A reverse mortgage is a mortgage loan given to senior citizens that seek to utilize the equity in the home to support themselves in their old age. Generally speaking, the loan does not have to be repaid until the last surviving spouse either dies or permanently moves from the home. In the event of the death of the last of the husband and wife to die the estate of the second to die has approximately 6 months to repay the entire balance of the reverse mortgage or take action to sell the home for the purpose of paying off the reverse mortgage. After the reverse mortgage is paid off the rest of the equity derived from the sale of the home becomes an asset of the estate. Should the home be underwater, be worth less than the reverse mortgage, the estate and either the executor or administrator of the estate will have no personal liability with regard to paying off the portion of the reverse mortgage not covered by the sale of the home.

Who Is Entitled to Obtain a Reverse Mortgage?

Eligibility to obtain a reverse mortgage requires all of the homeowners be a minimum of 62 years of age. In addition, all mortgages on the home must be paid off prior to obtaining the reverse mortgage or at the time of obtaining the reverse mortgage. The home must be the primary residence of the individuals seeking to obtain the reverse mortgage. In addition, the homeowners must continue to pay homeowners’ insurance and property taxes of every type and nature that accrue on the home. The taxes can be property taxes, school taxes, town taxes and village taxes.

Loan Amounts

The amount the homeowners can obtain from the reverse mortgage depends on four (4) specific issues: the interest rate at the time of the reverse mortgage loan, the appraised value of the home, the age of the parties seeking to take the loan and the current government imposed lending limits at the time of the loan application.

How Reverse Mortgage Payments are Made

Reverse mortgage payments can be made on a monthly basis for as long as the homeowner lives in the home, for a fixed period of months or the homeowners can take a lump sum out all at once. In addition, the reverse mortgage can create a line of credit the homeowners can access at any time. It is not recommended that the homeowners take the lump sum of all the funds from the reverse mortgage. In these cases the homeowners may not be able down the road to pay at one time the taxes on the home. The non-payment of the property taxes on the home or failure to pay the homeowners insurance is a basis for the financial institution bringing a reverse mortgage foreclosure lawsuit.