Reverse mortgages have long been considered one of the most expensive ways to extract cash from your house. But that is changing as some of the country's biggest reverse-mortgage lenders are slicing closing costs—helping even some affluent homeowners who want to generate additional income.
Reverse mortgages allow people who are 62 years old and older to convert their home equity into cash. Instead of the homeowner writing a check to the bank each month, the bank pays the homeowner, who can elect to receive a lump sum, a line of credit or monthly payments. The loan is due, with interest, when the borrower dies, moves, sells the house, or fails to pay property taxes or homeowner's insurance. Heirs typically sell the house, pay the balance and keep whatever is left.
via online.wsj.com
Here's another article from the Wall Street Journal that talks about reverse mortgage costs coming down. I think this accurately reflects some of my conversations on the radio program.
