Considering a Reverse Mortgage? Start the Conversation with Your Heirs
What matters most to you? How do you want your life to touch others when you’re gone? Inevitably, planning your legacy will also involve making sure the assets you’ve worked so hard for during your lifetime — like your home — will have the impact you envision after you pass away.
For many older homeowners, a reverse mortgage is a savvy financial tool that allows you to leverage the equity in your home, all while you live in it and retain ownership.* But if your heirs aren’t familiar with this type of loan and how it may affect their expectations of a financial legacy, it’s important to start the conversation sooner rather than later.
Setting the record straight
Living on a retirement budget can be very limiting, especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet or forgoing many of the dreams you had about your post-work lifestyle. Your adult children may even feel burdened, caught between trying to assist financially while supporting their own growing family.
A reverse mortgage turns the equity you’ve built over the years into funds you can access as monthly payments, a lump sum or line of credit if and when you need it**. And unlike traditional home loans, reverse mortgages don’t require monthly payments. You can pay as little or as much as you want, when you want, as long as you stay current with your loan obligations including property taxes, maintenance and insurance.
The loan only becomes due and payable when the last borrower, or eligible non-borrowing spouse (where applicable) passes away. At that point, your heirs may still inherit your home, but they will have to pay back the loan balance if they want to keep it; this includes the amount of funds you used, plus accrued interest and fees. They can also sell the home to repay the loan. Once it’s repaid, they retain any remaining equity.
The good news for heirs is that reverse mortgages are "nonrecourse" loans. That means if the loan amount exceeds the home's value, they won’t owe more than the value of the property when the loan is repaid.
The importance of managing expectations
When heirs are familiar with the ins and out of a reverse mortgage, they’ll know what to anticipate when the time comes. And keep in mind, a home is not the only inheritance you may leave behind. Aside from other belongings and investments they may inherit, your legacy is not only about your finances, but also the wisdom, experiences and memories you’re leaving the ones you love.
Whether you’re newly retired or looking ahead, Reverse Mortgage Funding (RMF) can help address your reverse mortgage questions and concerns. Call us today at (888) 277-1567 to set up an appointment with an experienced reverse mortgage specialist at your convenience.
This content is sponsored by RMF, one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders. We are dedicated to helping older Americans retire more freely, in the comfort of their own homes. As a result of our commitment to providing an extraordinary and positive customer experience, we have earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating; a 4.7-star / Excellent score on Trustpilot; 4.8 out of 5 stars on LendingTree; and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call 888-277-1567 to speak with a licensed reverse mortgage specialist to learn about our retirement financing products and solutions.
* As with any mortgage, you must meet your loan obligations, keeping current with property taxes, insurance and keeping your home in good condition.
**Borrowers who elect a fixed rate will receive a single disbursement lump sum payment. Other payment options are available only for adjustable rate mortgages. In certain states, RMF's EE loan provides a fixed-rate term payment option.