Is 65 too old to get a mortgage?

Asked by: Miss Leonor Murphy  |  Last update: June 10, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (4 votes)

According to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, lenders are not allowed to discriminate based on age. “It isn't any more difficult or easy for a senior adult to get a mortgage than anyone else,” says Nikki Buckelew, founder and CEO of the Seniors Real Estate Institute in Oklahoma City.

Is it hard to get a mortgage at 65?

As Federal Reserve economist Natee Amornsiripanitch noted in a recent brief, older mortgage applicants are “significantly” more likely to be rejected for a loan than similarly situated, but younger, borrowers. At the same time, loan rates increase steadily with age, peaking for new borrowers over the age of 60 and 70.

Is it wise to buy a house at age 65?

Buying a home after 60 can make sense if you have sufficient monthly income and find an affordable home. In addition, if you're physically capable of maintaining the home or can pay for extra help, homeownership won't become burdensome.

Can a 65 year old get a 30 year mortgage?

There is no age limit for obtaining a 30-year mortgage, thus allowing older borrowers the opportunity to secure long-term financing for a home. However, it is essential to consider factors such as financial stability, retirement plans and overall health when deciding if this type of mortgage is the right choice.

What is the oldest age to qualify for a mortgage?

Age doesn't matter. Counterintuitive as it may sound, your loan application for a mortgage to be repaid over 30 years looks the same to lenders whether you are 90 years old or 40.

How old is too old for a Mortgage? Can I get a mortgage into retirement?

24 related questions found

At what age will the bank not give you a mortgage?

You need to be at least 18 years old to take out a residential or buy-to-let mortgage with us, and it must finish before or on your 80th birthday.

Can I get a mortgage on Social Security?

As long as your income comes from an acceptable source, it shouldn't prevent you from getting approved for a mortgage. If you receive Social Security income, you can use it to qualify for a mortgage.

How much of net worth should be in house at age 65?

According to some experts, the optimal range for home-ownership is between 10% and 30% of your net worth. Rental properties and passive income: Rental properties are another common and attractive form of real estate.

What is the oldest age you should buy a house?

Age isn't a limiting factor, but your income and mobility may be. If you've built up your savings over the years, you may not want a mortgage, preferring to buy a house outright. How Much Is My House Worth? See your free home value estimate in less than two minutes.

What type of mortgage is typically offered to seniors?

A reverse mortgage, also known as a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), is the most common mortgage taken out by seniors: Backed by the FHA, It allows homeowners 62 and older to borrow against their home's value.

How do retired people get mortgages?

FHA loans. Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) allow retired borrowers to qualify with a credit score as low as 500 and a 10% down payment. For FHA loans with a 580 credit score, the down payment is only 3.5%.

What percentage of homeowners are over 65?

U.S. homeownership rate for householders over 65 years old 2011-Q3 2024. The U.S. homeownership rate for householders over 65 years of age fluctuated between 78.8 percent and 80.9 percent since 2011. In the third quarter of 2024, approximately 79 percent of people over 65 years of age inhabited an owner-occupied home.

Can I use my 401k to buy a house at age 65?

The short answer is yes because it's your money. There are no restrictions against using the funds in your account for anything you like but withdrawing funds from a 401(k) before age 59½ will incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty as well as taxes.

How many people over 65 have mortgages?

While many older homeowners own their properties free and clear of a mortgage payment, this is not a feasible reality for many seniors. In fact, more than 10.5 million Americans at or over the age of 65 still pay into a forward mortgage loan, according to a study conducted by LendingTree.

Is it too late to buy a house at 65?

Consider your loan options

There's no maximum age for applying for a mortgage, but it may be tougher to qualify for certain loans.

What is the 62 plus loan program?

It's a loan that allows homeowners aged 62+ to tap into some of their home equity for additional cash: Without having to sell the home. Without having to make monthly mortgage payments (keeping current with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance required)

Can you get a 30 year mortgage at 65?

Absolutely. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act's protections extend to your mortgage term. Mortgage lenders can't deny you a specific loan term on the basis of age.

Is it foolish to buy a house right now?

If your credit score is strong, your employment is stable and you have enough savings to cover a down payment and closing costs, buying now might still be a smart move. But if your personal finances are not ideal at the moment, or if home values in your area are on the decline, it might be better to wait.

Is a 65 year old house old?

Age is subjective when it comes to houses, but an unwritten rule is that if a home is 50 years or older it's considered “old” and a home built before 1920 is considered “antique.” There are many factors that can contribute to the condition your potential dream home may be in, and thankfully most can be caught during ...

How much money should you retire with at 65?

We estimated that most people looking to retire around age 65 should aim for assets totaling between 7½ and 13½ times their preretirement gross income. From there, we identified savings benchmarks at other ages based on a reasonable trajectory of earnings and savings rates.

How many people have $3000000 in savings?

Probably 1 in every 20 families have a net worth exceeding $3 Million, but most people's net worth is their homes, cars, boats, and only 10% is in savings, so you would typically have to have a net worth of $30 million, which is 1 in every 1000 families.

What is considered wealthy in retirement?

Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.

Do banks give mortgages to seniors?

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, lenders can't discriminate against applicants because of their age. As a result, seniors — like people in other age groups — can get mortgages if they meet a lender's approval criteria.

Can you lose your Social Security benefits if you buy a house?

SSDI is not a needs based program. You may be thinking about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - which does place restrictions on assets and income. But SSDI does not. you can buy a house if you're on SS without them cutting your benefits.

Can I get a loan if my only income is social security?

Can You Get a Personal Loan on Social Security? You can take out a personal loan while you're receiving Social Security benefits if a lender is willing to give you one. Lenders will want to know that you have enough income to repay the loan, and Social Security benefits count toward that.