Use Equity Release Schemes to Unlock Value From Your Home
Equity release allows homeowners to unlock 20% to 60% equity in their property’s value and receive money in one lump sum, tax free and without having to leave your property.
The lender then owns a percentage of the property (lifetime mortgage) or the entire property (home reversion loan) and they recover the fees if and when your house is sold. The best part of equity release is that it gives more senior citizens, aged 55 and over, the chance to receive money upfront and use the income to fund a better quality of life.
Octagon Capital is a FCA regulated broker and works with a number of equity release companies to help you borrow the amount your need. We believe that life is short and releasing equity from your home can change your life – whether it is for home improvements, retirement or to help your children get on the property ladder. Simply enter your details below for a quote and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
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What are the terms of equity release lenders?
In order to be accepted for equity release, lenders will require you to be over a certain age in order to release assets in your property. Typically, this will be over 55 when it comes to lifetime mortgages, and with some home reversion scheme providers this can be at least 60. You will also need to either own the property outright, or have only a small amount of your mortgage outstanding. See how does equity release work.
With both kinds of equity release it is possible to receive a tax free cash lump sum or receive regular payments. Generally speaking, when it comes to lifetime mortgages, you can usually borrow up to 60% of the property’s value, whilst with home reversion schemes you can receive anywhere between 20% and 60% of the house’s value (or alternatively, the percentage that you have decided to sell off). The percentage you keep of the property remains the same, regardless of property value changes.
When it comes to the terms of these equity release products after you have died or gone into long-term care there are two different scenarios that can occur. With home reversion schemes, the property is sold off, and these proceeds are then shared between those who still own the remaining proportions of the property. With lifetime mortgages, the loan as well as the rolled up interest is repaid by your estate, or if you have a partner the repayments are not made until the last person within the property has died or gone into long-term care.
With lifetime mortgages you also have a ‘no-negative equity guarantee’ which means that if there is still outstanding debt when the property comes to be sold, neither you or the estate will be liable to pay it. (Source: MoneyAdviceService)
What is the difference between lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans?
Lifetime mortgages tend to be the most popular option with homeowners, as it enables you to still remain the owner of the property. You can take out a mortgage that allows you to have interest ‘roll up’ over time, meaning that unpaid interest is added to the loan.
With the second equity release product, home reversion schemes, you sell a percentage of your property (or all of it) to a home reversion provider. In both types of equity release, it may be possible for you to ring-fence a percentage of the value in your home, so that it can be passed on as inheritance.
When would you use equity release?
This kind of funding can be used for multiple purposes. For example:
1. Help family members to get onto the property ladder. Releasing assets within a property in order to help out family buy their own home is a popular reason as to why retired homeowners use equity release, as you have the opportunity to release money in one lump sum.
2. Finance renovations within your home (such as a new kitchen or bathroom) perhaps needed as a result of reduced mobility in you or your partner’s later years.
3. Make the most of retirement and free from the responsibilities of work, by opting to use the money freed up from their property to go on holidays, or to finance big purchases such as a new car.
4. Top up your monthly income in your retirement. This means that you would not need to worry about whether or not you would still be able to continue your way of living prior to stopping working, meaning that you can live comfortably and stress free. In this scenario, you may choose to draw out equity release payments rather than receive it as a lump sum so that you can withdraw money as and when you need to.
5. Equity release is frequently used by people who were previously self-employed, as they may not have had a private pension, and would like to supplement their state pension income.
6. Equity release can also be used to help make mortgage repayments, as well as any other outstanding debts, helping to provide you with peace of mind.
7. Release assets in your property without having to downsize, as with equity release you can still unlock housing wealth and can remain in the property for as long as you like, as whilst you may potentially give up some (or all of your ownership) through a home reversion scheme, you still have a legal right to stay in the house until you die or move into long-term care.
Apply for equity release
We work with a number of leading equity release providers in the country and can help you to find the right product that will best cater to your individual circumstances, helping to make the application process stress-free, guiding you every step of the way, whichever equity release product you decide to choose.
Equity is used for personal financial reasons which is different to the bridging loans that we typically offer. Our products are common for property developers and buy to let investors. Nonetheless, there is a real cross over between the products and we are proud to offer an effective solution to help you with what you need.