A reverse mortgage can be a viable solution for the right homeowner—primarily seeking a way to age in place effectively.

These loans are available to people age 62 or older who have built up a substantial amount of home equity and allow borrowers to generate additional cash flow in retirement.  However, a reverse mortgage can be the wrong decision in some circumstances.

Here are some telltale signs a reverse mortgage may be a bad idea:

ARLO teaching good vs bad

Top 4 Warning Signs a Reverse Mortgage May Be a Bad Idea

Warning SignExplanationConsideration
You intend to move in the near futureLoan becomes due when you move out or pass away, making it impractical for short-term residency plans.Consider a reverse mortgage for home purchase later if relocating, to avoid multiple closing costs.
You can’t maintain your home physicallyFHA requires property maintenance; inability to upkeep may lead to loan default.Proceeds can fund maintenance, but assess if staying in the home is viable long-term.
Your spouse doesn’t qualifyNon-borrowing spouse can stay after borrower’s passing but can’t access remaining loan proceeds.Evaluate if the non-borrowing spouse can manage without access to funds post-borrower’s departure.
Pressure from a broker or investment pushBrokers shouldn’t pressure you or push investments; this is a red flag for unethical practices.Seek a trusted, unbiased advisor to ensure the decision aligns with your financial goals.

You intend to move closer to family a few years later.

If you want to move in the near term, whether closer to family or to a residence better equipped for aging, taking out a reverse mortgage today may not be the best idea.  The loan becomes due and payable as soon as the borrower moves from the home or passes away, so if you have plans to move in the next few years, you may want to also wait on getting the reverse mortgage.

A reverse mortgage type is available, the reverse mortgage for home purchase, which allows a borrower to take out a reverse mortgage and purchase a new home within a single transaction.  This may be a solution when the time comes to move, and it’s a way to avoid paying two sets of closing costs for the purchase and the new reverse mortgage.

You aren’t physically able to maintain your home.

One requirement of a government-insured reverse mortgage is property maintenance.  Like any Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgage, a reverse mortgage specifies that the home must be maintained to FHA’s standards.

If you have mobility challenges and cannot maintain your home, it may be worth considering whether there is a better option.  However, it’s also important to note that reverse mortgage proceeds can be used however the borrower chooses, including property maintenance.

Your spouse lives with you but does not qualify for a reverse mortgage.

HUD Changed its rules in 2014 so that if your spouse is not 62 when you obtain a reverse mortgage, you can still get the loan in the older spouse’s name only.  The younger spouse is no longer forced to leave home at the time of passing of the older spouse, provided that the younger spouse was a non-borrowing spouse when the loan was initially taken out (this would not be the case with a spouse who married after the loan was already in place) and that the spouse still resided in the home.

The title is passed to the remaining spouse.  Because they are no longer forced to leave, the younger spouse’s age will be considered to determine the benefit, and borrowers with younger spouses will receive less money.

Homeowners need to remember that the non-borrowing spouse, while protected from having to move in the event of the passing of the borrowing spouse, is not a party to the loan and, therefore, does not have all the rights of a borrower on the transaction.

In other words, if there is still a line of credit available of $100,000 when the older, borrowing spouse permanently leaves home, the younger, non-borrowing spouse does not have access to the funds on the line of credit.  Since they were never borrowed, they would not be owed to the lender, but the remaining spouse would be unable to access and use the funds.

Borrowers who know that the remaining spouse absolutely cannot maintain the home and their living expenses without the benefit of the reverse mortgage proceeds may need to think twice about whether or not this is a good loan for them (especially if other benefits such as pensions or retirement income from a spouse who has passed also cease and they cannot access reverse mortgage proceeds)

You’re getting pressure from a broker or being encouraged to invest your reverse mortgage proceeds.

A broker or lender should never try to influence your financial decision, and people licensed to broker reverse mortgages are prohibited from selling other financial products, such as annuities.  If you are receiving this kind of pressure from someone, it should be a red flag to seek another perspective and contact a trusted resource for more information.

If none of these situations apply to you, a reverse mortgage may be a good idea.

Top FAQs

Q.

Do people lose their homes with a reverse mortgage?

A Reverse mortgage is a loan, and the borrower has obligations to keep the loan in good standing.  The property must be your primary residence, and you must pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance and keep the home reasonably.  Failure to meet these obligations could result in the loan being called due and payable, with the possibility of losing your home at a foreclosure sale.

Q.

Who benefits most from a reverse mortgage?

The borrower on the reverse mortgage benefits most from the loan program.  The reverse mortgage allows a homeowner age 62 or older to borrow money without the burden of a mandatory monthly mortgage payment, allowing them to remain in their home.

Q.

What are common mistakes when people use reverse mortgages?

Some of the most common mistakes center around the timing of obtaining the reverse mortgage and utilization of the available proceeds.  When it comes to the proceeds, the biggest mistake is when a homeowner spends the available proceeds too quickly, leaving them with insufficient funds to access later in life.  Regarding the timing of obtaining a reverse mortgage, there is such a thing as waiting too long to obtain one.  Given their financial situation, many homeowners will wait until it is or almost is too late to apply for the loan.  The reverse mortgage should be a consideration early in the retirement planning process.  A reverse mortgage with a low balance and larger line of credit will benefit significantly from the line of credit growth rate, providing even more available proceeds down the road.

Q.

Are there any reverse mortgage nightmare stories?

The only nightmare stories we tend to hear involve heirs to a property unaware that the now-deceased relative took out a reverse mortgage.  The surprise and confusion about what to do lead to added stress on the heir.
Q.

Who are reverse mortgages NOT suitable for?

Reverse mortgages are unsuitable for homeowners looking for a short-term solution.  The reverse mortgage is intended to be the last loan you will ever need on your home, and it is a higher upfront cost loan due to the mortgage insurance.  The reverse mortgage is a bad option if you want to obtain a small amount of funds for some home improvements to sell your home and relocate.
Curious How Much You Can Get? Find out with a custom reverse mortgage quote from All Reverse Mortgage—America’s #1 with a 4.99/5-star rating! Call (800) 565-1722 or click here for your free quote —simple, trusted, 100% secure!

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