Reverse Mortgages In Orange County

Frequently Asked Questions About Reverse Mortgages

Selling Home VS. Reverse Mortgage

With any major life decision, there are pros and cons to take into consideration before proceeding one way or another. When it comes to deciding between selling your home or taking out a reverse mortgage, here are the pros and cons you need to factor into your decision:

  • Pros of selling your home:

    • You can take the opportunity to downsize and reduce the number of material possessions you have in your life. 
    • Reduce your overall responsibility and the number of obligations you have regarding your home. This includes mortgage payments, property maintenance and taxes, home repairs, insurance, and so on.

  • Cons of selling your home:

    • Moving can be hard at any age, let alone when you have a lifetime’s worth of valuables, keepsakes, and furniture. Uprooting your life can be challenging.
    • You’re no longer a homeowner, which likely means you’re renting your next home and no longer building or maintaining equity in a piece of real estate. You’ll be paying ongoing rent expenses to someone else.

  • Pros of a reverse mortgage:

    • If you’re a creature of habit, love the home you live in, and would prefer not to cause turbulence in your life, you can stay at home with a reverse mortgage.
    • You’re at an age where you may be considering retirement (or have already retired), so cash flow may be more limited than it was before you stopped working. By taking out a reverse mortgage, you’ve leveraged a tax-free option to use your home equity to supplement your income.

  • Cons of a reverse mortgage:

    • You’re still maintaining the responsibilities of homeownership. Maintenance, expenses, and so forth will continue to be something you deal with on a regular basis.
    • The loan must be repaid when you move, sell, or pass away. So, your estate or beneficiaries may have to deal with paying out the interest owed or selling the home.
    • Fees to approve, underwrite, and fund reverse mortgages can be expensive in some cases.

When do I have to pay back a reverse mortgage loan?

You will be responsible for paying back a reverse mortgage loan when you sell your home, move away from the home permanently, or pass away. You will accrue interest on the loan for however long the mortgage is in place, so it’s essential to keep that in mind when factoring in costs at the end of the loan. The good news is the borrower is able to make a payment on the loan at anytime. Many borrowers do decide to make payments to protect the equity over the life of the loan.

How to qualify for a Reverse Mortgage in Orange County?

We can help navigate you through the qualification process and answer your questions along the way. Credit score does not stop the borrower from doing a Reverse Mortgage, but it can effect how the loan is structured. Reach out today for help!

How old do you have to be to qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?

Reverse Mortgages require one spouse to be 62 years of age or older to apply and qualify. Plus, you must be the primary occupant of the home and live there as your primary residence. 

How much money do you get from a reverse mortgage?

The amount of money borrowers are eligible for through a reverse mortgage is based on the age of youngest spouse, the home value & the interest rate. Want to find out how much you can borrow with a reverse mortgage?


Call us today to speak with a mortgage broker in  to see what you qualify for.

What are the 3 types of reverse mortgages?

The three types of reverse mortgage loans are:

  • Single-purpose reverse mortgages — the least expensive and least common form of reverse mortgages. These types of reverse mortgages are offered by state, local, and nonprofit agencies. 
  • Federally-insured reverse mortgages — backed by the FHA
  • Proprietary reverse mortgages — these types of mortgages are used by those who are 55 years and older and have homes with values over the maximum appraisal value of $970,800 allowed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Get a Orange County Reverse Mortgage rate quote:

Get the mortgage you deserve today.