additionally, this amount represents the highest quarterly figure since 2009 (£231.7 million). Furthermore, the real number of plans grew by 16% between Q2 2011 and Q2 2012 showing interest in the market is up, along with actual value.

According to the Equity Release Council’s figures, people are now choosing to take drawdown plans instead of lump sum mortgages. This shows they prefer to spread risk and use equity release as a retirement income. The news comes as its revealed retired homeowners now have a total unmortgaged property wealth of £756.7 billion.

Bower Retirement Services, which offers award-winning specialist equity release advice, says equity release is a simple and effective option for homeowners looking to provide for their retirement and it exploits the property price rises of the last forty to fifty years. Many in the baby boomer generation lost large amounts in pension blunders in the nineties and again in the last recession. However, thousands continue to be locked up in property, potentially providing a retirement income for homeowners.

Bower Retirement Services offers advice on all types of equity release, from lump sum lifetime mortgages to home reversion plans, and its equity release calculator is designed to help homeowners accurately gauge how much cash they can expect to release on each type of plan.

There are four types of equity release plan, but drawdown plans now the most popular, accounting for 68% of the value of the entire equity release market. Bower Retirement Services says these types of mortgage are most suitable to homeowners looking to provide themselves with an income during retirement. The lender loans the homeowners a percentage of the property’s value and also agrees to pay a regular cash sum, or ‘drawdown’ on the mortgage value. Interest is accrued, but it is not charged until the homeowners die or move into long term care. Homeowners choose the term and value of the drawdowns, offering more flexibility than a standard remortgage plan.

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Address: Essex Technology & Innovation Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0GA
Phone No: 01277 262724
Email: info@brsequity.co.uk 
Website: www.brsequity.co.uk

Bower Welcomes the ReLaunch of SHIP

Bower Retirement Services, winners of the 2011 Equity Release Awards, welcome the relaunch of Safe Home Income Plans (‘SHIP’) as The Equity Release Council (The Council). Bower welcome also the decision of the trade body to broaden its membership to include financial advisers, solicitors, surveyors and other interested parties.

SHIP was established in 1991 by the major product providers as the body to safeguard the interests of consumers entering into equity release plans. Over the past 20 years, SHIP has been very successful in improving the reputation of equity release and in promoting consumer awareness of the products available. The main focus of the Equity Release Council will be to protect consumers and increase education, awareness and understanding of how equity release works, the options available and the consumer safeguards that are in place.

Geoff Charles, Managing Director of Bower commented:

“We welcome the new organisation and look forward to joiningand supporting the Equity Release Council. The changes are excellent news for elderly homeowners who are seeking to release capital from their homes in order to raise a lump sum and/or to supplement their retirement income. The extension of the membership and SHIP standards to all participants in the sector will strengthen consumer confidence and reinforce the message that equity release plans are now mainstream retirement products.”

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NEW FLAT RATE PENSION SCHEME HIGHLIGHTS PENSIONER BENEFIT GAP

Government state pension reform plans are good news for pensioners – but the 10 million who are retired or will have retired when the new plans come into effect by 2015 or 2016 still need to maximise retirement income, leading independent equity releaseadviser Key Retirement Solutions warns.

Key Retirement Solutions welcomes the Government new flat rate pension scheme, but has stressed that pensioners are still no better off than before, as they struggle to supplement their income.

Around 600,000 people retire each year and will have to rely on the current mix of State pension and benefits before the new flat rate scheme comes into effect.

The current full state pension is £97.65 a week, but can be topped up to £132.60 with pension credit. Due to the complexity of the old system, more than one and a half million* eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit each year and around £5 billion in benefits goes unclaimed.

Under the new scheme, this could be replaced by a new £140 flat rate, with inflation expected to push this up to £155 by 2015 or 2016.

Dean Mirfin, Group Director at Key Retirement Solutions (www.keyrs.co.uk) said: “This announcement is great news for future pensioners who will no longer face the complexity of the old system in their effort to gain what they are entitled to.

”Although under this reform, not only will 10 million people who have already retired be excluded from the new deal, but actuaries say many other people still at work will not live long enough to enjoy its benefits.

“Whilst this will simplify the future claims process, pensioners will still struggle to enjoy a good quality of life due to a lack of available income. We are currently seeing a steady increase in pensioners looking towards equity release to supply that much needed income, and we anticipate that this will only increase.”

The equity release market saw a rise in the number of plans sold in 2010** with more pensioners opting for drawdown products which will enable them to live comfortable lives in retireme

Website: http://www.seotech.co.uk
Email: barry@seotech.co.uk
Phone: 07798792243
Address: 16 Norwood Drive
City: Morecambe
County/State: Lancs
Postcode/ZIP: LA4 6LU
Country: United Kingdom