If you have been thinking about a reverse mortgage for yourself or a loved one, now may be the time to get started. For many seniors, reverse mortgages make the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement in their home and being dependent on others or barely getting by.

What's a Reverse Mortgage?

Reverse mortgages allow homeowners aged 62 or older to convert a portion of their home equity into cash without having a monthly mortgage payment obligation.* Borrowed funds are repaid when the home is sold, never to exceed 95% of the appraised value at the time of sale – even if more money is owed.

Why consider a Reverse Mortgage?

Reverse mortgage funds are first used to pay any liens on the home, including a regular mortgage or home equity loan. In some cases, a portion of proceeds is withheld or set aside to pay taxes and insurance.

Remaining funds often:

• Offset day-to-day living expenses.
• Cover emergency expenditures, such as car or home repairs.
• Pay for medical costs.
• Provide for in-home care, allowing the owner to remain in their own home longer.

Sometimes, homeowners use a reverse mortgage just to pay off their existing loan. They do not access the remaining funds at all, but they remove the strain of a monthly mortgage payment* from their budget and increase their cash flow. Some seniors use reverse mortgages to purchase a new home without ever incurring a monthly payment.*

Before entering an agreement, borrowers are required to attend a session with an independent HUD-certified* counselor who will fully explain the reverse mortgage process, answer questions, and discuss other available options.

Remember that a reverse mortgage is a loan that will be repaid after your death, after you permanently leave your home, or after the sale of your home. Neither you nor your heirs will be responsible for repaying more than the value of your home at sale.

Basic Reverse Mortgage Requirements for Borrowers

• Borrowers on the home’s title must be at least 62 years old. The older you are, the more funds you can receive from a reverse mortgage
• You must live in your home as your primary residence for the life of the reverse mortgage
• You must own your home outright or have at least 50% equity in your home to be eligible for a reverse mortgage loan
• You must meet with a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved* reverse mortgage counselor prior to applying for a reverse mortgage loan

Basic Reverse Mortgage Property Requirements

• Single-family homes, or 2-to-4 unit properties with one unit occupied by you
• Manufactured homes (built after June 1976) that meet HUD requirements
• Condominiums that are FHA-approved*
• Townhouses

*The homeowner is responsible for paying taxes and insurance and for properly maintaining the home. The home must be used as the homeowner’s primary residence. This ad is not from HUD or FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency. The loan is subject to foreclosure for failure to pay taxes and insurance to maintain the property and insurance and to comply with the terms of the loan.