Summer 2016 | Page 84

We asked the experts at Modular Home Additions to tell us why homeowners are considering additions. Check out this amazing transformation! USING YOUR EQUIT Y WISELY! REVERSE MORTGAGES LEAD THE WAY! Project by Modular Home Additions, www.modular.ca BEFORE insider secrets LOCATION, LOCATION Location is one of the key considerations. For some homeowners, an addition allows them to stay where they are while adding much needed space. For others, buying a smaller bungalow and adding on to the existing home is the most affordable option when looking to relocate into desirable neighbourhoods. GROWING FAMILIES Changes in family size and family dynamics are another common reasons for an addition. Young couples who have a smaller home may choose an addition to make room for children. For older families, adding an in-law suite is an affordable alternative to placing older parents in retirement homes. For some families, lack of work, high rental and real estate prices means young people have to return home while they begin building their careers. INVESTMENT Adding more space or renovating your existing space is the best way to increase your home’s resale value. Buyers love a ready-to-move-in property and will pay top dollar for a home that has the space they need! Adding a second floor to a bungalow in a desirable neighborhood can result in a much higher profit when the home is sold. With a reverse mortgage, Canadian homeowners 55+ have the ability to access cash they need when they retire, make a major purchase, pay off debt, pay for living expenses, or help kids buy a house or travel. With a reverse mortgage, homeowners can access their equity and still stay in their home for as long as they choose. This can eliminate the need to move or downsize, and avoids the high costs related to selling a property. For a homeowner that is nearing retirement, there are choices. With a reverse mortgage, owners get the best of all of the choices:  ONE: STAY Stay in their home and take out up to 55%* of the equity. TWO: FULL OWNERSHIP Homeowners maintain full ownership and are not required to make monthly mortgage payments until the decision is made to sell the house or move. THREE: TAX-FREE Money received is tax-free. Discuss this option with a financial advisor, because using cash from home equity means there is no need to disturb the income stream from RRSP/RRIF plans. In fact, depending on the level of annual pension income, home owners may well have access to the Guaranteed Income Supplement. So, with a reverse mortgage homeowners can stay in their home, have cash that they need and continue to benefit from price increases in the value of the home. To learn more, speak to your financial adviser or mortgage broker. The Reverse Mortgage process is simple and the lender is HomEquity Bank, a Schedule I Canadian Bank. - Text by Bob Herr *Conditions apply