Reverse Mortgage Alphabet Soup - FHA; HECM; MIP; NRMLA; H.R. 1852

Reverse mortgages are statutory creatures. Reverse mortgages exist because the Congress says that they exist, and so, they are creatures of government standard abbreviations. Just like being at OCS to get your O-1 and then a rack in BOQ for USN-SWOS. For land-lubbering taxpayers, that's Officer Candidate School for Officer Grade 1 (Ensign) and housing in the Bachelor Officer Quarters at Surface Warfare Officer School in the US Navy.

Go HERE for an exhaustive listing of all the terms and features of FHA's (Federal Housing Administration) products and services.

But today's blog is about something far more exciting than abbreviations, although without them the short press release below from NRMLA on the FHA H.R. 1852 HECM modernization plan would be nearly incomprehensible. *********

NRMLA Anticipates Movement on FHA Modernization Bill

NRMLA is hopeful that the FHA modernization bill (H.R. 1852) will start moving in the next couple weeks and be voted on by the full House of Representatives after the July 4th recess.

Sponsored by Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), the bill would: 1) Permanently eliminate the HECM loan cap; 2) Permit HECM for home purchase; 3) Allow HECMs on housing cooperatives; and 4) Require HUD to study the impact of reducing mortgage insurance premiums, and exempting borrowers from paying any MIP if all, or a portion, of the loan proceeds are used to purchase long-term care insurance.

In addition, H.R. 1852 would increase lending limits for all FHA programs, especially in high-cost areas, like California, New York and Massachusetts by raising FHA's maximum mortgage limits to 100 percent of an area's median home price.

Over the past couple weeks; NRMLA has been negotiating with other stakeholder groups to remove a provision that would lower origination fees on HECMs to no more than 2% of the "original principal limit of the mortgage." Stay tuned for further updates.

******** I like to say that we are at the beginning of the beginning for reverse mortgages. As much as reverse mortgages have been around for 40 years in a formal sense (and over 2,500 years in other forms - a short history of the world of reverses is coming soon), reverse mortgages are metaphorically hitting their next threshold in Moore's Law. Which is a nice way of saying that the market for reverse mortgages is growing at an exponential rate - and with all good growing businesses; it's ripe for more government regulation.

H.R. 1852 as set out above, starts to address the initial framework of reverse mortgages - a framework that served us well until now. Reading some of the dicta and side notes of the committees behind this legislation reveals that the government did not expect reverse mortgages to be so successful a product so fast. It makes you almost wonder whether there will be a rush to "irrational exuberance" over reverse mortgages. I don't believe that the market will ever become large enough to impact the overall economy too much, but it will be interesting to watch seniors taking responsibility for their own expenses from their own wealth and not relying on government programs or family members for their living expenses. A reverse mortgage is the ultimate libertarian gesture - I will take care of myself, thank you very much. This should be really popular in New Hampshire.

Looking in the crystal ball I think that you will see MIP (mortgage insurance premium) get rolled into the interest rate of the reverse mortgage loans and all but disappear. Despite NRMLA's obvious incentives in maintaining high loan origination fee caps, you will see a study and drastic reduction in the overall cost of originating reverse mortgages. I think that price competition, which has essentially destroyed the conventional forward mortgage business, will come into the reverse mortgage market. This price competition will at first cause the early entrants to lose market share and gross revenue and for new entrants to take business. Over time it is my opinion that the reverse mortgage lenders that embrace seniors, understand the good karma of reverse mortgages and only sell to those that truly need reverse mortgages will be rewarded with lasting market share. When banks take reverse mortgages as a product focus, especially Bank of America, we will see a transformation of the marketplace that will further and permanently reduce the costs (and therefore origination revenue) of reverse mortgages across the board.

Just so you all know I will be on vacation for the next couple of weeks, so please expect pretty light blogging. Happy 4th of July.

Elder Law - Mohegan Sun's HALF a Penny for Your Thoughts

A reverse mortgage to feed a slot machine? Can a car alarm reduce depression in elders? What can you buy for half a penny? I have just returned from an estate planning conference in Las Vegas.
This was a conference like many others where we were trapped in a windowless conference room for hours on end as speakers droned on about the latest innovations in avoiding estate taxation and applying new techniques to serve estate planning clients. Yawn. Boring. A far better lesson in estate planning and elder law was available just outside the conference room doors. Those of you that have been to Sin City know exactly what I am talking about; those that don't are better off. Las Vegas, and gambling halls generally, have become the churches of Godless and desperate people. The vast majority of those in casinos are not there to blow off a little steam or throw caution aside for a few hours of distraction. No, the people who are drawn to this Mecca of Neon and Nicotine come out of their own desperation. They come to be winners. The losers in modern American life - the sick, the unattractive, the decrepit, the old, the mentally ill - the losers come to have a chance, just for a little while, to be winners. They come for hope. Hope that the machine will tell them that they are jackpot winners by making noises and illuminating bright lights.

Casinos are ordinarily divided into two main sections, one for table games (blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps) and one for slot machines (the infamous "one arm bandits"). Walking around the casinos it quickly became apparent that those playing at the tables were mostly younger and middle aged men, mostly in small groups, making some serious calculations of their potential success. These were men who knew the odds and were consciously putting their money on the line strictly for a speculative financial return. Many of these men lead ordinary lives as lawyers, accountants, managers - people who take little risk in their "day" jobs, but vent their conservative natures from time to time by seeking Lady Luck. These are the same folks who drive Toyota Camry's during the week and Harley Davidson's on the weekend. Put in perspective, these gamblers understand the risks they are taking at the tables and are prepared to lose their grubstake as dues for the release that being a "player" brings to them. Seldom do these gamblers gamble their rent or food money.

Since there were two people who could communicate with each other, there was this type of gambling - "Hey Org, I'll bet you a rock that you get eaten by that saber tooth tiger first!" As an elder law lawyer, I am far more concerned with the other side of the casino. Like a vast sea of buzzing alarm clocks, beeping microwave ovens and unstoppable car alarms - the cacophony of the slot machine areas in casinos sounds like a virtuoso performance to those seeking to be winners. BAR - BAR - BAR. 7 - 7 - 7. With carpal - tunnel - inducing - repetition, the Nicotine induced masses monotonously search for the machines' positive feedback. Most of the people at the slot machines appear to be obsessed by the prospect that they could be winners - some of the machines even say "You're a Winner", never telling you that you are a loser.  Whether by illness, financial distress or merely addictive natures, many people are drawn to spending what remains of their lives and savings fixated on the hope of positive reinforcement from a machine. The real walk-out-the-door payouts are meager. Few walk out of the casino with a surplus - they let it ride, and when they do, they lose. Like the lonely elders who spend all their money on meaningless junk just so they can chat with their favorite Home Shopping Network or QVC operator, casinos provide a sense of community.

This reason is not a good one to keep building casinos. It would seem that the vast majority of the masses in the Las Vegas casinos are there to pass time in an atmosphere where there is a chance of rising from the crowd, where your car alarm goes off, your lights blink and everyone knows that you're a winner. I am concerned that far too many elders are in casinos with funds that they need for their own protection. In fact, I recently became aware of a reverse mortgage company that is promoting their services along side a major casino. Reverse mortgages have an important place in elder law planning. They are a financial tool to protect an elder's standard of living, dignity and sense of place in remaining in their own home. Reverse mortgages are not a remedy of last resort. Advertising reverse mortgages in a context of gambling is mercenary and solicitous of the very people who need sound financial planning and advice from a competent elder law lawyer. A casino in Connecticut that advertises heavily in the Boston market, Mohegan Sun, offers this new innovation: ************[from MoheganSun.com]**********"It's the latest trend in slot machines and only Mohegan Sun has it. The Northeast's premier entertainment destination installs 20 half-cent slot machines in its Casino of the Earth and Casino of the Sky. This makes Mohegan Sun the only destination in the United States to offer this new technology. This latest offering allows customers to wager half a cent instead of the traditional quarter, dollar or even penny it's just another way Mohegan Sun is revolutionizing the gaming industry.********** You read it right. HALF-cent machines.

 Boy, they sure are revolutionizing the gaming industry. And legislators say that casinos are not preying on the elderly? The poor? The uneducated? Apparently the government is so blinded by the voluntary tax dollars that pour into state coffers that they don't see the societal and financial evil brought on by the wholesale distribution of false hope and deus ex machina for sad lives. This government is the same one that cannot provide long term care without impoverishing its people, cannot offer even a remotely intelligible drug benefit for Medicare recipients and is afraid to impose meaningful taxes on the very rich. I imagine there are many casino owners in that category - they are easy to recognize, they are laughing and like a heroin dealer that never shoots up, you won't see them pulling the handle of that revolutionary ha'penny machine. We don't need more casinos. We don't need any casinos. I think we need some new ideas. As many know, I love inventions. My latest invention? The Jackpot Emulator (tm). I see this as a Medicare reimbursable device not unlike a prosthetic or a wheelchair. Like a slot machine in every way, but the JE does not require the payment of any money, nor does it pay out any money, but rather brightly colored slips of paper that exclaim - YOU'RE A WINNER!! For the cost of the machine and a little electricity we could set up Jackpot Emulator (tm) rooms in nursing homes and senior centers where elders could push buttons and hear whirring happy sounds to their hearts' content and then go home with the satisfaction of being a "winner" with no possible way of putting their personal financial security at risk. Now that is revolutionary.

All Hail Reverse Mortgages! Alia Acta Est!

Who invented the Reverse Mortgage? Of course most lenders in the reverse mortgage space like Financial Freedom, Seattle Mortgage, Bank of New York, Wells Fargo, Countrywide, et al. would contend that they in fact have innovated the reverse mortgage. Nope. Go back a little further in time. Keep going. Still more. Stop right there, about 500BC, yes BC as in Fred Flintstone. You see reverse mortgages have effecitvely been around since Roman times in the form of usufruct. There is nothing new under the sun.

From Wikipedia:

Usufruct is the legal right to use and derive profit or benefit from property that belongs to another person, as long as the property is not damaged. In many legal systems of property, buyers of property may only purchase the usufruct of the property. Usufruct originates from civil law, where it is a real right of limited duration on the property of another. The holder of a usufruct, known as the usufructuary, has the right to use and enjoy the property, as well as the right to receive profits from the fruits of the property. The Latin words usus and fructus refer to the rights of use and fruit, respectively, and the English word usufruct derives from these Latin roots.

In Roman Law, usufruct was a type of servitude or ius in re aliena, a right in another's property. The usufructuary never had possession of this property (on the basis that if he possessed at all, he did so through the owner), but he did have an in rem right to the property itself. Unlike the owner, he did not have the right of alienation (abusus), but he could sell or let his enjoyment of the usufruct. Despite the usufructuary's lack of possession a modified form of the possessory interdicts was available to him. The term fruits should be understood to mean any replenishable commodity on the property, including (among others) actual fruits, livestock and even rental payments derived from the property. These may be divided into civil and natural fruits, the latter of which, in Roman law, included slaves and livestock.

As we know reverse mortgages today, their form has only taken shape over the past couple of decades. Here is an article that I have been working on as part of my new book on reverse mortgage issues:

Reverse Mortgages: Helping Seniors Improve Their Quality of Life or the Road to Financial Ruin?

I. INTRODUCTION

The phrase "demographic demand" refers to the idea that a person's goals in obtaining credit may be influenced by age[1]. The borrowing patterns of young people provide the most familiar example of this phenomenon. In general, young people have not had the opportunity to accumulate savings, but they have a high potential to earn income on an increasing scale. They most often seek out credit to enable them to purchase major items of property, such as cars, furniture, appliances, and houses. Lenders extend them credit on the strength of their ability to earn income. It is widely known that the fastest growing demographic group is not young people, it is senior citizens.[2] When senior citizens apply for loans their goals are often the mirror image of those of younger people. Many senior citizens own major assets. They often own real estate outright, unencumbered by a mortgage. And they have often seen the value of their real estate rise considerably since it was purchased. Due to retirement, though, senior citizens' incomes are diminished.[3] Lenders have noticed these differing needs of borrowers based on age. They have begun to develop loan products to cater to the needs of older people. One of the product lenders have developed to meet this need is known as the "reverse mortgage."[4] It is not difficult to trace the source of bad impressions and mistrust that predominate conversations about reverse mortgages. The practice of "Equity Sharing," the predecessor of reverse mortgages is the source of much of the confusion about how reverse mortgages really work. In the stereotypical equity sharing arrangement, individuals would approach cash-strapped seniors and offer to make lump-sum or over time payments to them in exchange for having the senior sign a deed, naming the "benefactor" as joint owner.[5] In scam awareness materials, senior advocates refer to this practice as "deed theft."[6] Early in the reverse mortgage chronology, lending institutions perpetuated this reputation by inserting provisions into their reverse mortgage documentation that allowed them to claim all of the appreciation of the home on which they had issued a reverse mortgage. One such story occurred in Brigantine, N.J. "In 1988, Katherine and Harold Stephens, signed up for a reverse mortgage that guaranteed to pay them $312 a month for as long as they resided in their house near Atlantic City. At the time Katharine was 76 and Harold was 78. Harold later died, leaving Katharine living alone in the property. Like other reverse mortgages, the money sent by the lender each month represented a gradually growing debt that would have to be repaid when the owners sold the home or moved to a different residence or health care facility. The loan carried an annual interest rate of 11.5 percent, but it also had another problem. Buried in the contract block print was an equity provision. Besides the regular interest rate on outstanding balances, the lender received the right to 100 percent of all equity appreciation on the house from the day of settlement to the date of final sale or move out."[7] Stories like this have prompted states and the Federal Government to step in and regulate the reverse mortgage industry.[8]

II. Chronological History of Reverse Mortgages[9]

The first Reverse Mortgage was issued in 1961, by Nelson Haynes of Deering Savings and Loan in Portland, Maine to Nellie Young, the widow of his high school football coach. In the 1970's various educational institutions were writing technical documents on this new breed of lending product. In 1975, Jack Guttentag of University of Pennsylvania's graduate school, The Wharton School drafted "Creating New Financial Instruments for the Aged." Ohio took the lead on reverse mortgages in 1977, creating the first Reverse Mortgage Loan Program, "Equi-Pay." The following year, Wisconsin's Bureau on Aging funded the "Reverse Mortgage Study Project" and the Wisconsin Department of Local Affairs and Development offered the first statewide deferred loan payment program. The first national "Reverse Mortgage Development Conference" was held in Madison, Wisconsin in 1979. Reverse mortgage education and development began to move across the country shortly after that, with San Francisco creating a Reverse Annuity Mortgage program and studies being completed in Cambridge, Massachusetts on "Unlocking Home Equity for the Elderly." National attention began to focus on this movement with a two-year "Home Equity Conversion Project" funded by the U. S. Administration on Aging and the endorsement of an FHA reverse mortgage insurance proposal in 1981 by the White House Conference on Aging. Throughout the 1980's, reverse mortgage, or Home Equity Conversion (HEC) programs gained national exposure via multiple publications, conferences, and media coverage in Newsweek, Time, U.S. News, and Good Morning America. The U.S. Administration on Aging funded research on federal issues around HEC programs and the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging staged the first hearings on reverse mortgages and subsequently issued a report citing the need for reverse mortgages in 1982. This national exposure continued with an FHA reverse mortgage insurance demonstration program being proposed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1984, the first open-ended risk-pooling reverse mortgage was offered and in 1985, HUD sponsored its first national conference on home equity conversion. In 1986, AARP established the "Home Equity Information Center" to provide retired seniors with information on this rapidly expanding home mortgage option. In 1987 studies on home equity financing of long-term care were completed in Minnesota and Connecticut and the U. S. House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony on HEC and long-term care. In 1988, President Reagan signed FHA reverse mortgage insurance legislation and HUD created an HEC development team. 1989 saw the first line-of-credit reverse mortgage developed by the VA Housing Development Authority, followed by an announcement by Fannie Mae that it intended to purchase reverse mortgages insured by the FHA. That year, HUD selected fifty lenders by lottery to make the first FHA-insured reverse mortgages and released its "Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program handbook (#4235.1). Recognizing the need to educate counselors to assist the ever-growing senior population, multiple training sessions were conducted by both the AARP and HUD. Congress increased the FHA insurance authority to twenty-five thousand reverse mortgage loans by September 31, 1995 and the AARP published a "Model State Law on Reverse Mortgages. "Retirement Income on the House: Cashing In On Your Home with a Reverse Mortgage" was named the best book of 1992 on financial services for the elderly. By the end of 1993, the HECM program was in all states except AK, SD, and TX. In 1993, Congress enacted and the Federal Reserve published "Total Loan Cost Rate (TALC)" disclosure regulations for all reverse mortgages. Throughout the 1990's, AARP and HUD sponsored and funded education for consumers, financial planners, elder law attorneys and community counselors, creating a reverse mortgage counselor exam by 1999 which was co-sponsored by Fannie Mae and National Reverse Mortgage Loan Association (NRMLA). Ever on the watch for abuses, Fannie Mae announced new consumer protections in 1999 and AARP and NRMLA supported absolute limits on origination fees. In 2000, the first national, reverse mortgage counseling exam was taken by four hundred twenty-five counselors in forty-three states. [10] The new millennium has seen publications by HUD, HECM, and AARP as well as a multitude of on-line resources for senior consumers and their families.[11]

III. How a Reverse Mortgage Works[12]

Under a reverse mortgage, the real estate to be mortgaged has already been purchased and any financial charges on title to it have been discharged. The borrower is not expected to make periodic payments, or any payments, until the loan comes due. For the lender, the value of the mortgaged property is paramount; for the borrower, the loan is obtained to supplement income or to enable purchases of assets other than the mortgaged property. Eligibility limits on reverse mortgages are much less stringent that traditional forward mortgages. Outside of homeownership, the borrower must be at least sixty-two years of age. Given the importance of the value of the reverse mortgage borrower's property, reverse mortgage lenders require that potential borrowers obtain an appraisal of their property. The potential borrower must pay for this appraisal. The cost of the appraisal should be borne in mind by borrowers; it will form a non-interest charge that should be factored into determining the overall cost of borrowing under a reverse mortgage. Some reverse mortgage lenders require borrowers to retain independent legal representation for the reverse mortgage transaction. Others require borrowers to provide a certificate of independent legal advice as one of the closing documents for the loan. Reverse mortgage lenders insist on having the first mortgage on title to the borrower's property. If the borrower's title is encumbered by other financial charges, then the borrower will be obliged to use part of the reverse mortgage proceeds, or other funds, to pay out and discharge these other charges.

Amount of the Loan

Lenders determine the principal amount of the loan by reference to the value of the house and the age of the borrower or borrowers. Older borrowers are usually entitled to a larger loan. Reverse mortgages have a lower initial loan-to-value ratio than conventional mortgages. The principal advanced tends to fall in a range between 10 percent to 40 percent of the value of the mortgaged property. Of course, as interest accrues over time, this ratio will become higher. Interest The interest component of reverse mortgages is usually pegged to an external rate. For example, one lender charges interest at a rate of 4.75 percent above the Libor Index, as it is set by the index from time to time. The lender "resets" its interest rate each year to account for variations in the underlying Libor rate. This method of calculating variable interest is not unique to reverse mortgages. A key feature of reverse mortgages that may escape some borrowers is that reverse mortgages are rising debt loans. Since borrowers are not making periodic payments they are not reducing the amount of interest accruing on the loan. As that interest is regularly compounded (usually semi-annually), the amount outstanding under the loan can grow to be quite large, as the borrower ends up paying interest on the accumulating interest.

Term of Loan and Repayment

Most reverse mortgage loans are not made for a set term of years. Instead, the reverse mortgage becomes fully due and payable on the occurrence of a specified event. That event is typically the earliest to occur of: (1) A certain amount of days (for example, 120 days) after the date of the borrower's death. (If there is more than one borrower, then this period begins to run after the date the last borrower dies.) (2) The date on which ownership of the mortgaged property is transferred to another person. (A transfer can be a sale of the property, or another transaction, such as a gift, that vests ownership in someone other than the borrower.) (3) The date on which the mortgaged property ceases to be the borrower's principal residence. (Since it is often not a simple task to determine when a person's principal residence changes, the reverse mortgage usually sets out a formula--such as three months continuous absence from the property--in order to determine when this event has occurred.)

Default

Reverse mortgage lenders tend to look only to the mortgaged property for repayment. Many reverse mortgages limit the recourse that lenders have against borrowers personally. If the agreement provides for this, even if the amount of principal and interest outstanding at the time the reverse mortgage comes due exceeds the value of the mortgaged property, the reverse mortgage lender is not permitted to sue the borrowers personally for the balance. This nonrecourse feature of reverse mortgages effectively caps the amount that borrowers will be required to repay at the value of the mortgaged property. Reverse mortgages, like mortgages generally, operate to secure repayment of a loan and performance of obligations by giving the lender enhanced rights if the borrower defaults. As is the case under a conventional mortgage, a default under a reverse mortgage leaves a borrower open to having his or her interest in the mortgaged property foreclosed. Reverse mortgages differ from conventional mortgages with respect to defaults in two main ways. First, the most common mortgage default is failure to make a periodic payment. Since reverse mortgage borrowers are not required to make periodic payments, as a practical matter they are less likely to default. This does not mean that defaults under a reverse mortgage are impossible. A borrower could fail to repay the loan when it comes due. In addition, a borrower who fails to make a property tax payment or a payment under a subordinate financial charge will, in all likelihood, find that such a failure constitutes a default under the reverse mortgage. Second, as noted above, reverse mortgages tend to be nonrecourse loans. In a true nonrecourse loan, the borrower has no personal liability to repay the loan or interest on it, and the lender's remedies are confined to foreclosure or sale of the mortgaged property. Some reverse mortgage lenders operate on a true nonrecourse basis, and the mortgage limits their remedies for default to foreclosure. Other lenders provide that, while the original loan and interest on it are nonrecourse, the borrower will be personally liable for other types of charges. In addition, some reverse mortgages attempt to allow for changes in the value of real estate over time within a cap on the personal liability of a borrower. These lenders limit the borrower's personal liability to the value of the mortgaged property at the time the reverse mortgage comes due, at the time it is sold, or at the time the reverse mortgage is actually paid, whichever is greatest. Since this conception of "value" could exceed the amount received from a sale of the mortgaged property, there is a possibility that a defaulting borrower could have to make up the difference personally.[13]

IV. Statutory and Federal Regulations

The increasing popularity of reverse mortgages has state and federal agencies working diligently to keep reverse mortgages regulated. As is normally the case in lending, predators and abuses are plentiful, and seniors are among the nation's most vulnerable population.[14] State and Federal agencies offer consumer education and advocacy programs to help seniors protect themselves against reverse mortgage abuses.[15] Most reverse mortgage literature explains that they are complex transactions requiring the assistance of a lawyer. All reverse mortgages require that the senior participate in counseling to assess whether an HECM is the right vehicle for the senior. One such piece of protective legislation is the Consumer Credit Protection Act, which mandates that lenders disclose credit terms so that consumers can fairly and accurately assess whether a particular credit situation is right for them.[16] The Truth in Lending Act was created in 1968 to provide consumers with an avenue to cancel a transaction without penalty upon determination that terms and costs were not adequately disclosed by the lending institution.[17] In 1975, The Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act was created in response to lending institutions contributing to the decline of certain geographic areas by their failure to provide adequate home financing to qualified applicants on reasonable terms and conditions. The Act was designed to provide the citizens and public officials of the United States with sufficient information to enable them to determine whether lending institutions were meeting their communities' needs and to help public officials in their determination of the distribution of public sector investments in a manner designed to improve the private investment environment.[18] The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was originally created in 2003, and was amended in 2004 to add identity theft prevention, improve resolution of consumer disputes, improve the accuracy of consumer records, and to make improvements in the use of, and consumer access to, credit information.[19] Advances in state and federal oversight and regulation of reverse mortgages are ongoing, with the House passing (415-7) the Expanding American Homeownership Act (H.R. 5121) that made substantial improvements to the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), the nation's most popular reverse mortgage program on July 25, 2006. A Senate version, S.3535, is also under consideration.[20] On a state-by-state basis, reverse mortgage legislation has been enacted throughout the U.S. Massachusetts passed its legislation in 1998 to define reverse mortgages and provide protections for the Commonwealth's senior population.[21] Consumer Protections for Reverse Mortgagors There are many protections in place for people who decide to take out a reverse mortgage. Federal Truth-in-Lending law requires that reverse mortgage lenders disclose the projected average annual cost of the loan. Borrowers can cancel the loan for any reason within three business days after closing. They must notify the lender in writing to terminate the reverse mortgage. Most lenders charge interest for a reverse mortgage at an adjustable rate on the loan balance. To protect borrowers, all reverse mortgage have limits on the rate at which interest costs for the loan can change within a year, as well as over the life of the loan. Changing interest rates do not affect the monthly payments that a borrower receives. The costs that reverse mortgage borrowers pay are similar to those of a traditional home loan or to refinance an existing mortgage. These include an origination fee, appraisal fee, and third party closing costs (fees for services such as an appraisal, title search and insurance, surveys, inspections, recording fees, etc.). Most of these up front costs are regulated, and there are limits on the total fees that can be charged for a reverse mortgage. Since most of these costs can be financed as part of the loan, borrowers typically face few out-of-pocket costs for a reverse mortgage (typically the appraisal fee and credit check to make sure that the borrower is not delinquent on any other federally insured loans). All reverse mortgages are non-recourse loans, which mean that the borrower or heirs never owe more that the value of the home at the time of sale or repayment of the loan. This important feature is especially critical to surviving spouses who might otherwise be impoverished due to the cost of the loan. To receive this protection, HECM borrowers pay a mortgage insurance premium. Mortgage insurance offers additional security to both borrowers and lenders. Borrowers are protected against default by lenders. Lenders avoid losses that arise when the HECM loan balance exceeds the value of the home at the time of sale ("crossover risk".) FHA insures reverse mortgages issued under the HECM program. Borrowers who apply for any reverse mortgage must first receive independent counseling before they complete the loan application. This helps ensure that borrowers understand the advantages and limitations of this type of loan, and are aware of possible alternatives to reverse mortgages. Counselors must work for a HUD-approved agency and receive special training on reverse mortgages. Currently, there are about 800 approved HECM counseling agencies who offer information and assistance to seniors over the phone or in person. The AARP Foundation has developed a national certification program for reverse mortgage counselors.[22]

V. REVERSE MORTGAGE MYTHS & SCAMS

Despite increased popularity, even some of the most basic facts about reverse mortgages are often misunderstood. According to Peter Bell, the president of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, a relatively short industry history and rapid product evolution have deluged consumers with information that at times is confusing or inaccurate.[23] "The most common misconception we hear is, 'A reverse mortgage is where the bank gives you some money and then takes your house,'" says Bell. "That couldn't be further from the truth. Our mission," Bell explains, "is to inform seniors about the benefits of reverse mortgages so that they can make empowered decisions about whether this product makes sense for their own particular situation. A reverse mortgage helps people to address their retirement needs." The organizations website lists the most common questions asked by consumers about reverse mortgages, with the answers.[24] The questions are broken into three groups: those appropriate to ask before getting a reverse mortgage; those applicable during a reverse mortgage; and those applicable at the end of a reverse mortgage. This is the third guide published by NRMLA. The previous two are The NRMLA Consumer Guide to Reverse Mortgages, and Using Reverse Mortgages for Health Care: A NRMLA Guide for Consumers.[25] The organization produces a detailed list of reverse mortgage products now available and a state-by-state list of reverse mortgage lenders who are members of NRMLA.[26]

The Mortgage Calculator Scam[27]

Using an online calculator to get a cash-out estimate for a Reverse Mortgage is actually a very simple process. Most Reverse Mortgage calculators only require that you input the current value of your home, the balance of your existing mortgage, and the ages of the borrowers. You will then be provided with a reasonably accurate estimate of the money you can receive. Many unscrupulous lenders are plugging in inaccurate interest rates in their online calculators causing inflated cash-out figures. Remember that the interest rate is the same no matter which lender a senior chooses. The advice is that seniors not shop for a lender based on the results of their online calculator. The Department of Urban Development actually dictates what interest rate all properly licensed Reverse Mortgage lenders must use, so the results should be virtually identical from all lenders.[28]

Lenders MUST be Approved by the Government

All Reverse Mortgage lenders must be approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reports have been filed about companies claiming to have HUD approvals originating Reverse Mortgages and attempting to charge rates and fees in excess of those mandated by HUD. The HUD website contains a detailed list of approved lenders, to verify that a Reverse Mortgage lender is truly authorized to originate Reverse Mortgages.[29]

The "Shared Appreciation" Scam[30]

The federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) does not have an equity sharing or shared-appreciation feature. Any increase in equity belongs to the homeowner and/or their heirs. Current advice is for seniors to stay away from anyone offering the senior the "opportunity" to obtain more money in exchange for giving up a percentage of the future value of the home.[31]

V. Public Policy

The dramatically increasing numbers of seniors who may need financial support in excess of social security and other government programs require consideration of programs like reverse mortgages to support seniors. Indeed, data from HUD show that reverse mortgage use has increased substantially. Omitted* Statistics are through June 2006.[32] High levels of housing wealth among today's seniors are a direct consequence of government policy to offer guaranteed home loans through the GI Bill and tax laws that allow mortgage interest deductions. Widespread availability of the thirty-year mortgage has also altered consumer attitudes toward debt. Even older Americans are now willing to refinance their homes and assume such lengthy mortgages. Having encouraged older Americans to accumulate over $2 trillion in housing wealth, is there now a need to create public policy that will encourage older homeowners to voluntarily tap home equity to pay for long-term care?[33] Promoting greater use of reverse mortgages for long-term care can be done incrementally, or as part of a larger effort to encourage seniors with resources to share more of the cost of Medicaid services. States could begin to encourage the use of reverse mortgages by addressing government regulations, along with program requirements and restrictions, that may present obstacles for impaired elders to "use their home to stay at home." Eliminating such regulatory and eligibility barriers could unlock additional housing wealth by making the use of home equity more attractive to impaired, older homeowners.[34] Using a Reverse Mortgage to Stay at Home and Pay forLong-Term Care Surveys have found that many Americans are inadequately prepared for long-term care needs. One of the most prevalent perceptions among Americans is that they will never need long-term care. Although, a recent survey found that sixty-one percent of people ages forty to seventy believe that their chances of needing long-term care are greater than being in an auto accident, most people remain unaware of the challenges of meeting this need.[35] Over half of senior respondents (fifty-nine percent) to a recent National Council on Aging survey, believe that they are likely to extremely likely to stay in their own home once they need help with everyday activities. Despite this optimism, many senior respondents (forty-three percent) had not made any financial plans to cover the cost of help they would need to stay at home. Responses offered as "financial planning" ranged from insurance to government assistance to help from family members. About one-quarter (twenty-seven percent) of adult children did not know if their parents had made financial plans for long-term care.[36] Reverse mortgages can provide a substantial amount of additional funds for a broad range of older homeowners. However, most elders are likely to be reluctant to tap home equity until they need assistance. In a recent National Council of Aging study, of the 13.2 million candidate households, about 9.8 million (74 percent) are dealing with some level of impairment that affects their ability to live at home (Table 3.3). Of these, 1.75 million (13 percent) contain one or more elders who have an immediate need for long-term care. These elders need assistance to perform one or more ADLs or IADLs. Among these households, almost one million are on Medicaid or at financial risk for needing government assistance to pay for long-term care. An additional 1.96 million households (15 percent) would likely require assistance in the near future because they only have difficulty with ADLs or IADLs. Nearly half of candidate households (6.1 million) are coping with functional limitations. These homeowners are an important target population for reverse mortgages because they are not well served by traditional sources of long-term care financing that target elders with a high level of impairment. Only the sickest seniors may be eligible to receive services through the Medicaid program.[37] For example, beneficiaries receiving services under a Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver (1915c) must be so severely impaired that they would otherwise require nursing home care before they can qualify for help at home. Similarly, long-term care insurance policyholders typically must need help with two or more ADLs to trigger their home care benefits. This makes it difficult for elders with limited financial resources and moderate levels of impairment to get timely help before they face a debilitating and costly crisis. By liquidating their housing wealth through a reverse mortgage, the 9.8 million candidate households dealing with some level of impairment would be able to access $695 billion in total through HECM loans. The 1.75 million candidate homeowners with an immediate need for help with ADLs or IADLs could access about $121 billion in total from these loans. These financial resources could have a significant impact on the well-being of impaired elders and their families. By having money of their own to pay for long-term care, elders can maintain their dignity, as well as retain some independence and control over their lives. For spouses and other family caregivers, these supports can help reduce the financial, emotional, and physical strain that often comes with caring for an impaired elder (Family Caregiver Alliance 2003).[38] Reverse Mortgages and Public Assistance Programs Many seniors appropriately question the impact of a reverse mortgage on their government entitlement programs: Social Security, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid benefits. Reverse mortgages do not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits because they are not based on the assets of the recipient. Federal SSI payments, however, require that beneficiaries keep their liquid resources under certain limits. Reverse mortgages offer the option of suspending payments if a senior is approaching the limit imposed by SSI guidelines.[39] Many states are creating legislation to assist seniors paying for home-care via reverse mortgages. These vary for state-administered programs such as Medicaid, Aid for Dependent Children (AFDC), and food stamps. The recommendation is that seniors consult local Council on Aging offices to determine how a reverse mortgage can impact local entitlements.

VII. CONCLUSION

Reverse mortgages may be an appropriate tool for improved quality of life and as a replacement for dwindling government assistance programs for senior care. Multiple state and federal organizations and agencies have spent considerable time and resources exploring and regulating this income-generating tool.[40] Demand for long-term care is growing in our rapidly aging society, placing an increasing burden on state Medicaid programs. As the second largest item in state budgets, Medicaid is already being targeted for cost control efforts.[41] In this tight fiscal environment, home equity could play an important role in reducing government expenditures for long-term care. As with all services tailored to the senior population, continuing oversight and guidance is necessary to prevent abuses.[42] [1]http://www.hud.gov/buying/rvrsmort.cfm [2] http://www.census.gov [3]http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/revralrt.htm [4]http://www.aarp.org/revmort/ [5] http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ny_real_estate.html [6] Id. [7] http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20060515_toxicreversewidow.htm [8]12 U.S.C. '' 1715z-20(g) et seq.(1887)(Supp.V 1987), as amended by 12 U.S.C. '' 1735f-17(1990), 24 C.F.R. Parts 200 and 206 [9] http://www.reverse.org/History.HTM [10] http://www.reverse.org/History.HTM [11] www.aarp.org/revmort [12] http://www.yourhomeforlife.com [13] http://www.yourhomeforlife.com [14] http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/pred/predlend.cfm [15] http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lending/index.cfm [16]15 U.S.C.A. §1644 [17] 15 U.S.C.A. § 1601 [18] 12 U.S.C. A. § 2801 [19] 15 U.S.C.A. § 1681 [20] Assessing a Reverse Mortgage, by Nena Groskind/BostonHerald.com; August 21, 2006 [21] http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw98/sl980283.htm [22] http://www.aarp.org/money/revmort/ [23] http://www.nrmla.org [24] http://www.reversemortgage.org [25] Id. [26] http://www.reversemortgagetimes.org/pages/scamalert_01.htm [27] http://www.reversemortgagetimes.org/scamalert_01.htm [28] Id. [29] http://www.hud.gov [30] http://www.reversemortgagetimes.org/scamalert_01.htm [31] http://www.reversemortgagetimes.org/scamalert_01.htm [32] http://www.hud.gov [33]Use Your Home to Stay at Home, Expanding the Use of Reverse Mortgages for Long-Term Care: A Blueprint for Action, Barbara R. Stucki, Ph.D, 2005, The National Council on Aging, [34] Id. [35] MetLife Mature Market Institute, 2004b. [36]Use Your Home to Stay at Home, Expanding the Use of Reverse Mortgages for Long-Term Care: A Blueprint for Action, Barbara R. Stucki, Ph.D, 2005, The National Council on Aging [37]Use Your Home to Stay at Home, Expanding the Use of Reverse Mortgages for Long-Term Care: A Blueprint for Action, Barbara R. Stucki, Ph.D, 2005, The National Council on Aging [38]Use Your Home to Stay at Home, Expanding the Use of Reverse Mortgages for Long-Term Care: A Blueprint for Action, Barbara R. Stucki, Ph.D, 2005, The National Council on Aging. [39] http://www.reversemortgage.org [40] http://www.ncoa.org; http://www.hud.org; http://www.aarp.org [41]Use Your Home to Stay at Home, Expanding the Use of Reverse Mortgages for Long-Term Care: A Blueprint for Action, Barbara R. Stucki, Ph.D, 2005, The National Council on Aging [42] http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/pred/predlend.cfm

 

After the Purchase & Sale Agreement, How to Take Title on Your Deed

The earliest landowners probably demarcated their property by saying, "I own my cave and 100 steps in every direction from its entrance." Over time, as the number of humans increased, the law had to evolve in order to regulate more complex ownership interests. Any form of regulation requires balancing rights and duties. And when "a house is divided," i.e., when several people share ownership of the same piece of property, it becomes especially important to explicitly define each party's rights and delineate each party's duties.

 In legal terms, there are three ways in which co-ownership (known as concurrent ownership) is structured: The parties can be (1) joint tenants, (2) tenants by the entirety or, (3) tenants in common. It is important to note that concurrent ownership is a concept that only applies to present possessory interests in the same property. For example, if the same piece of property is given in a will to several people, they will not be considered concurrent owners.

Joint Tenancy: Traditionally, joint tenants must receive their interest at the same time and through the same document, like a will or a deed. Survivors is the other important characteristic of joint tenancy. Survivors means that when one of the joint tenants dies, their interest automatically passses to the other joint tenant. The heirs of the deceased joint tenant or those named in her will do not have the right to inherit the property. In order to create this type of ownership, the party or parties seeking to create it must use specific language demonstrating that intent.

For example, if Grandpa Adam wishes to give his apartment to grandsons Cain and Abel for them to share as joint tenants with right of survivorship, the legal document giving the apartment to Cain and Abel must specifically say something like:" to Cain and Abel, as joint tenants". Each joint tenant's interest must be equal in amount. Building on the example above, Cain and Abel each must have an equal, undivided one-half interest. And like a tenancy-in-common (discussed later) each joint tenant has the same the rights of ownership, i.e., each can use, occupy and possess the property at the same time. A joint tenancy can continue indefinitely unless one of the tenants does something to sever it. Certain actions (like partition, discussed below) will break the joint tenancy and automatically make the co-owners tenants-in-common.

Tenancy-by-the-Entirety: A tenancy-by-the-entirety is a form of co-ownership that applies only to husbands and wives while they are married. It is based on the archaic common law view that husband and wife are only one person for the purpose of owning property. As long as they are still married, neither the husband nor the wife have a separate interest that can be sold, mortgaged, leased or liened against. The property cannot be divided or partitioned between them. In Massachusetts each spouse has an undivided interest in the whole property and the right to sole ownership when the other spouse dies.

Since a tenancy-by-the-entirety applies only to a husband and wife during a valid marriage, should they divorce, the ownership is automatically converted into a "tenancy-in-common" with each person owning a one-half interest in the property. At the outset, husbands and wives who do not want to be tenants- by- the-entirety, should make sure that any property they acquire while they are married is documented using language which clearly states that they do not own the property as tenants by the entirety.

Tenancy-in-Common: A tenancy-in-common generally applies to two or more persons who are not husband and wife, but own the property together. The owners may have unequal interests and may had receive their interests at different times and through different means or documents. A tenancy-in-common may be created in a written agreement or by default (as discussed above in the case of broken joint tenancies and severed tenancies by the entirety). The key difference between a tenancy-in-common and other types of co-ownership is survivorship. Upon death, a tenant-in-common's interest passes to her heirs or those named in her will. There is, therefore, no right of survivorship that transfers the decedent's interest in the property to the other co-owners. Each tenant-in-common can occupy and utilize every portion of the property at all times and in all circumstances and, each co-owner is also responsible for a proportionate share of the expenses, taxes and repairs incident to property ownership.

If the all of the expenses are paid by one co-owner, the other co-owners must reimburse her for their share of the costs. Or should they refuse to pay her, she may petition the court to levy a lien against their interests in the property. Co-owners have the right to sell their interest in the property, giving it away while they are alive or transferring it to persons of their choice at death, without the consent of the other co-owners, with the buyers or inheritors sharing the same rights and duties of ownership as the co-tenant who passed on her interest. If tenants-in-common wish to terminate their joint ownership of the property they may voluntarily do so by signing an agreement to partition or they may file a court action for partition in the Probate Court or Land Court.

Petitions to Partition: Property can only be partitioned if co-tenants share a present, undivided legal interest and they may either divide the property into parcels or, if the land cannot be fairly divided, the court may order that that the property be sold by private sale or public auction and their proceeds be apportioned by law equitably among the co-owners.

A property can be partitioned even if there is a lease on it, and someone living in a leased, partitioned property, must be permitted to continue living there. Merely instituting partition proceedings does not terminate a tenancy. Partition proceedings, like any other legal action, cost money. The court determines the reasonable expenses and charges of the proceedings. If the property is sold, these expenses and charges are paid out of the sale proceeds and in those cases where the property is divided, the petitioner (the person asking for the partition) pays the expenses and charges with contribution from the other parties in proportion to their respective interests, unless the court finds that a different ratio would be more equitable.

Conclusion: Even the most primitive conceptions of ownership probably recognized the importance of specificallydefining the rights and duties of each co-owner when more than one person owns the same piece of property. The earliest assertions of concurrent ownership probably went something like, "We both own this cave. I have a right to live here and you do too. You have to clean it and I will clean it too."

Today, because more and more people are co-owning property, "dividing the house" has become an even more complex task for which professionals are needed. Seniors who like to co-own property or who'd like to get their money out of a piece of property that they own with others, should contact a lawyer and/or a real estate professional. Lawyers can be instrumental in drafting the appropriate legal documents that define co-ownership, and in the event of a voluntary or court-ordered partition, lawyers can draft the requisite partition agreements or can represent petitioners in probate or land court proceedings. When "a house is divided" someone should be there to make sure that it doesn't fall as the pieces are being put together or when they are being taken apart.

Fractional Ownership: Getting a Piece of the Pie

More Than a Fraction of the American Dream: Vacation Home Ownership

            The American dream could be said to have existed as far back as the founding of the thirteen colonies. People risked crossing the dangerous Atlantic waters in order to begin a new life in America. No one alive today saw that crossing. We did see “The Jeffersons” - the fictional 1975 family TV drama that depicted one family’s crossing. Like Ja'net Dubois crooned on “The Jeffersons” opening song they “finally got a piece of the [American] pie.” The Jeffersons “pie” was a “deluxe apartment in the sky.”   And like the Jeffersons, almost all Americans dream of buying their own home. For those whose dreams of home ownership become a reality, second homes are possibly the ultimate status goods. Unfortunately, many think that the ski lodge or beachside retreat they’ve always wanted is unattainable. Even when some are actually able to purchase second homes, they are quick to express frustration at not being able to spend more time there. It seems to them like the high cost of purchasing a vacation home (mortgage, upkeep, insurance and taxes) far outweighs the benefits of using the property for just a few weeks a year. 

So, for a rapidly increasing number of Americans, including those who already own at least one vacation home, fractional-ownership has given them something that they once thought was impossible – a vacation haven that they can enjoy as much or as little as they want, for a fraction of the cost (pun intended). Fractional owners get beautiful, high-quality vacation houses or condos, in fantastic locations, with great services and amenities for 10% or 15% of what they would have to pay to buy the property on their own. The costs of buying and running the property is shared by a number of people and, instead of sitting idle most of the time, the homes are nearly always being used. 

A Piece of Fractional Ownership History

Fractional owners form one of the fastest-growing segments of the vacation home market. New sales totaled $1.5 billion in 2005, up 42 percent for the year. The industry began in Utah about 10 years ago when Steve Dering, of DCP International, started the first fractional-ownership community in Park City. Many of the very expensive lodge-type homes there were under-utilized and he figured owners were spending a lot of money for just three or four weeks of use. 

They’re Not Timeshares!

From a strictly legal standpoint, the term “timeshare” refers to any arrangement under which a group of people co-own a property based on time; but from a practical standpoint, there are significant differences between fractional and timeshare ownership. For one thing, timeshares are merely contracts specifying a right to use a property for certain weeks. Fractional owners usually get an actual, owned, deeded interest, which can be sold, left in a will or put in a trust. Practically anything that can be done with any deeded property can be done with a fractional ownership interest. The meaningful difference between most timeshare and fractional ownership arrangements is the extent of the ownership and the control given to the users of the property. 

Generalizations about the differences between timeshares and fractionals can be misleading. It is important for buyers and those advising them, not to be misled by the way something is named or advertised, or even by whether it’s deeded or not. Contrary to popular misconception, having deeded ownership of a co-owned property does not automatically determine (by mere virtue of having a deed) a property owners’ control over how the property will be managed, what the ownership costs will be in the future, or whether the property will increase in value over time. 

Getting a Piece of the Fractional Pie: Who Should Buy?

Given their relatively short history, data on whether fractionals make money is limited. However, there has been at least one example of a property that has been a good investment. At the Deer Valley Club in Park City, shares that cost $130,000 about 10 years ago sell for approximately $655,000 today, according to Dering. With the present state of the real estate market coupled with the fact that fractionals are currently located in sought after locales like Cabo San Lucas, St. Thomas, and expanding to cities such as New York and San Francisco, the probability that these kind of properties will increase in value seems more likely than not. But the increase in the real property value must be weighed against some of the costs unique to fractionally owned properties, like management fees, the costs of repairs and, maintenance/cleaning costs. In addition, many fractional interests are priced at a premium; each interest when added together usually equals more than the price of the whole property. So to have a more accurate sense of the investment value of fractionally owned property, all costs must be weighed against any projected increase in the resale value.

Professionals advising to prospective buyers of fractional interests in vacation property should be careful to state that typically they are primarily for people who can afford a vacation home but don’t have the time to fully use it. They are not necessarily good for those seeking to re-sell and make a killing. As far as resale, prospective co-owners must read their fractional ownership documents carefully to make sure that the terms of purchase allow them to sell to others outside the group. Their ability to sell may be subject to right of first refusal or rejection for existing co-owner restrictions. These restrictions protect the group from incompatible or unqualified buyers but are not an outright prohibition on resale. Other restrictions could prohibit individual resale outright or requiring unanimous consent which means that there is no way for a co-owner to exit the group without selling her interest to another co-owner. This set-up could be problematic because no other co-owner may be interested in purchasing an additional share. 

A Fraction of the Legal Documents Owners Should Something About

            Fractional ownership documents fall into two general categories: (i) those that are recorded in the chain of title to the co-owned property and thereby become binding on each subsequent owner even without that owner’s signature, and (ii) those that are unrecorded and bind only those that sign them. Most fractional arrangements involve a combination of recorded documents like deeds, and unrecorded documents like management agreements, but one should not make generalizations about the kinds of documents or their names since each seller will undoubtedly use their own. Notwithstanding the fact that there are many flavors of documents, it may be useful to become familiar with some common names being used for fractional property documents like, “Declarations”, “User Agreement”, “Agreement to Purchase Real Property”, and “Bylaws.” Since there is no uniform requirement that all documents with a particular name contain the same terms and conditions, it is key that buyers review all documents carefully to make certain that they are getting what they bargained for.

What About Taxes?

            In general, the tax treatment of vacation homes depends on how often the property is used for personal use and how often it is used as a rental. When vacation property is co-owned IRS regulations seem to suggest that the usage by all of the co-owners, their relatives, non-paying friends, and swappers should be added together to determine the total number of personal-use days. Any other days that the property was used by someone else are considered “rental days.” Tax deductions for mortgage interest and property tax will depend on whether the co-owners seeking to take those deductions, qualify as “pure second home” owners by the IRS. As far as state law, in Massachusetts seniors and veterans who qualify for certain exemptions from property tax may still qualify as fractional owners. 

Tax law and other areas of law that affect fractional property purchasing such as real property law, securities law and corporate law, can be very complex, which is why fractional buyers (even those who have previously bought properties and therefore feel like they are comfortable with what it means to buy property) should seek the assistance of professionals, like lawyers, real estate agents and/or accountants when purchasing their interests.

Other Legal Stuff Of Which Fractional Owners Should Be Aware

            Several types of legal restrictions can apply to fractional vacation home sharing arrangements, including: (i) state real estate laws and regulations, (ii) local real estate laws and regulations, (iii) private deed restrictions, and (iv) federal and state securities laws. Laws in these categories vary from state to state and from municipality to municipality and, often times apply to real estate transactions regardless of what the individual transaction documents state. For these reasons, it is important for buyers to check with professionals in their home state for advice on how these laws may affect any fractional ownership purchase, especially since these laws can often have registration and compliance requirements. Additionally, because fractional properties are often located abroad, prospective co-owners and even their local attorney are less likely to be familiar with foreign laws. In foreign matters it is essential to involve both a U.S. attorney and a reputable foreign lawyer or law firm.

A Short Question Checklist for Prospective Purchasers: Just a Fraction of All the Considerations

            Keeping in mind that purchasing any real estate is, in general, a serious and complex matter for which buyers should engage the help of trained professionals, the following is a 5-question checklist that buyers could use, at least as a preliminary matter, when deciding whether fractional vacation home ownership is for them:

  • Am I considering buying a fractional interest for its re-sale potential or do I just want somewhere to regularly vacation with my family or friends?
  • What will the real costs be once I break down: (a) how often I’ll use the property, (b) any fees, property taxes, membership dues, and cleaning and repair costs?
  • As a co-owner what kind of control will I have over how the property is managed?
  • What kind of tax treatment can I expect from buying, owning, re-selling or transferring the property interest in any way?
  • What kinds of restrictions are there on renting or re-selling the property?

 Getting a Second Piece of Pie

            For anybody who is considering buying their first or their second vacation home, purchasing it as a fractional interest could offer them all the benefits of ownership with the added incentive of sharing burdens like maintenance and property tax. The American dream today is more than mere ownership of one’s residence. Buying the home where one lives is like getting one piece of the American pie, while buying a piece of vacation property is like getting a second piece of the American pie. Fractional ownership is a way to get that second piece of pie!

Reverse Mortgages - It's Prime Time for Reverse Mortgages

Variable interest rates that leave enough on the table for the lender to make a profit. Front loaded transaction costs including good yields to originators. No rate lock issues. No credit issues. No income verification. No asset verification. The hottest product from Fleece'Em Mortgage? Some new sub-prime wunderkind. Nope. Just a plain old reverse mortgage. The sexiest mortgage this side of Wall Street (and the other side of Wall Street too).

Let me get this straight. Those boring old lady loans are sexy? The darlings of mortgage lenders across America? Yup. What often goes unspoken in the reverse mortgage dialog is that reverse mortgages are mathematically safe loans for lenders. They are tied to conservative actuarial data and conservative projections of appreciation and inflation. There are real field appraisals completed for every deal, including the "FHA Appraisal" component where there is a rough review of the overall condition of the collateral as well as the presence of pests. Simple recommendations for repairs go a long way to making sure the collateral is in good condition at the time of closing - again a tool to minimize the risk of loss. Add to all of these modest loan to value equations and collection of transaction costs up front in most loan categories and you have a plain old common sense loan - sort of Jimmy Stewart "Wonderful Life" -style. In fact, most reverse mortgages are originated and closed in the home, so literally there are handshakes all around.

Of course, there is a need for capital to originate reverse mortgages, but based on the conservative underwriting guidelines are actuarially sound foundation, Wall Street should continue to provide ready cash to the reverse mortgage lending community.

Infinite Monkey Theorem of Prime Boston Real Estate

I went to the Boston Red Sox this past Saturday with my 7 year old. I measure the success of a trip to the Red Sox with one of my sons by a complicated calculus of the number of innings we actually watch, the number of innings spent in the restroom, the cost of souvenirs and the number of different snacks consumed. Well, this game was a winner on all counts.

It started as we settled into our comfortable first base line seats with our Fenway Franks and peanuts still in the shell. A father and son of about the same age as my son and myself desperately came up to us and asked if we would switch seats with them. You see, the little boy, in his little league Red Sox uniform and wearing his Franklin/Butch Hobson glove - must have been dad's glove, was focused on catching a foul ball. His dad, through one connection or another had managed to get the 'seats of a lifetime' directly behind home plate. These seats offered an amazing view of every pitch and a closeness to the players that verges on creepy. But, because of some Massachusetts lawyer in 1912, there's a net behind home plate so the well-heeled fans don't lose any teeth. Seeing that I could both score great seats and make this little boy's day (that would be the little boy in ME), we moved down to Section 47.

We did see what we had expected from this very special little piece of prime Boston real estate - not to mention hearing the sounds of the game like never before. A Curt Shilling fast ball smacking Varitek's glove brings resounding joy to the true believers. Because of the netting surrounding our little area, it can feel a little like a cage with us chimpanzees looking out at the rest of the fans and the field. After $100 a ticket for the seat, probably $50 a head in snacks and drinks and as much to park - do you think that some of the best major league ball players in the world would provide the best entertainment to those lucky chimpanzees in the home plate cage? Nope. Pro baseball was a distant second to the chimpanzees' favorite sport - watching people relate to foul balls. Not a stray ball was hit that didn't lead the crowd to a strong emotional response. OOOHHHH!!! She really got 'beaned' by that one! Beer Bath Row 15!! One hander! Cute kid with glove run down by fat drunk guy! Fumble by the rich guy with the field seat he doesn't deserve the ball. Holy Bleachers Batman! He's going to fall into left field! And on, and on, and on. I have never seen such a degree of mass human entertainment since those expert lawyers in the OJ Case made a mockery of the American legal system and embarrassed lawyers wholesale across the country. And so it went for the entire game (which was as good as a baseball game gets by the way) - the chimpanzees hooped and hollered about every last ball.

Don't forget the grounded fouls. "Give the ball to the kid." The all powerful ball boy granted $6 rawhide wishes on deserving fans throughout the game. Even Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz went out of their ways to toss balls into the stands - they know how the chimpanzees love their bananas! We could all save a lot of money and just have a pitcher and a batter on the field (that should keep us under the payroll cap) hitting balls into the stands to see who loses a tooth, gets a black eye or makes the people 25 feet below him smell like a brewery. It might lower the cost of this Boston real estate, but then again with all the lawyers in Boston, they might make them put up a net around the whole crowd - even people in the cheap real estate can then be chimpanzees too!

CEO's in the Big House

I found this neat academic article that puts a lot of things in perspective on the very high end of the residential real estate market. Two econonmists prepared the paper that shows convincing evidence of the correlation between the decline in stock prices of the top 500 US companies and the value of the principal residences purchased by their CEO's. The more valuable the house, the worse the stock performed in the years following. Why? The good professors conclude that the CEO's have become complacent with their positions and no longer have the financial incentives to take on new risks (and potential growth). For the most part these modern day Taj Mahals are paid for with the proceeds of stock sales. On this theory, I guess you want to look for the CEO that still lives at home with Mom and Dad. Why do Americans have such large houses? Look at other developed countries like Japan, Germany and England for examples of efficient housing stock. People in those countries, for the most part, buy houses that are in step with their family size and needs.

We know the US government wants to encourage home ownership, the IRS gives us tax breaks for interest paid on mortgages, we can get homestead protection from our creditors and the "American Dream" is often defined as having that big house in the suburbs. I think the US government has a more insidious plan for its citizens. A plan that large corporate interests can support. A plan the banks can really get their arms around. What's the plan?

The US government wants its citizens to have bigger and bigger houses so we can buy more stuff. That's right, your American Dream is actually a big box in which to put all your consumer purchases. Look around, how much space do you really need to live comfortably? How big a car do you need to get around town? When was the last time you delayed the purchase of an item instead of using your credit card? Something's got to give along way here. I would propose a theory to go along with the CEO theory - that when all consumers buy the biggest houses that they can afford, park an SUV the size of a tank in the driveway and run full tilt on the credit card treadmill that the economy as a whole is on course for failure. Not to mention the environment, the balance of trade, our cultural values, etc. I am not proposing that we move into caves, but maybe we could look a little more closely what we want and what we need.