In this article, you’ll learn:

  • How to eliminate your monthly forward mortgage payment with a reverse mortgage
  • What expenses will you still be accountable for after eliminating your mortgage payment
  • How can you still make payments whenever you choose
  • How to get the best deal & highest principal lending limit

The ability to tap into the value of your home by turning its equity into cash can be a powerful tool for someone trying to find a way to expand their financial options for a whole host of reasons. This can naturally lead to questions that could apply to someone’s previously existing traditional or ‘forward’ mortgage.

One of those major questions can be:

If I still have a traditional mortgage I haven’t paid off, can I get a reverse mortgage?

Not only can you potentially get a reverse mortgage if you still have an outstanding traditional mortgage, but you might be surprised to learn that one of the major reasons a senior even bothers with a reverse mortgage in the first place is to eliminate their previously existing forward mortgage payment.

A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage takes the first lien position on the property, so any other mortgages must be paid off to close the reverse mortgage.

The key has enough home equity to qualify.

For some, this means a home that is paid off in full. For others, it may just be having a mortgage balance that is low enough relative to the value of the home.

How to Get a Reverse Mortgage if You Still Owe on Your Home

2024 Reverse Mortgage Eligibility and Benefits by Age

Age of BorrowerPrincipal Limit FactorCurrent Lending Limit
6236.3%$1,149,825
6538.4%$1,149,825
7042.0%$1,149,825
7544.9%$1,149,825
8049.3%$1,149,825
8555.4%$1,149,825
9062.3%$1,149,825
*Principal Limit Factors taken from HUD.gov using an example expected rate of 5.905%. To arrive at your NET principal limit, you must deduct reverse mortgage costs, including upfront insurance (approx. 3%). PLF tables source: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/august2017plftables.xls

The burden of a forward mortgage payment for retirees

Forward, or “traditional,” mortgage payments represent a severe financial burden for anyone who has one, whether for new homeowners still in the middle of their working lives or seniors in or nearing retirement.

Still, having a traditional mortgage payment in retirement tends to hit seniors much harder than their younger counterparts because seniors often live on a fixed income from accounts like 401Ks or IRAs and Social Security benefits.

Many seniors can only count on their Social Security benefits, making the burden of a forward mortgage more painful to bear.

sign that says peace of mind

More financial peace of mind

Replacing your forward mortgage with a reverse mortgage means the need to make that monthly forward mortgage payment is gone. Reverse mortgages do not require monthly mortgage payments as long as you live in the home as your primary residence and maintain it in line with the guidelines presented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Staying current on your property taxes and homeowners’ insurance would be best. Leveraging a reverse mortgage can allow you to relieve a lot of financial stress by saying goodbye to the constant necessity of needing to make your monthly mortgage payment.

Eliminating that part of your monthly expenses can allow you to plan ahead for other unexpected fees if they come up or free up more cash for you to do other important things.

Still want to make payments? You can.

Because a reverse mortgage is a “negatively amortizing” loan, its balance grows over the life of the loan. Like with any loan, interest accrues over time. Some people do not know that even once a reverse mortgage is in place, you can still make payments toward the loan balance.

Borrowers always have the option to make payments as they would like if they are able. Some borrowers who work on commission, such as Realtors, even approach the reverse mortgage to make payments when they receive commissions.

This enables them to keep the loan balance lower than if they made no payments.

reverse mortgage advice

Pro Tips

Before signing up for any reverse mortgage, pay close attention to the lender’s closing costs and interest rates! Sadly, many seniors apply with celebrity advertisers seen on TV when they should be shopping multiple sources for the best deal.

Shop the Rate

Reverse Mortgage lenders set their own margins and interest rates. The lower the interest rate at the time of application, the more cash proceeds become available to YOU!  This is one little-known secret to receiving the largest principal lending limit.

Ignore the Rhetoric

Ignore sales pitches that include “We’re the largest” and “We’re —–” Blah! FHA is the largest and the one that backs your federally insured loan, NOT the loan originator.

Take advantage of ARLO, the All Reverse Loan Optimizer, which can help you shop around for the best rates and products to find one that fits your financial situation best.