03/21/2026
Reverse Mortgage Myth: “The bank can take my home.”
This is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear about reverse mortgages in Ontario.
With a standard reverse mortgage, you stay on title and you remain the owner of your home. T
The lender has a mortgage on the property, just like a regular home loan.
They don’t just “take your house” as long as you follow the key conditions in your agreement, this is just like any other mortgage.
To keep your home under a reverse mortgage, you must:
1) Live in the home as your primary residence
2) Pay your property taxes on time
3) Keep proper home insurance in place
4) Maintain the property in reasonable condition
5) Follow the terms in your mortgage contract
If you keep living there, maintain the home, stay insured, and keep your taxes current, the mortgage usually only needs to be repaid when you sell, move out permanently, or pass away. At that point, the home is sold and the loan is paid from the sale proceeds; any remaining equity goes to you or your estate.
Where people get into trouble is when they don’t pay property taxes, let insurance lapse, or move out without repaying the loan. That’s when the lender can step in and enforce the mortgage, which can lead to the home being sold.
Reverse mortgages aren’t right for everyone, but “the bank will take your house” is not how they’re designed to work. The real question is: do you fully understand your obligations and have a plan to meet them?
If you’re thinking about a reverse mortgage and want all of this translated into plain language for your situation, send me a message and I’m happy to walk you through it.
You can also look at this resource from the Government of Canadahttps://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2010/acfc-fcac/FC5-16-2010-eng.pdf
I hope this information helps!
Rick Sekhon | Mortgage Broker
20+ years of experience helping Canadians
RMA #10464