There are some costs to getting a reverse home mortgage that you need to be aware of. The costs involve four types of fees, plus interest, at the closing of your new mortgage. The four fees are an origination fee, third-party closing costs, mortgage insurance premiums, and a low monthly service fee of $20-30. Many people choose to finance the fee into their mortgage.
The interest is determined by the Total Annual Loan Cost and can be compared to the APR (annual percentage rate) of common forward mortgage loans. There is one fee that must be paid upfront and cannot be rolled into the mortgage amount. This is the fee for the required HUD counseling service. Interests rates determine the actual interest cost and that can be determined by the rate you have secured.
Reverse home mortgages are currently available in two interest rate options. Each can be beneficial and you should assess your need before selecting which option works best for you. The first option is the fixed-interest rate. With a fixed-interest rate borrowers are locked into the current rate for the life of the loan. With this option the borrower would receive a one-time lump sum payment. This can be a excellent option for those who need access to a larger amount of funds.
The second option is the variable-interest rate. This option means that as interest rates fluctuate the interest being accrued will also vary. There is a bit more risk involved but also a lot more choice to the borrower. The choices involved with a variable-rate option are that it offers the greatest amount allowed in equity for disbursement to the borrower. With a variable-rate there are choices for an immediate advance of funds and provides several options for disbursement of funds.
Borrower who chose the variable-interest rate can choose to have the funds in monthly installments, as a line of credit, in a lump sum payment, or any combination of these options. Distribution of payments can be changed as often as the borrower would like as things come up in daily life and funds might be needed. It is up to you on which plot would best meet your financial needs best.
The fees and costs of using a reverse home mortgage are congruent with the majority of other loans available. Only with the reverse home mortgage there is the additional benefit that your equity will be paid out to you, when you want it, to spend how you want to.