HECM Advisors Group - The "Reverse" Mortgage Professor - Dr. Jack Guttentag: Index of Articles

“A reverse mortgage is one of the best engineered financial tools of our generation.”

– Dr. Jack Guttentag, The Mortgage Professor

I am honored to be able to share the writings of The Mortgage Professor, Mr. Jack Guttentag, Professor of Finance Emeritus, formerly Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking, at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. I have know Jack for many years and have always appreciated his approach to this tool. Since his earliest published research in 1975 on “Financial Instruments for the Aged” till today, he continues to be a qualified thought leader and positive voice on the power of the intentional uses of the HECM Reverse Mortgage.

Professor Guttentag operates a web site, at www.mtgprofessor.com, which helps consumers navigate the process of buying a home. He has been writing about reverse mortgages since 2001 and because he is a senior citizen, provides a valuable, unbiased perspective for consumers who are thinking about obtaining one.

We invite you to read some of Professor Guttentag’s articles, which cover a variety of topics based on questions he has received from consumers over the years.

Using a Reverse Mortgage to Avoid Impoverishment

Do Reverse Mortgages Have Excessive Upfront Fees?

Borrower Protection on FHA Reverse Mortgages

Can a HECM Be Refinanced?

Buying a House with a HECM Reverse Mortgage

Where Did Reverse Mortgages Stand in 2003, Relative to Their Potential?

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of FHA’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program Relative to Fannie Mae’s Home Keeper Program?

What Are the Steps Involved in Getting a Reverse Mortgage?

Do I Need Good Credit to Qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?

What Payment Options Are Available on a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage? What Factors Are Relevant in Deciding Between Them?

What Are the Consequences of a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Being Transferred From the Lender to HUD?

Why Is it Difficult For a Homeowner to Use Up All Her Equity Under a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage?

Can a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Be Refinanced?

Is It Possible to Purchase a House With a Forward Mortgage, and Then Take Out a Reverse Mortgage?

Wouldn’t a Home Equity line of Credit Serve Just as Well as a Reverse Mortgage, and Save on Upfront Fees?

Are Any Reverse Mortgage Expenses Tax Deductible?

Are Borrowers Protected on FHA Reverse Mortgages?

What Costs Must Borrowers Pay on a Reverse Mortgage?

Is it a Good Idea to Use a Reverse Mortgage to Repair a House You Intend to Sell Shortly?

Can a Small Reverse Mortgage Make Sense?

What Impact Did the Financial Crisis Have on Reverse Mortgages?

Which Reverse Mortgage Option Should I Choose?

How Does the Tenure Annuity on a HECM Compare With a Lifetime Annuity Purchased From a Life Insurance Company?

What Is the Easy and Effective Way to Shop For a HECM?

Are There Parallels Between Sub-Prime Mortgages and Reverse Mortgages?

What Other False Allegations Are Made About the HECM Program?

Who Is Best Positioned to Protect Incompetent Elders From Reverse Mortgage Abuses?

How Did the Financial Crisis Impact the Reverse Mortgage Market?

Why Have Many Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Stopped Paying Their Property Taxes, and What Should Be Done About it?

What Are the Latest Options Available to HECM Borrowers?

What Are the Advantages to a Senior of Buying a House Using a HECM?

Why Do HECM Borrowers Often Make Mistakes?

What Are the Different Options Borrowers Have Under the HECM Program?

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a HECM to Pay Off a Forward Mortgage, Purchase a House, or Supplement Income Pending a House Sale?

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a HECM to Generate Investment Income, or As a Credit Line to Meet Unanticipated or Special Occasion Cash Needs?

How Can HECMs Be Used to Strengthen Retirement Plans?

What Are the Circumstances Under Which a Reverse Mortgage Should Be Taken Out at Age 62, and the Circumstances Under Which the Senior Should Wait?

What Are the Long-Run Implications of Drawing the Maximum Amount of Cash Allowed on a HECM Reverse Mortgage, as Compared to Selecting a Credit Line or a Tenure Annuity?

How Is the Media Distorting the Facts About HECMs?

Where Does a Senior Go For Information About Reverse Mortgages?

How Can Seniors Use a HECM Reverse Mortgage to Eliminate the Risk of Running Out of Money Before They Die?

Should a Senior Retiring With a Mortgage Balance Pay it Off Out of Savings, Pay it Off With a HECM Reverse Mortgage, or Leave it Alone?

Do HECM Reverse Mortgages Carry Excessive Upfront Fees?

What Is Wrong With the HECM Reverse Mortgage Program (1)?

What Is Wrong With the HECM Reverse Mortgage Program (2)?

What Is Wrong With the HECM Reverse Mortgage Program (3)?

Why Might a Senior With No Immediate Need For Funds Elect to Take Out a HECM Now?

Why Are HECM Reverse Mortgages Under-Utilized?

What Is the Financial Condition of Seniors Who Could Use a Reverse Mortgage to Avoid Impoverishment?

Does the TALC Disclosure, Mandated by Truth in Lending, Help Seniors Make Better Decisions About Reverse Mortgages?

What Is the Case For Federal Government Support of the HECM Reverse Mortgage Program?

What Were the Major Changes FHA Made in the HECM Program in September 2013?

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Don Graves, RICP®, CLTC®, Certified Senior Advisor, CSA®

President and Chief Conversation Starter at HECM Advisors Group/Institute

Don Graves, RICP® is a Retirement Income Certified Professional and one of the Nation’s Leading Educators on the Emerging Role of Reverse Mortgages in Retirement Income Planning. He is president and founder of the HECM Institute for Housing Wealth Studies and an adjunct professor of Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services. He has helped tens of thousands of Advisors as well as more than 3,000 personal clients since the year 2000