FHA Reverse Mortgage, what the heck is HECM?

So, what is a Reverse Mortgage? Maybe, a better, more specific question is: What the heck is a HECM?

Well, HECM stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. It is a way for seniors to tap into the equity in their property without taking on payments that will cause them difficulty in the future.

The HECM FHA insured reverse mortgage can be used by senior homeowners age 62 and older to convert the equity in their home into monthly streams of income and/or a line of credit to be repaid when they no longer occupy the home.

Borrower Requirements:

Mortgage Amount Based On:

Financial Requirements:

Property Requirements:

How the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program Works:

Homeowners 62 and older who have paid off their mortgages or have only small mortgage balances remaining, and are currently living in the home are eligible to participate in HUD's reverse mortgage program. The program allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes. Homeowners can select from five payment plans:

• Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.
• Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.
• Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or in installments, at times and in amount of borrower's choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.
• Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as the borrower remains in the home.
• Modified Term - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.

Homeowners whose circumstances change can restructure their payment options for a nominal fee of $20.

Unlike ordinary home equity loans, a HUD reverse mortgage does not require repayment as long as the home is the borrower's principal residence. Lenders recover their principal, plus interest, when the home is sold. The remaining value of the home goes to the homeowner or to his or her survivors. You can never owe more than your home's value.

If the sales proceeds are insufficient to pay the amount owed, HUD will pay the lender the amount of the shortfall. HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) collects an insurance premium from all borrowers to provide this coverage.

The amount a homeowner can borrow depends on their age, the current interest rate, other loan fees and the appraised value of their home or FHA 's mortgage limits for their area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.

For example, based on a loan with an interest rates of approximately 9 percent, and a home qualifying for $100,000, a 65-year-old could borrow up to 22 percent of the home's value; a 75-year-old could borrow up to 41 percent of the home's value; and, an 85-year-old could borrow up to 58 percent of the home's value. The percentages do not include closing costs because these charges can vary.

There are no asset or income limitations on borrowers receiving HUD's reverse mortgages.

There are also no limits on the value of homes qualifying for a HUD reverse mortgage. The value of the home will be determined by an appraisal. However, the amount that may be borrowed is derived from the lower of the appraisal amount or FHA mortgage limit for the area, which varies from $200,160 to $362,790. For Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and the Virgin Islands, the FHA mortgage limits may be adjusted up to 150 percent of the ceiling depending on the area. The FHA limits usually increase each year. As a result, owners of higher-priced homes can't borrow any more than owners of homes valued at the FHA limit.

HUD's reverse mortgage program collects funds from insurance premiums charged to the homeowners. Homeowners are charged an upfront insurance premium which is 2 percent of the maximum claim amount that may be borrowed plus a .5 percent annual premium.

Apparently, according to what I have been reading, HECM limits on total value of the home will change Jan. 1 and also allow purchase of a residence with a HECM loan.

AARP offers a loan calculator and you can link to it here. Just remember, this is an estimate of what you may receive through a HECM mortgage, it could vary substantially.

 Authored by Fred Chamberlin, a mortgage loan consultant, Eugene/Springfield Oregon