Reverse Mortgages Aren't for Everyone

You can scarcely turn on the TV without seeing ads for reverse mortgages. They're touted as a great tool for cash-strapped seniors to tap their home equity to pay off bills while remaining in their homes with no monthly mortgage payments. Although that may be true for some people, these complicated and costly loans aren't right for everyone, so it pays to do your homework.

Here's a primer on reverse mortgages and precautions you need to take:

Reverse mortgages let homeowners age 62 or older borrow against their home equity without having to make monthly payments (as with refinance loans). The loan needn't be repaid until you move out permanently, sell the property or die. In addition, seniors wishing to downsize or relocate may make a large down payment on a new home and then use a reverse mortgage to finance the rest.

The vast majority of these mortgages are made through the Federal Housing Administration's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. Common features include:

• All parties on the loan must be at least age 62.
• The home (current or future) must be your principal residence.
• You must own the home outright or be able to pay it off with proceeds from the loan.
• The allowable loan amount is based on your home's appraised value, your age, interest rate and type (fixed or variable), mortgage insurance and applicable fees. Generally, the older you are and the more valuable your home, the greater the available loan.
• The repayment amount never exceeds the home's final sale value, so you (or your heirs) are never liable for more than you originally borrowed.
• You can take the money as a lump sum, a line of credit, fixed monthly payments or any combination.

Reverse mortgages can be very expensive. Lenders may charge a loan origination fee of up to $6,000. In addition, you must pay upfront and then ongoing mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs). HECM Standard loans have an upfront MIP of 2 percent of the home's value. HECM Saver loans have a far lower 0.01 percent upfront MIP (although the allowable loan amount may be up to 18 percent less). Both versions also charge an additional 1.25 percent MIP of the outstanding balance annually, as well as a loan origination fee of up to $6,000 and various other charges.

A few other potential downsides with reverse mortgages:

• You are responsible for homeowner's fees, property taxes, insurance and repairs for the life of the loan. If you don't pay them, you risk cancellation or foreclosure.
• They aren't cost-effective if you plan to move in a few years.
• Some couples put only the older spouse on the loan in order to secure a higher balance, but this can backfire: If that person dies first, the survivor could be bound to pay off the loan – a real problem if the home's value is "underwater."
• The longer you carry a reverse mortgage, the more your home equity – and thus, your estate – will decrease.

Because reverse mortgages are so complicated, potential borrowers are required to consult a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved counselor before being allowed to apply. Before you even get to that stage, do your research. Helpful sites include those sponsored by the HUD (www.hud.gov) and AARP (www.aarp.org).