The 5 best alternatives to a reverse mortgage

CNBC

31-05-2025

If you're an older homeowner looking for an infusion of cash, a reverse mortgage could seem like a no-brainer. there is no minimum credit score requirement and — as long as you stay current with your insurance premiums, home repairs and property taxes — no payments is due until you sell the house, stop living there full-time or pass away.
But there are some major restrictions: To qualify for a government-backed home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), the most common reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 and have 50% equity in your home.
There are also unique risks: When you leave the house (or if you fall behind on upkeep), the loan and interest come due in full. That could leave you or your heirs with a thorny financial mess and even the prospect of foreclosure.
So, before you apply for a reverse mortgage, consider these alternatives.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.Apply online for personalized ratesHECM, HomeSafe Standard jumbo, HomeSafe Second second lien, EquityAvail
Terms applyApply for personalized ratesHECM reverse, HECM for purchase, Platinum Mortgage (proprietary loan with larger limits and a low age requirement of over 55)
Terms apply
Like a reverse mortgage, a HELOC lets you access cash by borrowing against the equity in your home. It's a revolving line of credit, so you can borrow only what you need during the draw period, which typically lasts 10 years, and only have to make payments on the interest.
After the draw period ends, however, you'll need to make monthly payments on the principal and interest, typically over a 20-year timeframe.
You can use the funds for whatever you want, but if you invest in significant home renovations or repairs, a portion of the interest is tax-deductible.
Minimum credit score: 620Home equity: At least 15% to 20%Debt-to-income ratio: 43% or less for the best rates, 50% at the most.
A home equity loan is another way to get cash using the value of your home. Your lender will provide you with a one-time lump sum payment that you'll start repaying immediately and continue for a period of anywhere from 5 to 30 years.Like a HELOC, a portion of the interest on a home equity loan is tax-deductible if you use the money for home improvement.
Minimum credit score: 620Home equity: At least 15% to 20%Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50% at most, 43% for the best rates
If you want a significant payout with less risk, cash-out refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a larger loan that allows you to take the excess as cash. You can typically get approved for up to 80% of your home's value, and in some cases, as much as 100%.
If your home is worth $400,000, for example, and you have $100,000 remaining on your mortgage, you could refinance with a loan for $320,000 (an 80% loan-to-value ratio). The first $100,000 is applied toward your existing mortgage, and the remainder is turned over to you for whatever you want to spend it on.
The repayment terms are similar to a purchase mortgage: Typically, you'll have a 30-year term with a fixed interest rate. There's still the risk of losing your home, but you'll be making smaller monthly payments rather than one big one.
Minimum credit score: 620Home equity: Typically 20%, but as low as 0% with some loansMaximum debt-to-income ratio: 50% at most, 43% for best rates
With a home equity sharing agreement, an investor pays you cash in exchange for a portion of the value of your home. Like a reverse mortgage, you repay their investment when you sell the property (or after a term specified in your contract).
One benefit of a home equity sharing arrangement is that the credit requirements are much more flexible than a HELOC, home equity loan or cash-out refinancing.
Minimum credit score: 500Home equity: 25%Maximum debt-to-income ratio: None
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.15 to 30 years50025%10, 15 or 20 years68020%
If you don't want to take out a home loan or sign away a portion of your equity, you could downsize to a more modest property.
Existing homeowners are sitting on an average of about $310,000 in home equity, according to ICE Mortgage data, which would be money in your pocket if you sold.
You could even relocate to an area with a lower cost of living and save on homeowners insurance, property taxes and other housing expenses.
A reverse mortgage allows borrowers to access cash through a loan backed by the value of their home. Unlike a home equity loan or line of credit, the borrower does not need to make any payments until they sell the house, move out or die. Then, the loan and interest is due in full.
Reverse mortgages require a balloon payment 30 days after the borrower sells the property, stops using it as their primary residence or dies. In addition, the loan will come due in full if you fail to stay current with property taxes or homeowners insurance.
A home equity conversion mortgage, or HECM, is the most common type of reverse mortgage. It is backed by the Federal Housing Administration and, in 2025, is capped at $1,209,750.
Home equity loans and HELOCs are harder to be approved for than a reverse mortgage, but they have fewer risks, lower costs, and more tax advantages. In addition, they don't have age requirements and require less home equity.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.