FHA Reverse Mortgage
Convert Your Equity into Income
Established in 1934, The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers mortgage insurance on loans through FHA-approved lenders. The FHA provides this coverage for single and multi-family homes, and other approved purchases. The FHA does not issue loans, but FHA mortgage insurance is quite attractive for a prospective lender.
The main reason for this is simple; FHA mortgage insurance protects the lender's investment should a homeowner default on the mortgage. Loans insured by the FHA feature low down payments, and costs for FHA mortgage insurance are built into the mortgage payment. Those costs disappear five years into the loan or when the loan reaches 78% of the property value (whichever is longer).
An FHA reverse mortgage is designed for homeowners age 62 and older. It allows the borrower to convert equity in the home into income or a line of credit. The FHA reverse mortgage loan is also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), and is paid back when the homeowner no longer occupies the property.
There are requirements for an FHA-insured reverse mortgage or HECM;
- The loan is based on the age of the youngest borrower if there are co-signers.
- Homeowners are required to get consumer counseling and education before a HECM loan is approved.
- Borrowers must own and live on the property as the primary residence.
Unlike other FHA loans, there are no income or credit qualifications for this type of loan. You will be required to have a current appraisal on the property as the amount of an FHA reverse mortgage is based on the home's value or the FHA insurance limit, whichever is lower. The FHA reverse mortgage;
- Is a loan based on current interest rates.
- Allows closing costs to be financed in the reverse mortgage.
- Is for single-family homes or up to a four-unit home, but must be occupied by the borrower.
- Is also permitted for FHA-approved condominiums and manufactured homes.
FHA reverse mortgages or HECM loans require the home to conform to FHA property standards and flood requirements. The FHA reverse mortgage has a variety ways the borrower can receive the money including monthly payments, a line of credit, or combinations of payments and credit. The borrower does not pay on these loans until the house is sold. The loan is repaid from the proceeds of the property sale including interest. Any remaining equity in the home after the loan has been repaid belongs to the homeowner.
If there is not enough money from the sale of the home to repay the loan in full, FHA insurance is used to pay the difference. If you need further clarification of the details of an FHA reverse mortgage, ask your loan officer to explain before you sign.
FREE CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
August 12, 2018 - FHA cash-out refinance money is good for any purpose the borrower wants to use it for; the cash-out refi loan is different in that respect than a refinance loan to rehab a house (FHA 203(k) loans, for example) or to purchase and rehab a home.
August 4, 2018 - The first thing to think about before you start getting ready to apply for an FHA mortgage to refinance and remodel is how old your current mortgage loan is. The longer you have been making payments, the more buying power you might have with a new loan.
July 23, 2018 - New purchase loans require the lender to determine the fair market value of the property. The appraisal helps the borrower know whether the asking price of the home is higher than it should be compared to similar homes in the area, but the FHA appraisal is not a tool for the borrower.
July 20, 2018 - FHA 203(h) disaster relief loans have similar qualification requirements as standard FHA purchase or refinance loans, but offer more lenient credit and down payment requirements due to the circumstances surrounding the loan application.
July 16, 2018 - If you are looking for a home to buy with an FHA home loan and are among the growing number of Americans working in the gig economy, you may wonder if your income is acceptable to a lender.
FHA.com Reviews
FHA.com is a one-stop resource for homebuyers who want to make the best decisions when it comes to their mortgage. With our detailed, mobile-friendly site, individuals can access information about different FHA products, the latest loan limits, and numerous other resources to make their homebuying experience easier. Take a look at some of the reviews from other FHA.com visitors!
