The following will help clarify if what you heard was a myth or the truth about reverse mortgages.
Myth: Borrower gives up ownership.
Truth: A Reverse Mortgage is like other mortgages where a lien is placed against the property but with the borrower maintaining ownership and the title remaining in their name. As with conventional mortgages, a Reverse Mortgage is a method of using one’s home as collateral to borrow money.
Myth: Borrower can lose their home because of a Reverse Mortgage.
Truth: Since monthly mortgage payments aren’t required, the risk of losing one’s home for not making monthly mortgage payments is removed. Although if one does not maintain insurance, keep taxes current, maintain the property, or adhere to the terms of the loan or the Reverse Mortgage can be required to be paid or face foreclosure. This is true whether one has a reverse mortgage, conventional mortgage, or no mortgage at all, the county or city could foreclose when one doesn’t pay property taxes.
Myth: Home has to be completely paid off or have a low mortgage balance to obtain a Reverse Mortgage.
Truth: Reverse Mortgage proceeds must equal enough funds to pay any existing debt tied to the home. If not enough is available, borrower must come up with the difference and then the Reverse Mortgage can still be obtained. Funds to make up any difference must come from their own resources or a gift, funds cannot be borrowed to make up the difference.
The Reverse Mortgage improves cash flow because one doesn’t have to make monthly mortgage payments*. If one is unable to handle monthly loan payments of their mortgage or credit card payments, a Reverse Mortgage may be the solution. Or maybe one chooses not to make monthly payments any more. A Reverse Mortgage may be the solution for this situation also. Once the Reverse Mortgage pays off one’s current lien(s) or mortgage(s), there are no more monthly mortgage payments*.Myth: At the end of a certain period of time the borrower must move out of their home. 
Truth: As long borrower(s) stays in the home as long their primary residence and abides by the terms of the loan, the loan does not need to be repaid. It is repaid when they choose to move, sell, die, or on their 150th birthday.*
Myth: If all proceeds are used up, borrower(s) must move.
Truth: Again, borrower can stay in the home as long as it is their primary residence and they abide by the terms of the loan whether funds are available or not. The loan does not need to be repaid until they choose to move, sell, die, or on their 150th birthday.*
Myth: If monthly payment plan is chosen, at a certain age the borrower won’t receive any more monthly payments.
Truth: If the tenure draw plan is chosen, as long as the home is the borrower’s primary residence and they abide by the terms of the loan, they continue to receive the monthly draws. If a term monthly draw plan (available with the HECM adjustable rate only) is chosen, when the term has ended, further payments won’t be received although they may stay in the home if it is their primary residence and they abide by the terms of the loan.*
Truth: Any remaining equity belongs to the borrower or their heirs after the loan balance is repaid. The amount of the loan balance to be repaid includes the financed closing costs, all cash advanced to the borrower over the length of the loan, servicing fees (if applicable), the accrued interest and accrued FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP).
Truth: As with a conventional loan, the lender does not own the home, a lien is placed against the home, using the home as collateral. The loan balance is to be repaid then any remaining equity belongs to the borrower or their heirs.
Myth: Senior needs to be cash poor and house rich before considering a Reverse Mortgage.
Truth: Borrower(s) does NOT have to be cash poor to do a Reverse Mortgage. People often do the Reverse Mortgage, as with a conventional mortgage, to access the equity in their home now. They are done for a variety of reasons from buying a car, home repairs, supplementing income or just having “more elbow room.” Creating a line of credit (Standby Reverse Mortgage), with the growth rate is being utilized as part of retirement plans. Actually the reverse mortgage can and is being used as a tool for financial planning or long-term care planning or even purchasing a new home.
Myth: The interest rate is higher with a Reverse Mortgage than with a conventional mortgage.
Truth: The interest rate is sometimes lower than what seniors can qualify for with a conventional mortgage, especially with the adjustable rate. The initial interest rate on the HECM adjustable rate program (the most common Reverse Mortgage program) is based on the LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate).
With a conventional mortgage, the rate is impacted by one’s income, assets and credit scores. With the reverse mortgage the interest rate is not affected by these factors but by the program chosen. However, borrowers income and credit are used for a financial assessment to determine ability and willingness to pay property taxes, insurance, HOA dues if applicable. Often those on a fixed income do not qualify for a conventional mortgage or a Home Equity Loan.
Myth: Closing costs are high.
Truth: This is a perception, the closing costs are the same as a conventional or “forward mortgage” plus the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium if one is doing a HECM. The costs are regulated by HUD. Being the closing costs are taken out up front as part of the loan balance, this gives the perception of being high. See a comparison here.
Myth: Borrower could outlive the Reverse Mortgage.
Truth: The loan is not required to be repaid until the home is no longer their primary residence, other maturity triggers, or on their 150th birthday.* Borrower must abide by the terms of the loan or the loan could be called due and payable.
Myth: If some equity is not reserved, borrower could be left with little or no assets after paying off the loan.
Reverse Mortgages SIDAC
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