A reverse mortgage is a form of mortgage loan for senior citizens. Unlike conventional mortgages, they do not require periodic payments from homeowners. Instead, the refinance reverse mortgage company pays the borrower either monthly, through a line of credit, or in a single fixed sum at closing.
These loans are typically reserved for debtors 62 and older, although some lenders accept applicants as young as 55. Frequently, homeowners utilize them to reduce their monthly housing costs or increase their retirement income.
Continue reading to learn more about reverse mortgages, how they operate, and whether one may be suitable for your financial objectives.
What is the definition of a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a loan that enables senior citizens to borrow a portion of the equity in their property. They then receive the equity in cash, either in a lump sum after closing, in monthly installments, or as required withdrawals.
Reverse mortgages are only due when the borrower dies, moves out of the home for more than a year (unless a co-borrower or eligible spouse resides in the home), sells the property, or ceases paying property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Many senior householders supplement their retirement income with reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages can also help aging-in-place seniors reduce monthly housing costs (there is no longer a monthly payment), increase cash flow, or pay for home repairs or enhancements.
Different types of reverse mortgages
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), proprietary reverse mortgages, and single-purpose reverse mortgages are the three categories of reverse mortgages.
Similar to conventional mortgages, these loans may have either a fixed or variable interest rate. Fixed-rate mortgages provide a fixed interest rate for the duration of the debt. The interest rate on an adjustable-rate reverse mortgage can fluctuate over time.
Let's examine how the three primary varieties of reverse mortgages compare.
Mortgage-to-equity conversion (HECM)
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulate the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). They are only offered by HUD-approved lenders.
HECMs provide several payment options:
A single lump-sum payment: After closure, you receive a single large payment in advance. This option is exclusive to reverse mortgages with a fixed interest rate.
Monthly expenses: You receive a monthly payment for a specified number of months (referred to as term payments) or for as long as the home is your primary residence (referred to as tenure payments).
A line of credit consists of: You may withdraw funds as necessary. The unpaid principal balance accrues interest based on your interest rate. For example, if you get a $200,000 line of credit with a 4% interest rate and you don't use the money, the principal loan amount will increase to approximately $300,000 over the next 10 years if you don't use the money. In spite of the fact that you now owe more money than you did at the outset, you will ultimately have access to a larger line of credit. This means that you may obtain a larger sum of money over the life of the loan than you initially requested.
A mixture of the preceding: Additionally, you have the option of combining monthly term or tenure payments with a line of credit. However, you cannot combine the total sum with any other payment method.