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Low Demand for Reverse Mortgages in Canada: Price, Knowledge or Preferences?

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  • Ismaël Choinière Crèvecoeur
  • Pierre-Carl Michaud

Abstract

High borrowing costs, limited knowledge and preferences could explain why few Canadians purchase reverse mortgages, an asset decumulation product that is appealing to those who are house-rich but cash-poor. In this paper, we first use an asset pricing model to calculate the actuarial fair costs of guarantees built into reverse mortgage products in Canada and compare those estimates to prevailing interest rates in the market for these products. We also investigate whether Canadians understand reverse mortgages and whether low demand originates on the preference side by conducting a stated-preference experiment with 3000 Canadians. We manipulate characteristics of reverse mortgages, including the interest rate, to tease out how sensitive Canadians are to these characteristics. Our results suggest that observed interest rates are high relative to actuarially fair rates and that consumers are somewhat price sensitive in addition to demonstrating little knowledge of these products and low demand overall.

Suggested Citation

  • Ismaël Choinière Crèvecoeur & Pierre-Carl Michaud, 2021. "Low Demand for Reverse Mortgages in Canada: Price, Knowledge or Preferences?," Cahiers de recherche / Working Papers 2107, Chaire de recherche sur les enjeux économiques intergénérationnels / Research Chair in Intergenerational Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:rsi:creeic:2107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sharon S Yang, 2011. "Securitisation and Tranching Longevity and House Price Risk for Reverse Mortgage Products," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 36(4), pages 648-674, October.
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    3. Shao, Adam W. & Hanewald, Katja & Sherris, Michael, 2015. "Reverse mortgage pricing and risk analysis allowing for idiosyncratic house price risk and longevity risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 76-90.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hambel, Christoph & Kraft, Holger & Meyer-Wehmann, André, 2023. "When should retirees tap their home equity?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Hambel, Christoph & Kraft, Holger & Meyer-Wehmann, André, 2023. "When should retirees tap their home equity?," Other publications TiSEM e3ca270a-8fec-4000-a3ab-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    reverse mortgages; savings; retirement planning; insurance.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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