I recently investigated "Equity Release" schemes with a view to realizing equity from a mortgage-free property. Frankly I was shocked to find the percentage of market value the likes of Norwich Union and others are prepared to offer..
Obviously there's no such thing as a free lunch and I'd expected to "lose" say 20-25% of the market value in return for a cash lump sum yet still being able to remain in the property. However it appears that, depending on certain variables, the "going rate" Equity Release providers offer is around 35% of the market value of one's home!
What I need is a plan to release around 130k from a mortgage-free property valued at 220k.
I've read about "sell & rent back" plans which seem to offer a greater percentage of the market value (75-90% is claimed) albeit that rent would then be payable on the property. The concern here is that none of the providers I've seen seem to offer concrete guarantees that you will be allowed to remain in the property indefinitely.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Stephen