Are there different types of reverse mortgages?

Most reverse mortgage loans today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  In addition to HECM loans, some lenders may offer proprietary reverse mortgage loans, which are not insured by the federal government and are typically designed for borrowers with higher home values.

Some state and local governments and non-profit organizations also offer single-purpose reverse mortgage loans. These reverse mortgage loans may be used only for the purpose specified by the lender (for example home repairs or property taxes). They may only be available in some areas and they may be only for homeowners with low to moderate income. These non-HECM reverse mortgage loans are not federally insured.

How to shop for a reverse mortgage

If you are interested in a reverse mortgage loan, you should compare loan options, fees, and interest rates from several lenders to make sure you will get the loan features you want and the lowest interest rate possible.