How to Qualify for a Reverse Mortgage: Key Requirements Explained
Michael G. Branson, CEO of All Reverse Mortgage, Inc., and moderator of ARLO™, has 45 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry. He has devoted the past 20 years to reverse mortgages exclusively. (License: NMLS# 14040) |
All Reverse Mortgage's editing process includes rigorous fact-checking led by industry experts to ensure all content is accurate and current. This article has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by Cliff Auerswald, President and co-creator of ARLO™. (License: NMLS# 14041) |
If you’re considering a reverse mortgage, you must meet specific qualifications. In this article, we will discuss the requirements for obtaining a federally insured reverse mortgage.
We’ll highlight the key differences between government-insured and private programs and provide guidance on how to best prepare if you decide that a reverse mortgage is right for you.
Credit Considerations for Reverse Mortgages
While your home equity is crucial, it’s not the only factor in obtaining a reverse mortgage. Your overall debt and credit history also play significant roles.
Credit History Matters
Your credit history is important. If you’ve had issues with late or unpaid bills, such as credit cards, home loans, or other types of debts, this could impact your eligibility for a reverse mortgage. If you’ve been late on important payments like taxes, insurance, or homeowners association fees in the last two years, you may still qualify, but the lender might need to set aside part of your loan to cover these future bills. This arrangement, known as a Life Expectancy Set Aside (LESA), ensures these costs are paid on time using funds from your reverse mortgage.
In some cases, if your payment history has been inconsistent, lenders might advise you to improve it before reapplying to increase your chances of approval.
Current Mortgage Balance
The amount you currently owe on your home mortgage is also a key factor. If you still have a significant mortgage balance, the reverse mortgage must be large enough to pay it off. If not, you would need to contribute the difference in cash when closing the loan.
HUD requires lenders to perform a financial assessment to determine if you can manage ongoing property expenses like taxes and insurance after getting the reverse mortgage. The goal is to ensure that the reverse mortgage is sustainable and that you can comfortably live in your home without financial strain.
How to Meet Income Requirements for a Reverse Mortgage
Income Sources
As many applicants for reverse mortgages are retired or nearing retirement, full-time job income is less common. However, income sources like Social Security, part-time work, and rental income are all considered during the application process.
Income Assessment
Reverse mortgages differ from traditional loans in how they assess your financial eligibility. Instead of using debt-to-income ratios, reverse mortgages focus on your residual income.
Residual Income
Residual income is what remains from your monthly income after you’ve paid all your monthly bills, such as housing costs, other debts, and utilities. The lender will evaluate this amount to determine if you have enough left to comfortably cover your living expenses. HUD adjusts the required amount of residual income based on your location and family size because the cost of living and expenses can vary greatly—for example, supporting a family of four or living in California requires more monthly income than supporting a single person in Mississippi.
It’s worth noting that those interested in non-governmental, jumbo, or private reverse mortgage programs will generally need to demonstrate solid credit and reliable income to qualify.
LESA Explained
Income and Credit Challenges
Sometimes, not having enough monthly income to cover ongoing property expenses can prevent approval for a reverse mortgage. However, a solution known as Life Expectancy Set Aside (LESA) can help. By setting aside funds from the loan to cover taxes and insurance, it reduces the monthly financial burden, making it easier to meet qualification requirements.
What is a LESA?
LESA is designed to help applicants qualify by using reverse mortgage funds to cover essential property charges, effectively augmenting their income. This is particularly useful for applicants whose income is below the required threshold or those who have credit issues that might increase their risk of defaulting on property taxes and insurance.
Why a LESA?
HUD’s goal is to ensure that reverse mortgages benefit those who are truly in need and can sustainably manage their expenses with the loan. If a reverse mortgage doesn’t significantly improve a borrower’s financial stability, it’s better for them to consider downsizing or other housing options while they can still fully benefit from their home equity rather than depleting it and facing potential displacement later.
How the LESA Works
LESA calculates the expected costs for taxes and insurance over your life expectancy and reserves funds from your loan to cover these expenses annually. This preventive measure is crucial as failing to keep up with these payments can jeopardize the loan’s status. It’s important for borrowers to consider that if they outlive the funds set aside in LESA, they may need to resume paying these charges out of pocket. Planning for this eventuality by saving during the years LESA covers payments can provide a safety net.
Choosing a LESA
For some, LESA is mandatory, but it’s also an optional safeguard for any borrower who values peace of mind regarding their property charges. Before opting for LESA, understand how it affects your available loan amount and consider the commitment carefully; once established, reversing the decision generally requires refinancing. Discuss with your lender how LESA will impact your reverse mortgage proceeds and review all terms before finalizing your decision.
Note: LESA is not available with private or jumbo reverse mortgages.
Understanding Property Standards for Reverse Mortgage Eligibility
Home Qualifications
To qualify for a reverse mortgage, your home must meet certain standards outlined in the HUD property manual. These standards ensure that the home is primarily residential and not used for agricultural or commercial purposes. For instance, homes on agricultural land or in commercial zones are not eligible. It’s essential to discuss these specifics with your loan originator if your home serves non-residential functions.
HUD’s program is open to properties with 1-4 family units, provided you live in the primary unit. There are also specific rules for manufactured homes and condominiums. Not all condominiums qualify; they must be part of a HUD-approved project. If you own a higher-valued condominium that isn’t HUD-approved, private reverse mortgage programs might be an option, although these still require lender approval.
FHA General Property Requirements
Your home must also adhere to the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) property standards, which are largely focused on safety and maintenance. Common issues that might need addressing include a faulty roof, peeling paint, missing smoke detectors, or improperly secured water heaters. Some repairs can be minor and addressed easily, while others might be more significant and require completion before or even after your loan closes, using funds specifically set aside for repairs.
There are also stringent requirements regarding the property’s location and features. For example, homes too close to gasoline tanks, under high voltage wires, without a permanent water source, or lacking adequate heating in colder regions might not qualify. Sometimes, issues like zoning restrictions only come to light during the appraisal process and can disqualify a property.
Safety Concerns
If an appraisal identifies any issues that could pose a health or safety risk, such as fire hazards or structural dangers like missing stairs, these repairs will likely need to be completed before you can close on your loan.
Read more: Reverse Mortgage Property Requirements (Updated 2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Percentage of Equity is Required to Qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?
The amount of equity you need to qualify for a reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including the age of the youngest borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse and the current interest rates at the time of application.
For a typical 62-year-old borrower, the loan-to-value ratio — which indicates the percentage of your home’s value that you can borrow against — starts at about 37%. This percentage increases slightly with each year of age, capping at 72% for those aged 92 or older.
If a spouse is under the age of 62, they can still be included in the reverse mortgage agreement, but the loan amount available will be lower based on the age of the youngest eligible spouse.
Jumbo or Private Programs
For homes valued significantly above the HUD maximum lending limit, currently set at $1,149,875, jumbo or private reverse mortgage programs might be suitable. These programs generally offer lower loan-to-value ratios but can still provide a substantial loan amount due to the higher overall value of the home. Jumbo programs can start at age 55 in some states, though others may require the borrower to be at least 62, depending on state regulations.
Who is Not Eligible for a Reverse Mortgage?
Eligibility for a reverse mortgage is determined by several key factors:
- Age: You must meet the minimum age requirement to qualify for a reverse mortgage, which is typically 62 years old.
- Primary Residence: The property must be your primary residence, meaning you live there most of the year.
- Credit: Good credit is important, though it’s possible to qualify with less-than-perfect credit if you have sufficient equity in your home to cover a life expectancy set aside (LESA). This set aside helps manage the ongoing costs of taxes and insurance.
- Equity: You need enough equity in your home to either pay off existing mortgages or have the financial capacity to cover the difference at closing.
If you don’t meet these criteria, you may not be eligible for a reverse mortgage.
Are There Income Requirements for a Reverse Mortgage?
Yes, there are income requirements for obtaining a reverse mortgage. To qualify, you must meet the minimum residual income requirement specific to the type of reverse mortgage you are applying for and the number of people living in your home.
Understanding Residual Income
Residual income is the money you have left each month after paying all your debts and living expenses. This method of assessing income eligibility is generally more forgiving than the traditional debt-to-income ratios used in standard mortgages.
Example:
- Monthly Expenses: $2,000
- Monthly Income: $3,000
- Debt Ratio: 67%
- Residual Income: $1,000
In this example, while the debt ratio might disqualify you for a traditional mortgage, the $1,000 residual income would make you eligible for a reverse mortgage. This illustrates how reverse mortgages are often accessible to those who might not qualify for other types of home loans due to the different criteria used to evaluate financial stability.
What Credit Score is Needed for a Reverse Mortgage?
There is no specific minimum credit score required for a government-insured reverse mortgage (HECM). Instead of focusing on a credit score, the eligibility criteria emphasize an applicant’s overall credit history, particularly how reliably they have made payments in the past.
This approach allows for a more comprehensive assessment of a borrower’s financial behavior, ensuring that those with a strong payment history are considered, even if their overall credit score isn’t high.
Who Determines the Guidelines for a Reverse Mortgage?
The guidelines for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, a type of reverse mortgage, are primarily established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD creates the foundational rules that all lenders must follow.
Lender Requirements: While HUD sets the core guidelines, each lender has the authority to establish their own specific underwriting criteria within the framework provided by HUD. This means that while all lenders must adhere to HUD’s strict rules, such as using HUD’s Electronic Appraisal Delivery system for appraisals, they have some flexibility in areas like income underwriting.
Enforcement: It is crucial for lenders approved by HUD to ensure their underwriting processes comply with HUD standards. If the underwriting does not meet HUD’s criteria, HUD can refuse to insure the loan. This is particularly important for aspects like condominium approvals, which must align with HUD’s approved list—a mandatory rule.
Private or Jumbo Programs: For private or jumbo reverse mortgage programs, the guidelines and lending requirements are set entirely by the lenders who offer these products, independent of HUD rules.
Does Your Mortgage Need to Be Paid in Full to Qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?
No, your existing mortgage does not need to be fully paid off to qualify for a reverse mortgage. In fact, many borrowers use the funds from a reverse mortgage to pay off their existing mortgage balances, thus eliminating monthly mortgage payments.
Financial Assessment and Payment History
HUD conducts a financial assessment when evaluating borrowers for a reverse mortgage. If you have had any late payments on your mortgage, taxes, insurance, or homeowners association (HOA) dues within the past 24 months, you might be required to set aside funds specifically to cover future tax and insurance payments. This is known as a Life Expectancy Set Aside (LESA).
Impact of LESA
The amount required for LESA can vary significantly based on several factors:
- Age: Younger borrowers in their early 60s may face a substantial LESA if their taxes and insurance costs are high.
- Taxes and Insurance Costs: A smaller LESA might be needed if these costs are low or if the borrower is older.
It’s important to inform your lender about any late payments related to property charges early in the process. This transparency allows them to provide a more accurate estimate of what you can expect from your reverse mortgage, ensuring there are no surprises regarding the final loan amount after accounting for any necessary LESA.
HUD/FHA Qualification-Resources:
October 17th, 2024
October 17th, 2024
October 4th, 2024
October 7th, 2024
April 11th, 2022
April 19th, 2022
January 17th, 2022
June 6th, 2024
June 8th, 2024
February 15th, 2021
February 18th, 2021
May 7th, 2020
May 11th, 2020
June 29th, 2017
June 29th, 2017