A
loan borrowed against the
value of one's home. In this situation, the
lender gives the
borrower the amount of the loan and the borrower makes no payments and retains
title to his/her home. When the borrower moves from the house or dies, the lender takes possession of the home, which it then sells to repay the loan. Any extra profit is remitted to the borrower or his/her
estate. A lifetime reverse mortgage allows a homeowner to access his/her home's
equity without the inconvenience of moving. It is a financial instrument designed to help homeowners who are cash poor, and is limited to senior citizens. In the United States, one must be 62 years old in order to be eligible for a lifetime reverse mortgage, while the U.K. requires potential borrowers to be at least 55. It is also known as a lifetime reverse mortgage.