Introduction
Reverse Mortgages in Australia and New Zealand 2005 updates Datamonitor's coverage of the Australian market and for the first time covers the market in New Zealand. It explains why there is interest in the product. It then profiles competitors in Australia and New Zealand. Finally, the report presents Datamonitor's opinion on the future of reverse mortgages in Australia and New Zealand.
Scope of this report
- Covers reverse mortgage markets in Australia and New Zealand with supplementary coverage of markets in the UK, the US and Canada
- Profiles competitors including Australian Seniors Finance, Bluestone Equity Release, Commonwealth Bank, St George, Sentinel and Lifestyle Security
- Based on interviews with executives working in the reverse mortgage industry in Australia and New Zealand
- Also covers home reversion and shared equity products offered to retirees and first time buyers
Research and analysis highlights
Increased interest in reverse mortgages must be placed in the context of wider use of home equity. In recent years home equity has become much more accessible. Rather than seeing equity only as a 'stock' to be built up over time consumers see home equity as a 'flow' to be tapped as and when required or used to improve terms offered by a lender.
Although the St George Seniors Access Home Loan is a flexible product and is now more accessible than it was in early 2004 it remains a conservative product offering a low maximum loan amount and loan to value ratio. Even the minimum age limit is far from the lowest on the market with several players willing to lend to those aged 60 and over.
The average advance on a reverse mortgage will never be as large as that on a standard mortgage loan. However, as consumers regard reverse mortgages in a more positive light, retirees become less debt adverse and they incorporate reverse mortgages into their financial planning decisions they will be happier to borrow more.
Key reasons to read this report
- Learn about reverse mortgage products currently offered on the Australian and New Zealand markets
- Learn about possible product enhancements based on experience in the UK, the US and Canada
- Identify ways to maximise the effectiveness of your reverse mortgage distribution strategy
Reverse Mortgages in Australia and New Zealand 2005 updates Datamonitor's coverage of the Australian market and for the first time covers the market in New Zealand.