Mortgages and Debt
Found 11 Articles.
Get access to our full article archive by subscribing to Retirement Watch and Retirement Watch Spotlight Series.
How Do Reverse Mortgages Really Work?
You can’t flip through your TV channels these days without seeing a reverse mortgage advertisement… Which is my so many Retirement Watch Weekly readers are writing in for my take on them. Truth is, a reverse mortgage can be a good idea for some… or a bad idea for others. Today we’ll set the record […]
What is a Reverse Mortgage and How Does it Work?
A reverse mortgage, also known as a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), is a loan available to homeowners over the age of 62 that allows them to borrow money based upon the value of their home equity, their age, and current interest rates. Proceeds from a reverse mortgage can be received as a lump sum, […]
When To Paydown A Mortgage
Retirement Watch readers should already know how to analyze the issue, but this article is a good presentation of the issues and how to decide on the best use of your money. The key question to ask when weighing mortgage paydown is what you’d do with that money instead. Can you earn a higher return […]
A Case For Paying Off Your Mortgage
This article makes the case that people spend too much money on their mortgages, especially people who live in high-cost areas. It argues that the best way to save for retirement is to first pay off the mortgage and avoid paying all that interest for 30 years. A 15-year mortgage is much better in the […]
Home Equity Loan Or Refinance?
Many of you have significant home equity after the price increases of the last few years. If you want to tap that equity for some spending, what’s the best way to do that? Here’s a brief article that explains when it’s better to refinance your current mortgage and when you should set up a home […]
Should You Keep Your Mortgage or Pay it Off?
A home is the most valuable asset owned by most Americans. A key and confusing financial issue for many is how to manage the home equity. Proper management of the equity can increase net worth and enhance one’s life style. Managing home equity means determining the trade off between a mortgage and unencumbered home equity. […]
Five Proven Ways to Reduce the Mortgage on your IRA
Most people who are busy accumulating large balances in their IRAs and 401(k)s forget that the IRS holds a mortgage on those accounts. You put pre-tax dollars in the accounts and let income and gains compound tax deferred. But that balance in the IRA is not all yours. The price for those tax breaks is […]
Should Retirees Pay Off Their Mortgage?
Not long ago a key part of every retirement plan was paying off the mortgage. I’m told that a popular ritual was the mortgage-burning party, though I have never been to one. Now, it seems that fewer retirees consider paying down the mortgage to be important. To the contrary, maintaining a substantial mortgage frequently is […]
