Mortgages & Home Loans Using Your Home Equity What Is a Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit? By Mike Price Updated on July 31, 2022 Reviewed by Lea D. Uradu Fact checked by Rebecca McClay In This Article View All In This Article Definition and Examples How Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit Works Requirements Reverse Mortgage vs. Home Equity Photo: Steve Smith / Getty Images Definition A reverse mortgage line of credit is a financial product that allows retired homeowners to access the equity in their homes without having to make payments. Instead, the debt is either settled after the consumer’s death or when the house is sold. Definition and Examples of Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit A reverse mortgage line of credit allows retired homeowners to access the equity in their homes without making monthly payments as you do with other products like a home equity line of credit (HELOC). The most common reverse mortgage line of credit is a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) that is used as a line of credit. With a reverse mortgage, the borrower is not required to make payments, and the balance can accrue until it is paid off when the house is sold either by the borrower or their heirs. The line of credit means that funding works similarly to a credit card in that the borrower can withdraw funds, up to their credit limit, as they need. Also like with a credit card, the balance can be paid down to free up that amount for future borrowing. Reverse mortgage lines of credit are only for those over age 62. So, let’s say you are older than 62 and fully own your home, which is worth $400,000. You could apply for an HECM to start a $250,000 reverse mortgage line of credit. If approved, you’d be able to withdraw part of the $250,000 balance when needed and interest would only accrue on the active balance. How Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit Works The HECM program is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). It is the only reverse mortgage that the federal government insures. You can apply for an HECM through an FHA-approved lender, which includes most medium- to large-sized banks. There are also private options, but the lack of federal insurance on those loans may incentivize the bank to charge more in fees or interest to balance the risk. The federal insurance also guarantees the home value at the time of the loan, so your heirs won’t be required to pay more than the property value. Note Before you can apply for an HECM, you are required to meet with a counselor. The counselor will explain how the loan works, all associated costs, alternatives, and discuss your financial situation. You can find counselors on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website. The lender will have the house appraised, and verify that you meet the requirements for an HECM. The lender also has to underwrite whether you’re willing and able to make normal house expenses, such as maintenance, property taxes, and insurance. The lender may require that part of the loan funds be set aside for these types of expenses. Payment Options Once you’re approved, you can choose between several payment options, including single disbursement, monthly payments for a specified term, and the line of credit. Take care to understand the costs associated with HECMs. Reverse mortgages typically have higher interest rates than normal mortgages. They also have several costs, including loan origination fees, mortgage counseling fees, closing costs, mortgage and homeowners insurance premiums, loan servicing fees, and other normal expenses such as property tax. Note If you choose to use a line of credit, you can generally withdraw up to 60% of the loan amount in the first year. Interest then accrues on the loan balance, and you can pay down the principal balance if you want to free up credit and lower the accruing interest. Requirements for Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit Here are the federal requirements for the borrower of an HECM reverse mortgage line of credit: Age 62 years or olderMust have a considerable amount of equity in homeProperty must be considered the borrower's principal residenceBorrower cannot have any delinquent federal debtBorrower must be financially capable of paying ongoing expenses such as property tax, insurance, and maintenance; the lender will use a credit history, income and personal balance sheet analysis, and historical payments of taxes and insurance to underwrite this requirement.Borrower must participate in an information session with a HUD-approved counselor Property types that are accepted as collateral for an HECM include: Single-family residence or two-to four-unit homeHUD-approved condoCondo units that meet FHA single-unit requirementsManufactured home that meets FHA requirements Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit vs. Home Equity Line of Credit A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a line of credit that uses the equity in your home as collateral. Unlike HECMs, HELOCs can be acquired on any home that you own, even if it isn’t your primary residence. There are no age requirements for HELOCs. HELOCs are revolving lines of credit, like a credit card, which means the principal balance of the loan must eventually be paid off. Typically, you will have access to the line of credit for a set period of time, making only interest payments. Then, during the repayment period, you will pay both principal and interest. Because HELOCs have required payments, the lender will underwrite the loan based on both the collateral value (like with a reverse mortgage) and the borrower’s ability to make the loan payments. Note The other key difference between HELOCs and HECMs is cost. HELOCs may have closing costs and origination fees like HECMs, but the interest rate is usually lower. Other associated costs are either not required in HELOC origination or have immaterial costs. HECMs have higher initial costs, which are often charged to the loan, but no required payments. HELOCs have lower initial costs, but they require monthly payments. Your personal situation will ultimately determine which loan product may be right for you. Key Takeaways Reverse mortgage lines of credit allow seniors to access the equity in their residence without having to move or make loan payments.With a line of credit, the borrower only accrues interest on the balance.HELOCs are similar to reverse mortgages, but are underwritten on borrower repayment ability and have lower fees. 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. Federal Trade Commission. “Reverse Mortgages.” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Reverse Mortgages: A Discussion Guide.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “HUD FHA Reverse Mortgage for Seniors (HECM).” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Program (Section 255).” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “How Much Will a Reverse Mortgage Loan Cost?”