Equity Release London
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Could your home hold the key to a brighter future in retirement?
Have you always dreamt of a retirement where you can enjoy a fulfilled lifestyle, without having to worry about whether you’ll have enough money to fund it?
Many people do. But these days, with the cost of living having risen considerably, it is a dream that may seem unachievable. Unless, that is, you look to what your home may be able to offer.
It is not uncommon for homeowners to have a fair amount of equity built up in their properties. Money that could be sitting untapped, and could potentially be released to fund a more comfortable retirement, free from financial restrictions.
Known as equity release, London homeowners are increasingly using this safe, regulated method of withdrawing money from their properties to realise their retirement dreams. If you are aged over 55 and a homeowner, you may be able to follow in their footsteps.
At Lumos Financial, as Financial Conduct Authority regulated equity release specialists, we are authorised to provide independent financial advice on equity release. Read on to discover how equity release works, and how you could be enjoying a brighter future in retirement by releasing tax-free capital from your London home.
How does equity release work?
Equity release, also referred to as a ‘lifetime mortgage’ is effectively a loan that is secured against your property. If you take out such a loan, you will continue to own and live in your home.
Depending on the value of your property, and any other loans or mortgages you may have secured against it, you may be able to release some of the equity up to a certain amount.
As it’s a loan, a lifetime mortgage will need to be repaid. This will happen when your house is sold, either when all the homeowners have passed away, or when the last homeowner goes into long term care. Once the loan is fully repaid, plus any interest or charges, any of the remaining value will form part of your estate for inheritance purposes.
To be eligible for an equity release mortgage, at least one of the homeowners will need to be aged over 55. Depending on the individual product, other criteria may apply. Costs and interest rates will also vary from one lifetime mortgage to the next. And this is where taking equity release advice from Lumos Financial is beneficial.
As independent financial advisers, we have access to the entire equity release market. This means that once we have taken time to understand your needs and circumstances, we’ll be able to recommend the lifetime mortgage that best suits you on an individual basis. Because at Lumos Financial, we always focus on your best interests.
Get in touch
Lumos Financial are independent financial advisers based in Hemel Hempstead and are here to answer all your questions about equity release.
Whether you live in London, Hertfordshire or further afield, we are ready to provide the advice you need.
Please drop us a line and let us know how we can help, and we’ll be right back in touch.
What can I use the cash for?
It really is up to you how you spend the tax-free cash you take from your home using equity release. North London homeowners, and those across the capital who’ve taken our independent advice, have made use of the funds in a variety of ways.
Some have taken the opportunity to see more of the world, or book the holiday of a lifetime. Others have used the cash to make improvements to their homes, or to pay off debts in order to reduce their outgoings.
We’ve known some homeowners buy a sports car or even a boat, whilst others have used the money to help family members onto the property ladder, or through further education.
It is also possible to take a regular income using equity release. London homeowners use the loan in this way to top up their retirement income, so that they can enjoy an enhanced everyday lifestyle.
Why choose Lumos Financial?
Long Term Trusted Advisers
By your side, safeguarding your best interests on an ongoing basis.
Simplified Advice
Speaking your language, without a hint of technical jargon.
5-Star Rated
Consistently top-rated for advice, service and value on VouchedFor & Google.
Specialist equity release advice – how we can help
As 5-star rated, FCA regulated independent financial advisers specialising in later life lending, we have access to the entire equity release market and, for your safety, will only ever recommend lenders that are members of the Equity Release Council (ERC).
Releasing money from your property is a big decision. It is important to be aware that an equity release mortgage will reduce the value of your estate, which means it could affect the inheritance your loved ones receive. It could also potentially impact your entitlement to means-tested state benefits.
Taking all of this into consideration, it is essential that you have complete clarity as to the implications of equity release. London homeowners are therefore encouraged to take time over the decision, and ensure they are taking specialist equity release advice before they proceed.
At Lumos Financial, we have seen many London homeowners benefit from equity release. However, it is not for everyone, which is why we take plenty of time to make sure our clients understand every step of the process, how an equity release mortgage works, and how taking such a loan could impact the financial futures of everyone involved, including the wider family.
If you are considering equity release, we will sit down with you and your family and clearly explain our recommendations and the reasons behind them. As we always put ourselves in our clients’ shoes, we totally appreciate that this is an emotive decision that may impact the whole family. Our advice is jargon and pressure-free, simply designed to equip you with the facts you need to make your own decision.
FAQs
All equity release products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA imposes strict rules on financial advisers who recommend these products, as well as the companies that provide them. Equity release advisers must be fully qualified, and are duty bound to provide clear advice and recommendations.
To be eligible for an equity release mortgage, you must be a UK homeowner aged 55 or over. Different product providers will have their own lending criteria. Our job here at Lumos Financial is to understand your individual circumstances, and recommend only the products that best suit your needs.
Some equity release mortgage providers offer an inheritance guarantee, allowing you to make sure something is left from the value of your home to pass on. This will, however, reduce the amount of money you can borrow.
No. All equity release products come with a ‘no negative equity’ guarantee. This means that when the debt is finally repaid, either when you or the last homeowner dies or goes into long term care, the amount to be repaid will never be more than the value of your home. This is subject to you meeting the terms and conditions of the mortgage.
The Equity Release Council (ERC) is an organisation that is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected when taking out an equity release mortgage. All ERC members are required to abide by the organisation’s code of conduct, and in doing so must ensure that homeowners fully understand and are comfortable with the products that are being recommended to them.
If you still have a mortgage, or other loans secured on your property, you can still apply for a lifetime mortgage. However, you will need to be able to raise sufficient funds on that mortgage in order to pay off any existing mortgages or loans secured on the property.
How much cash you can release from your home will depend upon various factors, including the value of your home and your age, and on the individual equity release product. Generally, you can borrow in the region of 20 to 60 per cent of the value of your home with a lifetime mortgage. If you would like to find out how much you could release in principal, please do get in touch.
Success Stories
Worried how their shrinking savings would prevent them enjoying their much loved holidays and spoiling their grandchildren, David and Joan turned to us for help in recommending an Equity Release product that would give them the income they needed for later life financial independence, whilst protecting their family’s inheritance.
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Lumos Financial
575-599 Maxted Rd, Hemel Hempstead,
HP2 7DX
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