Reverse Mortgage Basics: Reverse Mortgage Insurance

A common question is why do I have to pay mortgage insurance on a reverse mortgage? The answer is protection. For the borrower, a federally-insured reverse mortgage comes with the benefit that you will receive loan payments as outlined by the terms of the loan, and you will never owe more than your home is worth. This benefit is guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration through its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program, which is the primary reverse mortgage program available on the market today. In order to be protected and receive that guarantee, borrowers pay for it through reverse mortgage premiums. There is a one-time upfront mortgage insurance premium at the time of closing the loan, as well as an annual insurance premium which are both paid to FHA. Currently, as of the date of this article, the upfront mortgage insurance premium is a flat 2% of the appraised value of the home or the FHA maximum lending limit of $679,650, whichever is less. The ongoi...