7 Common Questions About Reverse Mortgages

Reverse Mortgages have been around for quite some time in Canada – over 25 years now. But there are still a number of questions surrounding them that we see from people time and time again.

I thought it would be a good idea to address some of these questions.

Designed for Canadians 55 and over, reverse mortgages in Canada are designed to allow you to access the built up equity in your house (up to 55% of the home value) without having to make payments on the principal or interest. It’s a great way for those entering or in retirement to enjoy consistent income all without having to worry about repaying the loan until they are ready to move or sell their home.

There are a number of key differences. The first is that a Reverse Mortgage doesn’t require you to provide your credit score or income.

Second, you don’t have to make any payments on the Reverse Mortgage until you sell or move, whereas a HELOC will require regular monthly payments. Find out more about the difference in this article on reverse mortgage vs home equity line of credit.

The good news is that, on average, homeowners have well over 50% of the value of their home left after repaying their loan. 99% of them have money left over. And this money is yours of course. There are a number of things to consider to know for sure how much equity you would have left, however, such as the amount of your loan, value of your home, and the amount of time that has passed since you took out the loan.

In fact, the lenders deliberately lend less money if you’re younger (the closer you are to 55, the lower the amount you can get) – for more on this and to see the numbers on how this works, read our article on how much can you get in a reverse mortgage.

No. You will never be required to sell your home on account of this mortgage. You maintain control and ownership over your home. Only when you decide to sell would you ever have to repay the loan.

The surviving spouse is under no obligations to make a repayment on the loan or sell the house.

Only if you are the sole borrower and you pass away would your estate be required to repay your loan after they sell your home.

However, if you are married then your spouse would also need to qualify. This is for their protection as it is is something that gave reverse mortgages a bad reputation in other countries – see this article for more information on this: examining the bad reputation of reverse mortgages.

Interest rates mirror the rates charged on other home equity loans. They are usually somewhat higher than the rates charged for a Home Equity Line of Credit because you are not required to make monthly payments or repay the loan until you move or sell your home. Check out our article on reverse mortgage rates and penalties for more information.

There are several lenders offering a reverse mortgage in Canada now.

If you need advice to decide if this is the right fit for you (or not), then please feel free to click here to get a free assessment here.

Mich Sneddon, CPA, CA

A Canadian Chartered Accountant and licensed Mortgage Professional – creator of Reverse Mortgage Pros – the #1 reverse mortgage specialists in Canada.  I make it my mission to educate Canadians about how reverse mortgages work so that you can make an informed and educated decision that’s right for you and your family.