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After retirement, without regular income, you may sometimes struggle with finances. If you’re a homeowner, a reverse mortgage is one option that may help you manage your financial challenges.
What is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a home loan that allows homeowners 62 and older to withdraw some of their home equity and convert it into cash. You don’t have to pay taxes on the proceeds or make monthly mortgage payments.
How people use reverse mortgages
You can use reverse mortgage proceeds however you like. They’re often earmarked for expenses such as:
Helping children with college
Buying another home that might better meet your needs as you age
Advantages and disadvantages of reverse mortgages
Your heirs won’t have to repay the loan
The fees cost thousands of dollars
The loan gives you financial wiggle room
The loan reduces your equity in your home
An eligible surviving spouse can stay in the home
You could lose your home if you don’t pay property taxes and insurance
How do reverse mortgages work?
A reverse mortgage is the opposite of a traditional home loan; instead of paying a lender a monthly payment each month, the lender pays you. You still have to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance and other related costs, or you could risk foreclosure.
The sum you receive in a reverse mortgage is based on a sliding scale of life expectancy. The older you are, the more home equity you can pull out.
Two kinds of reverse mortgages
The Federal Housing Administration insures two reverse mortgage types: adjustable-rate and a fixed-rate.
Fixed-rate reverse mortgages consist of a one-time lump sum payment.
2. Adjustables have five payment options:
Tenure: Set monthly payments so long as you or your eligible spouse remain in the home
Term: Set monthly payments for a fixed period
Line of credit: Unspecified payments when you need them, until you’ve exhausted your funds
Modified tenure: A line of credit and set monthly payments for as long as you or your eligible spouse live in the home
Modified term: A line of credit and set monthly payments for a fixed period of your choosing
Am I eligible for a reverse mortgage?
You and/or an eligible spouse — who must be named as such on the loan even if he or she is not a co-borrower — live in the home as your primary residence
You have no delinquent federal debts
You own your home outright or have a considerable amount of equity in it
You attend the mandatory counseling session with a home equity conversion mortgages (HECM) counselor approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Your home meets all FHA property standards and flood requirements
You continue paying all property taxes, homeowners insurance and other household maintenance fees as long as you live in the home
What else you need to know
Before issuing a reverse mortgage, a lender will check your credit history, verify your monthly income versus your monthly financial obligations and order an appraisal on your home.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends waiting until you’re older to obtain a reverse mortgage so you don’t run out of money too early into retirement.
Nearly all reverse mortgages are issued as home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs), which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. HECMs come with stringent borrowing guidelines and a loan limit.
If you think a reverse mortgage might be right for you, find an HECM counselor or call 800-569-4287 toll-free to learn more about this financing option. If you decide to apply for a reverse mortgage, you can contact an FHA-approved lender.
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