How will Canadian seniors deal with lack of funds in retirement?
For some, a reverse mortgage is often the only solution to financial crises
TORONTO, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ – The lack of pension reform combined with seniors living longer than ever is leading to a lack of finances in old age – a troubling issue that needs to be discussed in families across the country.
That’s according to HomeEquity Bank experts, provider of the CHIP reverse mortgage.
“Canadian seniors want to remain in their homes as they age. However, there are many that could lose their homes because they haven’t saved enough for retirement, some will be forced out due to a lack of information on options and many of them have the answer in front of them and don’t know it,” explained HomeEquity Bank VP National Sales, Jeff Spencer.
Meeting with Canadian seniors on a regular basis, Mr. Spencer knows first-hand the financial issues many face as their retirement progresses. However, property values have dramatically increased in many Canadian cities and tapping into the home’s equity to subsidize retirement is going to play a more prominent role, he explained.
According to CARP:
Two-thirds of the workforce – 12 million working Canadians – do not have workplace pension plans.
Private savings options, such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) have not been the answer to retirement security.
Canadian senior Jim Burton, 73, is a Chartered Accountant who seriously considered selling the family home, where he and his wife lived for 42 years, before deciding on a CHIP reverse mortgage. The catalyst? A real estate deal fell through due to the death of a partner “which significantly hurt my retirement plans. This was a big part of my pension plan process – I was going to be short about a million dollars without this project.”
The CHIP reverse mortgage helped Jim and his wife remain in the family home and “it was one of the simplest financial transactions I’ve ever done.”
“We bought our house forever – and we haven’t got to forever yet,” he added.
How the CHIP reverse mortgage works:
Visit www.chip.ca or call 1.877.503.2447 to determine the amount of money available, which is based on the homeowners’ age and the location and type of home as well as the home’s current appraised value.
Access money as a one-time lump sum, as monthly payments or both – it’s tailored to individual needs.
Up to 50% of the home’s value can be accessed and the money is tax free. Unlike a traditional loan, no payments are necessary until it’s time to move or sell the home.
“Many baby boomers have not saved enough money for retirement. Without jobs and income, many face dire financial worries. In many cases, ‘sell the home’ is a knee jerk reaction. We want to educate Canadians on other options, including the reverse mortgage,” added Mr. Spencer.
Dispelling a major misconception around CHIP reverse mortgages, he noted: “After 28 years, and through one of the worst financial crises we’ve seen in Canada, in most cases at the time of sale our clients have an average of 50% of the equity left in their homes.”
About HomeEquity Bank
HomeEquity Bank is a Schedule 1 Canadian Bank offering the CHIP reverse mortgage solution www.chip.ca. It was founded 28 years ago as an annuity based solution addressing the financial needs of Canadians who want to access the equity of their top asset – their home.
For further information on the CHIP reverse mortgage solution or to interview Jeff Spencer or Jim Burton, please contact:
Teresa Donia
iAMBIC Communications
teresa@iambic.ca
905-508-5550
Yvonne Ziomecki
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales
HomeEquity Bank
yziomecki@homequitybank.ca
647-723-6812
