As house prices have gone up across the UK over the last few decades, many homeowners have built up a lot of wealth that they haven’t used yet. Getting access to this equity can help you get the money you need for a wide range of things, from paying off bills to making home changes, buying special things, or paying for other big costs. It’s also a way for older people to make extra money in retirement. How exactly can you get the wealth out of your home, though? This guide talks about the main choices you have.
Figuring out how much equity you have now
Before you think about giving up any stock, you should first figure out how much is actually available. To do this, you need to find out how much your home is worth on the market right now and then take away any mortgage payments that are still due. By adding some basic information about the property, online sites can give you an idea of how much it’s worth. But if you want an official assessment, it might be a good idea to hire a chartered surveyor or valuer. This gives you and your lender a clear picture of how much wealth there is, so you only borrow what you can afford. Adding in possible sale costs like real estate agent fees can also help you get a more exact number.
Get a second mortgage
Getting a second charge mortgage from a lender is a simple way to get access to property wealth. This works like a regular mortgage in that you borrow a set amount of money against the property and agree to pay it back over a set period of time. But the loan is added on top of your current debt as a second charge. Lenders who offer these kinds of second mortgages usually let you borrow up to 75% of the leftover wealth.
This method has some benefits, such as lower interest rates compared to other options and more control over the length of the loan, which lets you make smaller monthly payments. The downsides are that it can be expensive and you need good credit to apply. You also have to be disciplined to stick to your payments plans. There are also arrangement and assessment fees. If the person later has money problems, the land could still be taken back.
Taking money out of existing mortgages
People who are stuck in low-rate mortgage deals may also be able to get extra cash if the property’s value has gone up a lot since they bought it. To do this, you will need to remortgage or get a loan increase from your current lender. They may agree to taking out 20–25% more wealth than the original amounts borrowed after a new estimate of the property. This is added to a bigger mortgage with better terms and rates that reflect the current state of greater lending.
By going this way, you can avoid the costs and hassle of getting a second mortgage while still getting better rates. But these deals can’t happen until lenders agree to new values. Keep in mind that bigger mortgages also mean bigger monthly payments. If people don’t have plans to return the money they took out, they could lose their homes if house prices drop.
Mortgages for life
Expert release of equity Mortgages can give people over 55 an open way to use their property income without having to make payments. People get loans against their home with what are called “lifetime mortgages,” and they only have to pay them back when they die or go into long-term care. Most of the time, lifetime mortgages cost more than regular mortgages and have higher interest rates. But because the money isn’t paid back until the house is sold, monthly costs don’t go up.
Loan numbers are based on your age. Older people can get bigger loans because they have less time to pay off the interest. Lifetime mortgages can be paid off in a set large sum, over time with smaller payments, or by making extra payments to keep the debt level low. But since there are no payments, the total interest owed eats away at the property’s value even more. This could put inheritances at risk, so it’s important to get independent financial help and make sure that deals come with inheritance protections.
Plans for buying back homes
Home reversion programmes also let you get equity release plans, but they are not as popular. In a way similar to lifetime debts, people over 60 sign over a portion of their property’s ownership. In exchange, you get a tax-free big sum or a steady income based on the value of the share you sold and how much it is worth now. James Dean, Bridgewater, and Age Partnership are some of the providers that give reversion options.
When your home is finally sold, for example because you die or move into care, the return company gets its share, which could be worth decades more than what it was paid for. In a sense, they spend money up front in order to make more money from the land later on. Even though home reversions are easy and give you cash right away, they lower the amount of money your family can receive in the end. Always talk to a financial expert to find out if there are better ways to get rid of property.
That being said, just how much equity can I release from my home?
Unlocking the value in your home can help you get cash when you need it. But any money that is borrowed is finally paid back through mortgage payments or smaller inheritances. Different methods work better in different situations. Compare lifetime mortgages and remortgaging choices, and if you want to lower your costs, think about joining smaller second mortgages with your current loans. Getting professional help makes sure you take the best steps to increase the wealth you can access. Be honest about what you can pay and how much something is worth. Even though it’s easy, releasing wealth from houses should be done carefully and with full knowledge of what could happen.