Can you lose your house with a reverse mortgage?

Asked by: Natasha Gaylord  |  Last update: March 3, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (37 votes)

Summary – you can lose your home in a reverse mortgage if: You pass away, and your remaining spouse is not listed as a borrower or non-borrowing spouse.

How do people lose their home from a reverse mortgage?

The loan becomes due when the borrower dies, moves out of the house, or fails to maintain the property and pay homeowner's insurance and property taxes. If borrowers are not able to meet these requirements the loan becomes delinquent and the home can eventually go into foreclosure.

What are the bad outcomes with a reverse mortgage?

Reverse mortgages pose risks beyond losing homeownership, including eroding home equity, accruing high fees, and limiting inheritance. Interest compounds, potentially leading to significant debt. Borrowers must maintain taxes and insurance or risk foreclosure. Consider these factors carefully.

Can a bank take your home with a reverse mortgage?

Under reverse mortgages and traditional home mortgages, a property will serve as collateral when a borrower violates their end of the loan agreement. Only in this situation can a reverse mortgage company or bank take your home.

Can you get kicked out of your house with a reverse mortgage?

Yes, it is possible that you can get kicked out of your house with a reverse mortgage taken out against it. This primarily happens when you violate one of your lender's reverse mortgage rules.

Why Should I NOT Get A Reverse Mortgage?

17 related questions found

What happens to my reverse mortgage if I go into a nursing home?

A reverse mortgage usually must be repaid when the borrower moves out for 12 consecutive months or more, such as into a nursing home or other care facility. If the borrower is married, their spouse can remain in the home under certain conditions.

Can a reverse mortgage company take your house?

+ Can a reverse mortgage lender take my home away if I outlive the loan? No, they cannot. And the loan is not due at that time either. In fact, you don't need to repay the loan as long as you or another borrower continues to live in the house, keep the taxes paid and insurance in force.

Is it hard to sell a house that has a reverse mortgage?

Selling a house with a reverse mortgage isn't as simple as selling a home with a traditional mortgage — but it can be done with a little planning. With a reverse mortgage, you borrow against the equity in your property to receive cash upfront or a stream of monthly payments.

What is the 95% rule on a reverse mortgage?

If your reverse mortgage loan is in default and you've received a notice that the loan is “due and payable,” you may sell your home for 95 percent of its appraised value.

What happens if you live too long on a reverse mortgage?

If the end of your term is up before you pass away, then you have outlived your reverse mortgage proceeds. With a term payment plan, you reach your loan's principal limit—the maximum you can borrow—at the end of the term. After that, you won't be able to receive additional proceeds from your reverse mortgage.

Why is reverse mortgage not a good idea?

Things to Consider: Fees associated with reverse mortgages can be quite high. While the interest rate is set by the government, banks may charge up to 5% of the home's value as a “fee” that will be taken out of proceeds from the sale of the home when the loan ends.

What does Suze Orman say about reverse mortgages?

Suze Orman's opinion on reverse mortgages

She has spoken out against these loans on numerous occasions, warning that they can be a risky financial decision for many older Americans. One of Suze's main concerns with reverse mortgages is that they can be incredibly expensive.

What happens if you walk away from a house with a reverse mortgage?

Walk Away. You can walk away from a reverse mortgage as a last resort. Handing over the deed to the lender will release you from your loan, but you will also lose your house.

Who owns the house after a reverse mortgage?

With a reverse mortgage, the title of the home remains in the borrower's name. Proceeds from a reverse mortgage can be used as a down payment on a second home in some cases , or help supplement retirement income to cover monthly expenses.

How long can I stay in my home with a reverse mortgage?

Reverse mortgages require the borrower to use the property as the primary residence for the lifetime of the loan.

Can a reverse mortgage go into foreclosure?

Yes. If the borrower does not comply with the loan requirements, such as paying property taxes on time, then a reverse mortgage could enter foreclosure.

What happens to a house when the owner dies with a reverse mortgage?

Reverse mortgage loans typically must be repaid, usually by selling the home, when the last borrower dies. However, non-borrowing spouses may be able to stay in the home if they meet certain criteria.

How long do you have to pay back a reverse mortgage?

Typically, a reverse mortgage doesn't need to be paid back until you move out of the home or pass away. At that point, you or your heirs will pay back the amount borrowed as well as interest and fees accumulated over time.

What is 60% rule in reverse mortgage?

The 60% Utilization Rule

Home equity conversion mortgage HECM borrowers may only take the greater of 60% of their total available equity or the total amount of their mandatory obligations plus 10% in the first payout.

How long can a mortgage stay in a deceased person's name?

No, a mortgage can't remain under a deceased person's name. When the borrower passes away, the loan won't disappear. Instead, it needs to be paid. After the borrower passes, the responsibility for the mortgage payments immediately falls on the borrower's estate or heirs.

Does a reverse mortgage put a lien on your house?

A reverse mortgage shall constitute a lien against the subject property to the extent of all advances made pursuant to the reverse mortgage and all interest accrued on these advances, and that lien shall have priority over any lien filed or recorded after recordation of a reverse mortgage loan.

What is the negative side of a reverse mortgage?

You're still responsible for paying property taxes and insurance, and if you default on your property taxes, you could lose your home to tax foreclosure. A reverse mortgage lender can foreclose on the home if you're not living in it for more than 12 consecutive months due to health care issues.

Does the bank stay with my home if I do a reverse mortgage loan?

Myth #1: The Lender or Government Will Take My Home

With a reverse mortgage, you or your estate continue to retain control and remain on the title of the home. As with any loan, the lender simply puts a lien on the property to ensure the loan gets repaid.

Can you be forced out of your home with a reverse mortgage?

Reverse mortgages were created specifically to allow seniors to live in their home for the rest of their lives. Because the homeowner typically receives payments from a reverse mortgage—instead of making payments to a lender—the homeowner can never be evicted or foreclosed upon for non-payment.