How is a reverse mortgage different from a traditional home equity loan or line of credit?

A reverse mortgage offers certain advantages:

  • With a traditional home equity loan or home equity line of credit, you must make monthly principal and interest payments on the balance while you live in the home — whereas a reverse mortgage has a flexible repayment feature. You can pay as much or as little as you like each month toward principal and interest, or make no monthly loan payment at all. Your reverse mortgage balance, including accrued interest and fees, does not have to be repaid until you pass away or move out, as long as you meet your loan obligations (which includes keeping current with property-related taxes, insurance and upkeep).
  •  If part of your loan is held in a line of credit upon which you may draw, then the unused portion of the line of credit will grow in size each month — giving you access to more available funds as time goes on. The growth rate is equal to the sum of the interest rate plus the annual mortgage insurance premium rate being charged on your loan.
  •  And the lender cannot “freeze” or reduce the line of credit, as long as you fulfill your loan obligations — so it will be there if and when you need it.

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Verified Reviews

(216)

Thank You, Larry! Larry McAnarney is our reverse mortgage loan specialist. He did an excellent job of explaining the reverse mortgage programs, the process, requirements, how the monies would be accessed if approved. He followed up with me multiple times before I made the decision to proceed which I really appreciated. He assisted me in wading through all of the requirements in the application process. He was always available for a question either by email or phone. He was always encouraging and optimistic about our chances for success. He was helpful and very clear as to all the documents I needed to prepare and always allowed me a reasonable amount of time to comply. As our house is in trust there were further "hoops to jump through." Larry truly went above and beyond the call of duty on our behalf with the underwriters. I have no doubt that his extra hard work won the approval of our reverse mortgage. I couldn't recommend him more highly. He has my thanks!

Jacquelyn W — May 6, 2015

Larry is Very Attentive at Answering Questions Larry is very knowledgeable of reverse mortgage products and very attentive at answering whatever questions you have and responds at late hours of the day and on weekends. He will also run reports for whatever scenario you want to see regarding any aspect of the process and effectively reviewing these reports and explaining them to you.    

Brian & Jean S — Dec 12, 2020

Thanks Again Larry treated me very well and helped me go thru the indepth process!!! Thanks again

W Hammond — Sep 7, 2015

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