Housing repair grants and other miscellaneous grants usually do not have to be paid off. Any mortgages or federal liens must be paid off prior to or at the closing of your reverse mortgage. This includes, but is not limited to mortgages, a home equity line of credit, and property tax liens.

The original loan amount, plus accrued interest, will be paid once you sell or no longer occupy the residence.

Reverse mortgages are considered non-recourse loans meaning you cannot owe more than the value of your home. Your assets and your heirs’ assets are never taken into account when it comes to lending a reverse mortgage. Your home serves as the only collateral.

Once you no longer occupy the residence, your estate will repay the loan balance with proceeds from the sale of the property or by refinancing the transaction. In the first case, the estate will retain any additional proceeds from the sale. If your estate decides to refinance, they will retain the home and any additional equity.

The Internal Revenue Service considers your reverse mortgage loan proceeds advances and not taxable income.

It never hurts to check with a local real estate agent or appraiser to give you an estimate on the value for little to no charge. To play it safe, you can check the taxable value online in many counties. The tax assessment is a good starting point, but it may not accurately reflect current market conditions. A full interior/exterior appraisal will be ordered after application to nail down a specific amount.

Homes placed in a “living trust” may qualify for a reverse mortgage. The “living trust” documents will be reviewed by a real estate attorney for approval.

As Power of Attorney, you will be able to be the main contact person, but the homeowner listed on the title must attend counseling and sign the application documents. The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the homeowner to act on their own behalf unless they have a doctor’s note citing mental incompetency based for a specific condition.

The homeowner will be responsible for paying his/her own taxes and insurance premiums. In the case the homeowner does not have an insurance policy on the house, we will help with setting one up prior to closing.

The typical amount of time from application to closing for a reverse mortgage is 30 to 45 days.

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Rates are determined weekly based on the information found below. There are three main reverse mortgage products, each with different rate characteristics:

1. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (Monthly Adjustable)
   • 1-year treasury bill + margin (1.50)
   • No monthly/annual cap
   • Lifetime cap = 10% above initial rate
2. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (Annually Adjustable)
   • 1-year treasury bill + margin (3.10)
   • 2% annual cap increase
   • Lifetime cap = 5% above initial rate
3. Fannie Mae Homekeeper Reverse Mortgage
   • 1-month CD index + margin (3.40)
   • No monthly/annual cap
   • Lifetime cap = 12% above initial rate.

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A reverse mortgage is a type of a home loan for homeowners ages 62 and up. With a reverse mortgage, homeowners are able to convert parts of their home equity into cash with no monthly payments. Designed to help retirees, this home loan helps supplement limited incomes using the accumulation of wealth within the retiree’s homes, helping to pay monthly living expenses. Typically, the borrower makes payments to the lender. However, in the case of the reverse mortgage, the lender makes payments to the borrower.

To receive the most common type of reverse mortgage, the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), you must be granted approval by the Federal Housing Administration, also known as the FHA. As a result, you will want to select an FHA-approved lender. To find an FHA-approved lender, use the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

An HECM loan is a loan for retirees over the age of 62 years of age who want to use the equity of their homes as a source of income to spend on anything they choose. With an HECM loan, retirees are able to add an additional revenue source without having to make monthly mortgage payments. For more information on HECM loans, visit our website here.

Typically, the process takes approximately 30-60 days. However, depending on a variety of factors, such as the speed in which both the lender and borrower complete the necessary paperwork and requirements, this number may vary.

Fortunately, the answer is “yes.” With most mortgage loans, there is a period called the “right of rescission” in which you are allowed to change their mind and back out after signing the reverse mortgage paperwork, with no fees or penalties. To change the reverse mortgage, all you have to do is alert the lender to let them know you changed your mind about the reverse mortgage. At that time, the lender is required to cancel all loan documents, returning all fees, closing costs, and unused funds back to you within 20 business days.

If the 3 day rescission period has passed, you can still get out of the reverse mortgage, although it will be much more complicated. The three ways to do this in ascending order of best to worst options are:

1. Repay the loan balance in full.
2. Sell your home and use the money gained to pay off the reverse mortgage.
3. Refinance the loan into a conventional mortgage.