How Much Money Could You Get from a Reverse Mortgage?

A lot of senior citizens are finding that a reverse mortgage can give them the financial security they need in retirement.

Reverse mortgages are attractive to seniors who want to supplement their income in retirement or who want to stay in their homes but do not have the resources to make monthly mortgage payments.

But how much money can you actually get from a reverse mortgage?

The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think.

 

How Reverse Mortgages Work

Before we get into how much money you can get from a reverse mortgage, let's quickly review how they work.

A reverse mortgage is a loan that's available to homeowners who are 62 years of age or older. The loan allows you to tap into the equity you've built up in your home, and it doesn't have to be repaid until the house is sold or you no longer live there.

Unlike a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage does not require the borrower to make monthly payments. Instead, the loan balance is repaid when the borrower dies or sells the property. Interest on the loan accrues over time and is added to the balance, which can increase the size of the debt and reduce the amount of equity left in the property.

 

Several Factors Affect the Amount You Can Get

Now that we've reviewed how reverse mortgages work, let's talk about how much money you can get from one. The amount of money you can borrow with a reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including:

-The Value Of Your Home

This is the most important factor in determining how much money you can borrow. To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must own your home outright or have paid down a significant portion of your mortgage.  The higher the value of your home, the more equity you have to borrow against.  Generally speaking, you can usually receive somewhere between 40% to 60% of your home's appraised value.

-Your Age 

The older you are, the more money you can borrow. This is because most people pay off the majority of their mortgage by the time they reach retirement age. Thus, if you are 82 years or older and have built up significant equity in your home, you may be able to borrow a larger amount of money than someone who is younger with less equity.

Lenders use age to gauge how long you'll have the loan, how long it will accrue interest and how long it will be before they receive payment. Because of this, older borrowers enjoy higher loan limits than younger ones.

-Current Interest Rates

Interest rates play a big role in determining how much money you can borrow with a reverse mortgage. The higher the interest rate, the less money you'll be able to borrow.  But if interest rates are low, your reverse mortgage lender will most likely offer you a higher loan amount.

How Much Money Can You Get from a Reverse Mortgage?

As you can see, the amount of money you can get from a reverse mortgage depends on a number of factors.  So what can you expect if you go through the process with a reverse mortgage lender, like a loan professional with Simple Reverse Lending?

Generally, the older you are and the more valuable your home is, the more money you can get from a reverse mortgage.

To get an idea of how much money you could potentially get from a reverse mortgage, let's assume that you are 70 years old, own a home worth $300,000, and have an interest rate of 4%. Under these circumstances, you could potentially borrow up to $120,000 from a reverse mortgage.

 

Conclusion:

Reverse mortgages can be a great way for senior citizens to get extra money to cover expenses in retirement without having to tap into their home equity without having to make monthly payments.

But exactly how much money you can get from a reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including the value of your home, your age, and current interest rates.

So, is it a good idea to use your home equity to finance your retirement?

It depends on your individual circumstances. If you're comfortable with the risks and you have a solid plan in place, it could be a great option.

But if you're not sure, you may want to talk to a financial advisor or loan professional at Simple Reverse Mortgage to see if it's right for you.