Mortgages & Home Loans Using Your Home Equity What Happens to a Reverse Mortgage When You Die? If you have a reverse mortgage and die, your family has several options By Eric Rosenberg Eric Rosenberg Facebook Twitter Website Eric Rosenberg is a financial writer with more than a decade of experience working in banking and corporate accounting. He specializes in writing about cryptocurrencies, investing and banking among other personal finance topics. Eric has an MBA in finance from the University of Denver. learn about our editorial policies Updated on July 28, 2022 Reviewed by Doretha Clemon Fact checked by Jane Meacham Fact checked by Jane Meacham Twitter Jane is a freelance editor for The Balance with more than 30 years of experience editing and writing about personal finance and other financial and economic subjects. learn about our editorial policies In This Article View All In This Article How Reverse Mortgages Work When You Die Reverse Mortgage Options After You Die When Spouses May Have To Repay Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Terry Vine / Getty Images A reverse mortgage is a type of loan for older adults that makes monthly payments to the borrower over their lifetime. However, the loan must be repaid when the borrower passes away. While the loan must be repaid within a specific period, the heirs have flexible options, whether they decide to sell or keep the property. If you’re considering a reverse mortgage or already have one, you likely want to know more about what happens to the mortgage when you die. Here’s a closer look at your family’s options, when spouses may have to repay a reverse mortgage loan, and how you may be able to set up a reverse mortgage to meet your long-term goals. Key Takeaways A reverse mortgage makes regular payments during an older homeowner’s lifetime from their equity in the home. When the reverse-mortgage holder dies, the amount owed on the loan must be repaid fairly quickly, usually by selling the home. Family members or heirs may choose to pay off or refinance the loan to keep the home. If the deceased’s spouse is listed as a co-borrower, the reverse mortgage should continue uninterrupted while the co-borrower is alive. If not registered as a co-borrower, the surviving spouse has options to remain in the home after the borrower’s death. How Reverse Mortgages Work When You Die A reverse mortgage is a type of home equity loan that makes regular payments to the borrower over their lifetime. When the borrower passes away, the loan balance must be repaid in full within a reasonable but limited time. Note Like a mortgage, the loan is tied to an underlying property. But unlike a regular mortgage, the lender pays you every month, instead of your paying the lender. Over time, the loan balance gradually increases, including principal and interest. In most cases, the lender requires the owner to live in the property full-time and maintain the home in good condition. When the borrower passes away, the loan must be repaid, typically by selling the home. However, if the family or other heirs prefer to keep the home, they can choose to pay off the loan, commonly by refinancing. Reverse Mortgage Options After You Die If you have a reverse mortgage and pass away, there typically are clear guidelines explaining how the estate should handle the loan and property. The following are the most common reverse mortgage options after you die. Co-Borrower Remains in the Home If you are married and have your spouse as a co-borrower, or another live-in partner who’s a co-borrower on the loan, they can typically stay in the house and continue with the loan. Once that person passes away, either of the following situations can occur. When a co-borrower becomes the sole living borrower on the reverse mortgage, they may choose to sell the home and pay off the loan or refinance to keep the reverse mortgage. Sell the Property To Pay Off the Loan Most commonly, when the borrower or borrowers on a reverse mortgage pass away, their heirs sell the home to pay off the loan. If your heirs sell the property and the home proceeds are more than the loan balance, your heirs can keep the excess funds. Note If the property is sold and there are not enough funds to pay the remaining balance, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insurance pays the difference. The rules protect your family from paying more for the home if you pass away, even if the house isn’t valuable enough to cover the reverse mortgage debt. Heirs have 30 days to repay the loan after receiving the due and payable notice from the lender, although this can be extended for up to a year. Pay the Loan and Retain the Property If your heirs want to keep the home, they must repay the loan balance in full or 95% of its appraised value, whichever is less. This protects your family from having to pay more than the home is worth to keep it. For a beloved family home, the ability to pay off the reverse mortgage and keep the property is a key loan feature. As with a sale, the heirs may have a year to figure out the financing before they’re forced to repay the loan. When Spouses May Have To Repay Reverse Mortgages If you’re married, it’s essential to set up a reverse mortgage with care. If you make yourself the only borrower, your spouse could be forced out of the home when you pass away if they don’t have the money to pay off the loan. Spouse Is a Co-Borrower If the spouse is listed as a co-borrower on the loan, the reverse mortgage should continue unimpeded as long as the co-borrower is alive. This lets you rest easy that your loved one won’t lose their home when you’re no longer around. Spouse Is Not a Co-Borrower Even if your spouse is not on the loan, an eligible non-borrowing spouse can stay in the home. Note The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has rules that allow the non-borrowing spouse to remain in the house after the borrower’s death. If your loan originated on or after Aug. 4, 2014, an eligible non-borrowing spouse can stay in the property even if the borrower moves into a health-care facility or passes away. There are precise rules on these circumstances, so it’s good to look into the details if they pertain to your situation. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How long do you have to pay off a reverse mortgage after the borrower dies? After the borrower dies, the lender sends a letter called a due and payable notice. By default, the family has 30 days from this point to pay off the loan balance. However, this may be extended by up to a year, to allow time to sell the home or arrange outside financing. What is the interest rate on reverse mortgages? Reverse mortgage rates vary by lender and loan terms. Rates are reasonably close to standard mortgage rates, though it’s always wise to shop around for the best rates and terms when in the market for any large loan. Want to read more content like this? Sign up for The Balance’s newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “What Is a Reverse Mortgage?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “What Happens to My Reverse Mortgage When I Die?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “If I Have a Reverse Mortgage Loan, Will My Children or Heirs Be Able to Keep My Home After I Die?” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM).”