Publication from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “CFPB”.  Reverse mortgages can be a nightmare, leaving your spouse evicted from their home once the signing spouse dies.  This in-depth guide teaches current reverse mortgage borrowers about their rights and responsibilities under a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan. Topics include how a borrower can fulfill their loan obligation, what to do if receive a notice of foreclosure, loan payback options, and more.

The guide is designed to assist reverse mortgage borrowers meet their ongoing responsibilities under a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the most common type of reverse mortgage loan.

Topics include:

• The reverse mortgage loan requirements
• How a borrower may pay-off their reverse mortgage loan
• What happens after the borrower moves out of the home or dies
• What default means and how a borrower may find help
• What heirs may need to know

The guide also includes a glossary of commonly used terms and a list of resources that borrowers can use to find help.

The CFPB’s reverse mortgage resources are free and available to download or order.

For more information on reverse mortgages, visit consumerfinance.gov/reversemortgage.

Although the You have a reverse mortgage: Know your rights and responsibilities guide does not address protections for reverse mortgage borrowers affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19, you can learn more about these protections by visiting the Unified Housing Hub.

Thank you,

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Note from Diane:

Please don’t jeopardize your future security by assuming you know the law.
Why taking out a reverse mortgage is almost never a good idea —: https://www.businessinsider.com/reverse-mortgage-what-it-is-and-why-its-a-bad-idea-2018-4

Seniors should not be faced with homelessness because their spouse signed a reverse mortgage not understanding the legal consequences. Don’t misunderstand me, there are good reverse mortgages that help the homeowner to stay in their home for as long as physically and psychologically possible. Unfortunately, sleazy lenders saw seniors as easy targets for scams.