Learn About HECM Reverse Mortgages
Free, plain-language guides to help you understand how FHA-insured reverse mortgages work — before you talk to a lender.
What Is a HECM?
How an FHA-insured reverse mortgage works, how it differs from a forward mortgage, and why FHA insurance matters for borrowers.
Read more → 02HECM Eligibility
Who qualifies: the age 62 rule, primary residence requirement, equity threshold, eligible property types, and 2026 FHA lending limits.
Read more → 03HECM Costs & Fees
Upfront costs, ongoing fees, how they're structured, and what the HUD funding table means for your loan balance.
Read more → 04Common Myths vs. Facts
Separating fact from fiction: the bank owns your home, you'll owe more than it's worth, your heirs can't inherit — and why these aren't true.
Read more → 05FHA Protections
Non-recourse protection, the HUD counseling requirement, your rights as a borrower, and the safeguards built into every HECM.
Read more → 06How Proceeds Are Calculated
The principal limit formula — how your age, interest rates, home value, and existing mortgage balance determine how much you can access through a HECM.
Read more → 07HECM vs. HELOC vs. Cash-Out
Side-by-side comparison of HECM, HELOC, and cash-out refinance — monthly obligations, non-recourse protection, risk to heirs, and which product fits which situation.
Read more →Have a specific question? Check our HECM FAQ page →