Reverse Mortgage Loans: Better than a Second Mortgage from: There are so many different kinds of loans that it can be very hard to keep track of them all. Even with mortgage loans, there are so many different kinds. Take reverse mortgage loans, for instance. Most people don't even know that they exist.

If they need extra money, they get a second mortgage or a home equity loan instead. While these are valid options, they do provide more of a risk. Well, reverse mortgage loans are similar because they use your existing equity to give you money.

However, they are actually much better than what you would get with those other loans. Reverse mortgages work a little differently. Instead of giving you a new loan like a second mortgage or a home equity would do, it really just gives you cash on the equity that you've built up on your home. Equity is the amount your home is worth beyond what you already owe. For instance, if you have a house that is worth $150,000 and you still owe $100,000 on the original loan, that means you have built up $50,000 in equity. The big difference between reverse mortgage loans and other, similar loans is the repayment. With this federal loan, you don't have to repay it until you no longer live in that house. If you continue living in the house, you don't have to worry about paying it back. If you do sell your house, the portion that you received from reverse mortgage loans will be taken out of the money you get from the sale.Not everyone can reap the benefits of reverse mortgage loans, though.

Since this is a federal type of loan, they have very strict rules. For one, you need to be living in this house. It should be your main residence. It can also be either a single family home, or up to a four family residence. Finally, there is an age requirement. You need to be at least 62 years old in order to get one of these loans. These are the main rules regarding reverse mortgages. If you feel that you may qualify, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. These loans are really much better than home equity or second mortgage loans. There are many benefits to reverse mortgages that you don't get with the other loans. These are especially helpful if you plan to live in your house for an extended period of time, because you won't have to pay it off until you plan to move.

This is one of the best mortgage loans out there and worth the trouble in order to receive it.