Qualifying for a
Reverse Mortgage

To be eligible for a HUD reverse mortgage, HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that the borrower is a homeowner, 62 years of age or older; own your home outright, or have a mortgage balance that can be paid off at the closing with proceeds from the reverse loan; and must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from HUD-approved counseling sources prior to obtaining the loan. You do not need good credit to qualify. A spouse under 62 can be protected under the terms of the program.

Can I apply if I didn’t buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance?

Yes. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new HUD reverse mortgage will be a new FHA-insured mortgage loan.

What types of homes are eligible?

Your home must be a single family dwelling or a two-to-four unit property that you own and occupy. Townhouses, detached homes, units in condominiums and some manufactured homes are also eligible. Condominiums must be FHA-approved. It is possible for individual condominiums units to qualify under the Spot Loan program.

What’s the out-of-pocket cost?

The out-of-pocket cash cost to you is most often limited to an appraisal fee (to see how much your home is worth) and a minimal credit check (to see if you are delinquent on any federally-insured loans).

Most of the other costs can be “financed” with the loan. This means that you can use reverse mortgage funds advanced to you at closing to pay the costs due at that time, and later advances to pay any ongoing costs. The advances are added to your loan balance, and become part of what you owe.