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Hero Images/Getty Images August 08, 2022 Mia Taylor is a contributor to Bankrate and an award-winning journalist who has two decades of experience and worked as a staff reporter or contributor for some of the nation's leading newspapers and websites including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the San Diego Union-Tribune, TheStreet, MSN and Credit.com. Bankrate senior editor for mortgages Bill McGuire has been writing and editing for more than four decades at major newspapers, magazines and websites. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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What are the requirements for a reverse mortgage
There are a variety of requirements and eligibility guidelines to meet to qualify for a HECM reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgage age requirements
First and foremost, the homeowner must be 62 or older. This is true for government-sponsored home equity conversion mortgages and most private reverse mortgages. However, a small number of lenders may offer options for people as young as 55. Additional requirements
Beyond the age requirements, for reverse mortgages, you must meet these requirements. The home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage on must be your primary residence. That means it must be the address where you spend the majority of the calendar year. You must either own the home outright or have a very low balance on the home when applying for a HECM reverse mortgage. A common requirement is 50 percent equity or more. Those who still have a mortgage balance must be in a position to pay off that balance when closing on the reverse mortgage. You cannot be delinquent on any federal debt. This would include income taxes or federal student loans. However, it’s important to note that you may use funds from a reverse mortgage to pay off such debts. You must be willing to set aside some of the reverse mortgage funds at closing (or have enough of your own money) to pay for items such as property taxes and insurance, as well as home maintenance and repair costs. To get approved for a reverse mortgage, your house must also be in good shape, and you must participate in counseling that’s provided by a HUD-approved reverse mortgage counseling agency. During the counseling session, an agent will review your eligibility for a reverse mortgage and also discuss the financial ramifications. For instance, those who take out a reverse mortgage loan when they’re too young risk running out of money later in life, during a time when it’s likely income will be lower and healthcare bills may be steeper.
Alternatives to reverse mortgages for those that don t qualify
If you’re looking to turn your home equity into funds but can’t qualify for a reverse mortgage due to age or other restrictions, you do have some options. Home equity loan
If you need a lump sum of cash for a specific expense, you can access your home equity by getting a home equity loan. These aren’t very flexible, but they can be a low-cost way to borrow even for younger homeowners who have sufficient equity. Cash-out refinance
Cash-out refinancing, like a home equity loan, lets you turn your home equity into cash you can use for other purposes. However, instead of multiple loan payments, you refinance your entire mortgage and have just one payment. This can also help you reduce your interest rate and adjust the loan’s term. Home equity line of credit
The most flexible option is a home equity line of credit (HELOC). With a HELOC, you can draw funds from your equity only when you need to, which could be appealing to people who were seeking out a reverse mortgage for more income flexibility.
Cost of a reverse mortgage
A reverse mortgage is not free money — interest and fees will be added to your mortgage balance each month. That means the amount you owe on your mortgage will go up when signing on for this type of loan. In addition, the borrower is still required to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance. “The major benefit of a reverse mortgage is the cash flow benefit of eliminating the monthly mortgage payment, as well as accessing equity in the form of a line of credit or lump sum payment,” says David Reyes, financial advisor with Reyes Financial Architecture. Many financial experts suggest treating reverse mortgages as a last resort, since it often doesn’t make financial sense to sacrifice home equity for income. “Overall, a reverse mortgage should be considered as part of a retirement plan for seniors,” says Reyes. “In some cases, the senior may only eliminate their monthly mortgage payments. In other cases, depending on their equity, they may eliminate their monthly mortgage payment and get access (to a) considerable amount of cash. In other situations, with a home that’s free and clear, the homeowner or senior can have access to a large line of credit that can be tapped into when the need arises.” How the money is paid out
The loan amount available through a reverse mortgage depends on the age of the borrower (or the age of the youngest spouse when there’s a couple), as well as the home’s appraised value, current interest rates, and in the case of the HECM program, the FHA lending limit of $970,800in 2022. There’s a variety of choices when it comes to how borrowers receive payments from a HECM reverse mortgage. Options include: Line of credit
A line of credit can be accessed when money is needed. Accessing the money will typically require submitting a written request to the loan servicer. Term payments
With this option, borrowers receive fixed monthly payments for a specified length of time, such as five years. During this time, the amount of cash the borrower receives each month won’t change. This is true even if the home loses value during the payment timeline. Tenure payments
Borrowers will receive fixed monthly payments for as long as they live in the home as their primary residence. The payments will continue even if the loan surpasses the value of the home. The payments end when the borrower dies or leaves the home. Some of the additional options include Modified Term/Line of Credit, a type of hybrid payout in which the borrower gets both a line of credit and fixed monthly payments for a specific timeline. Similarly, a Modified Tenure/Line of Credit provides the borrower with a line of credit and fixed monthly payments as long as the home is their primary residence. Through a reverse mortgage, it’s also possible to request a single disbursement or lump sum. This option means all of the loan proceeds are provided to the borrower at closing.
Repayment of a reverse mortgage
The borrower is not required to loan until the home is sold, vacated or the last surviving borrower dies. However, if the home at some point is no longer your primary residence, you will be required to pay back the loan. In addition, you may also be required to pay back the loan sooner if: You fail to pay the property taxes or homeowners insurance You don’t keep the home in good condition Proprietary reverse mortgages
While HECM reverse mortgages account for more than 90 percent of all reverse mortgages made in the U.S., there’s a growing market for what’s known as a proprietary reverse mortgage, which is privately insured by the mortgage companies that offer them, says Hicks. “Proprietary reverse mortgages generally have higher loan limits (typically up to $4 million) and greater flexibility with property types,” Hicks explains. Proprietary reverse mortgages also come with many of the same consumer protections associated with the HECM program, such as mandatory counseling.
Shopping for a reverse mortgage
It’s always a good idea to do your research and shop around when considering a loan of any type, including a reverse mortgage. When shopping, compare fees and interest rates from multiple lenders to ensure you are getting the best deal possible for your financial situation. SHARE: Mia Taylor is a contributor to Bankrate and an award-winning journalist who has two decades of experience and worked as a staff reporter or contributor for some of the nation's leading newspapers and websites including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the San Diego Union-Tribune, TheStreet, MSN and Credit.com. Bankrate senior editor for mortgages Bill McGuire has been writing and editing for more than four decades at major newspapers, magazines and websites. Related Articles