Predominantly in France, the
sale of a house, usually by an elderly person, in which the
seller retains
usufruct of the house. The
buyer makes a
down payment and continual monthly
payments until the seller decides to move or dies. At that point, the payments cease and the buyer takes possession of the property. This gives the seller the right to remain in his/her home while also allowing him/her to tap into the house's
equity. The buyer has the possibility of purchasing a house for a small amount of money, especially if the seller dies soon after the sale. See also:
Lifetime reverse mortgage.