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Reverse Mortgage: A Quick Guide

Brady Webb
October 6, 2024

In 1961, Nelson Haynes, a banker from Deering Savings and Loan, wanted to save the widow of his high school football coach from further heartache. The widow lost her husband, but she doesn’t have to lose the house too. People believed that his efforts led to the first reverse mortgage.

Mortgages and reverse mortgages have evolved since their inception nearly six decades ago. Both financial products expanded in late 1980 when Congress approved a federally-insured product. Listening to Nelson Haynes’ story might teach you, the reader, more about loans.

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

You might wonder what the differences between a reverse mortgage and other mortgages are. The former is for homeowners who are 62 and older. It allows them against the equity of their homes. Another distinct feature of a reverse mortgage is that the borrower receives funds instead of monthly payments. It causes the loan balance to increase instead of decrease. Some people would also utilize this loan to purchase a home. They do not need to pay anything as long as they live in the house.

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) officially calls reverse mortgages a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan (HECM). This name makes it easier for consumers to understand the purpose of this financial product.

More people are starting to appreciate and utilize HECM since its inception in 1987. In 1999, lenders granted 8,000 loans in total. Ten years later, it went up to 115,000. But there was a slight decline in the 2010s during the housing crisis.

Who is Eligible for a Reverse Mortgage?

We mentioned earlier that this type of mortgage is for 62 years old and older. Other requirements set by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are:

The youngest borrower must be at least 62 years old.
The borrower must own the property outright or pay a considerable amount of the mortgage.
The borrower must occupy the property as the principal residence.
The borrower must not be delinquent on any federal debt.
The borrower must have the financial resources to continue making timely payments of continuous property charges, such as property taxes, insurance, or homeowner association fees.
Lastly, the borrower must participate in a consumer information session with a HUD-approved HECM counselor.

Aside from these, the borrower must meet the housing requirements. Generally, single-family homeowners are the ones eligible for reverse mortgages. But here are other types of homes acceptable for this type of loan:

Your Reverse Mortgage Experts in Florida, Kentucky and Beyond!

With the lending limit on the rise, the proceeds of a mortgage may not be enough to cover the purchase price of your new home. But don’t fret! You can try a reverse mortgage. Unlike typical loans, you would not be burdened by monthly financial payments. Use this guide to see if a reverse mortgage is for you.

If you are looking for a reputable mortgage broker in Louisville, KY, you do not have to look far. At American Mortgage Solutions, we are ready to assist you in the loan process and have licenses to operate in Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, and Colorado. Please give us a call today at (502) 327-9770 to schedule your consultation in Kentucky, or at (239) 766-8344 to schedule your consultation in Florida.

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CONSUMERS WISHING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COMPANY OR A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR SHOULD COMPLETE AND SEND A COMPLAINT FORM TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF SAVINGS AND MORTGAGE LENDING, 2601 NORTH LAMAR, SUITE 201, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705. COMPLAINT FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV. A TOLL-FREE CONSUMER HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE AT 1-877-276-5550.

THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A RECOVERY FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS OF CERTAIN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY BORROWERS CAUSED BY ACTS OF LICENSED RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATORS. A WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE RECOVERY FUND MUST BE FILED WITH AND INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT OF A CLAIM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECOVERY FUND, PLEASE CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV.

American Mortgage Solutions follows all Equal Housing laws. As prohibited by federal law, we do not engage in business practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, because all or part of your income may be derived from any public assistance program, or because you have, in good faith, exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Disclaimer: Programs subject to change without notice. All borrowers must qualify per program guidelines.

These materials are not from HUD, FHA, the USDA, or the VA. These materials were not approved by any government agency. They are independent of any government agency. We are not in any way affiliated with any organization listed or referenced within this website, including HUD/FHA/USDA/VA. The inclusion of various education, information, web links, or materials are not an endorsement of the Sender or any of its employees or business partners. For information directly from HUD/FHA, visit https://www.hud.gov/guidance For information directly from the VA, visit http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/ For information directly from the USDA, visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GRANTS_LOANS