Who owns the house after a reverse mortgage?

Asked by: Marc Dickinson  |  Last update: January 16, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (59 votes)

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.

Do you still own your home after a reverse mortgage?

In a reverse mortgage, you own the home and the bank ``buys'' it from you one month at a time (they don't actually give you money except in certain circumstances, but they forgive your monthly mortgage payments). This means that you get to live in your home until your death, without any monthly payments.

Can you inherit a house that has a reverse mortgage?

Yes, one of the key options when inheriting a house with a reverse mortgage is to sell it. Your proceeds will be used to pay off the reverse mortgage loan. You get to keep any remaining equity in the house. If the current market value of the house is under the balance of the mortgage loan, don't worry.

Who pays the reverse mortgage when the owner dies?

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.

Can the bank take your house if you have a reverse mortgage?

Just like a traditional mortgage, with a HECM you are borrowing money and using your home as security for the loan. You must continue to pay for property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and make repairs needed to maintain your home or the lender can foreclose on the home.

Can you sell your home if it has a reverse mortgage on it?

24 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 you lose your house on a reverse mortgage?

The loan balance grows over time, and when the borrower moves or passes away, the borrower and his estate are responsible for the repayment of the loan. However, there are still events that can lead to a borrower defaulting on the loan, which can, in turn, lead to foreclosure, resulting in you losing your home.

How long do you have to sell a house after someone dies with a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage loan becomes due and payable after your death and after the death of any coborrowers or of an eligible nonborrowing spouse. Once your heirs receive a due and payable notice from the lender, they have 30 days to buy, sell, or turn the home over to the lender to satisfy the debt.

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 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.

Who holds title in a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage loan, like a traditional mortgage, allows homeowners to borrow money using their home as security for the loan. Also like a traditional mortgage, when you take out a reverse mortgage loan, the title to your home remains in your name.

How long does a reverse mortgage last?

Technically speaking a Reverse Mortgage is guaranteed by HUD/FHA until age 150 of the youngest Borrower. But because that number is still so far above current life expectancy the real answer is that a Reverse Mortgage will last as long as you need it to.

Can heirs walk away from reverse mortgage?

After the passing of the last surviving borrower, the reverse mortgage loan balance becomes due and payable. Your heirs can decide whether to repay the loan balance, keep the home, sell the house, and keep the equity, or walk away and let the lender dispose of the property.

What is the biggest problem with reverse mortgage?

Borrowing against your equity decreases the amount of equity you have in your home. This is one of the biggest problems with reverse mortgages, as you could be left with less to pass on to your heirs. Another negative effect of reduced home equity is that it could limit your options if you want to downsize later.

What is the 6 month rule for reverse mortgage?

A borrower can only take out a reverse mortgage on a home they own and live in for the majority of the year. If the borrower leaves the home for more than six consecutive months for a non-medical issue or 12 consecutive months for a medical issue, the loan will become due.

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.

Do you give up your house in 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. There is virtually no restriction on how the borrower uses their loan proceeds.

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.

How does a reverse mortgage company know when someone dies?

Death information is generally obtained from the social security death index, but service providers also utilize a variety of proprietary sources for this information as well.

Can a family member take over a reverse mortgage?

It isn't possible to add another person to an existing reverse mortgage. To add someone to your mortgage, you would need to refinance or get a new loan.

Can you be evicted from a reverse mortgage?

Can you be forced out of your home for not paying a reverse mortgage? That's a MYTH: it was designed to help people stay in their homes.

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.

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.

Does the bank own your house?

In California, you own the home, with your mortgage owner(s) having first rights to any proceeds from a sale.