04/22/2024
Reverse mortgage loans offer numerous advantages, including flexible repayment options.
The non-recourse feature is a particularly powerful advantage among these benefits. When a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan matures, the debt obligation is typically settled through the home sale. If the sale price fails to cover the full loan balance, neither the borrower nor their heirs bear personal liability for the shortfall, thanks to the FHA's guarantee. This safeguard is known as the loan's non-recourse feature.
Conversely, the borrower or heirs retain the excess proceeds if the home sells for more than the loan balance. Additionally, if heirs wish to keep the home for themselves, they can pay (refinance) the full loan balance, up to 95% of the property's appraised value.