Getting a Reverse Mortgage? Here’s the Process in MI

It wasn’t very long ago when reverse mortgages brandished a reputation as being a high cost, high risk solution of last resort for retirees in Michigan need of income. Today, with revamped rules that lower both their cost and their risk, reverse mortgages have found legitimacy as a viable planning tool. While they are still can be a more expensive form of equity financing, they offer retirees more options with greater flexibility than other loan products. If you’re one of the thousands of people looking into a reverse mortgage, here is what you need to know about getting one.

Want to learn more? Click here to get free information about a reverse mortgage!

Know What Type You Need

There are three types of reverse mortgages from which to choose:

  1. The most popular is an HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage), which is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). There are non-HECM reverse mortgages available, but they don’t have the same consumer protections as HECMs. The lending limit for federally insured HECMs is $625,000.
  2. If you’re home is worth more than $625,000, you would need to apply for a proprietary reverse mortgage, also called a jumbo reverse mortgage.
  3. The third type is a single-purpose reverse mortgage which is available through certain local government and nonprofit organizations to assist older homeowners in covering the costs of repairs or to pay property taxes.

Know How to Qualify for a HECM in MI

To qualify for a federally insured HECM, you have to meet certain FHA requirements, including:

  • You are at least 62 years old
  • You live in the home as your primary residence. If you are married, your spouse must also live in the home whether or not she is named on the loan.
  • You are not behind on any federal debts
  • You own your home outright or have a significant amount of equity in it
  • Your home meets FHA property standards and flood requirements
  • You attend a required HECM counseling session

Know Your Payment Options in Michigan

With an HECM, you have several options for how to receive your payment. This far into the process, you should know the purpose for getting a reverse mortgage – supplementing your income, buying another home, home improvements, etc. – so you should know which payment option would serve you best. Generally, there are three options available to you: Monthly payments, which can be set for as long as you live in your house or for a fixed period of time; a one-time lump sum; or a line of credit. With a line of credit, the lender approves a maximum credit limit from which you can draw funds as you need them. Unlike the other options, you can pay back a line of credit to replenish your limit.

The Reverse Mortgage Financial Assessment

Once you submit a HECM application, the lender will complete a financial assessment. The primary reason for the assessment is to ensure you have the ability to pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance on time. Failure to make these payments is cited as the number one reason why reverse mortgage borrowers have lost their homes to foreclosure. The lender will set aside a portion of your loan proceeds to cover these obligations on an ongoing basis.

Waiting to Close

As with any type of mortgage, the time it takes to close on them varies from lender to lender, but most will come in around 30 days. The holdup in most cases is the appraisal which can be slowed by a high demand for appraisers in your area.

Getting the right reverse mortgage for your needs takes a little time, so you don’t want to hurry the process. Do your due diligence. If you have any questions or concerns along the way contact a HUD-approved counselor for guidance.

Top Michigan Reverse Mortgage Companies

You want a HECM lender that you can rely on. Though these are not recommendations, we’ve compiled a list of the largest lenders in the state. Prior to 2012, this was mostly large banks that you’ve probably heard of, like Wells Fargo. Since 2012, the list is dominated by more specialized mortgage bankers who typically focus on the HECM product exclusively.

All Time

Lender Loans Total Principal Limit
FINANCIAL FREEDOM SENIOR FUNDING CORP 2,855 282,494,561
WELLS FARGO 2,715 386,838,513
AMERICAN ADVISORS GROUP 2,405 475,250,600
ONE REVERSE MORTGAGE LLC 1,610 262,419,840
FIRST FINANCIAL MORTGAGE CORP 1,249 194,780,325
SENIORS EQUITY INCOME INC 1,023 120,140,006
UNITY MORTGAGE CORP 704 57,894,892
SUCCESS MORTGAGE PARTNERS INC 698 129,247,680
COLONIAL MORTGAGE CORP 677 89,157,105
WORLD ALLIANCE FINANCIAL CORP. 579 78,235,612
CENTURION MORTGAGE CORPORATION 535 71,784,476
FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC 454 87,579,307
PARK PLACE MORTGAGE CORP 377 37,926,513
SECURITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION 359 68,809,092
BEST MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC 345 32,603,544
FIRST ALLIANCE MORTGAGE CO 314 35,660,260
REMINGTON MORTGAGE INC 303 26,261,500
VAN DYK MORTGAGE CORPORATION 300 41,108,292
U.S. FINANCIAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION 281 26,153,800
METLIFE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 274 46,550,510

Since 2012

Lender Loans Total Principal Limit
AMERICAN ADVISORS GROUP 2,401 474,803,100
ONE REVERSE MORTGAGE LLC 1,120 194,041,740
SUCCESS MORTGAGE PARTNERS INC 298 62,920,400
FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC 267 65,466,857
LIBERTY HOME EQUITY SOLUTIONS INC 222 34,801,000
LONGBRIDGE FINANCIAL LLC 176 48,792,938
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE INC. 157 42,652,675
PROFICIO MORTGAGE VENTURES LLC 133 22,421,138
SECURITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION 127 27,767,734
LIVE WELL FINANCIAL INC 111 20,549,300

Want to learn more? Click here to get free information about a reverse mortgage!

Interest Rates

Based on monthly data from HUD, we’ve calculated the average interest rates for each month:

Current Rates

Date Fixed Rate Adjustable Rate
2019-01-01 NA 5.26%
2019-02-01 4.56% 5.26%
2019-03-01 NA 5.02%
2019-04-01 NA 5.06%
2019-05-01 4.50% 4.83%
2019-06-01 NA 4.93%
2019-07-01 NA 4.90%
2019-08-01 NA 4.38%
2019-09-01 NA 4.55%
2019-10-01 NA 4.53%
2019-11-01 5.31% 4.30%
2019-12-01 3.75% 4.24%
2020-01-01 4.56% 4.43%
2020-02-01 NA 4.21%
2020-03-01 NA 4.15%
2020-04-01 NA 3.93%
2020-05-01 NA 3.84%
2020-06-01 NA 3.46%
2020-07-01 NA 3.31%
2020-08-01 NA 3.43%
2020-09-01 NA 3.30%
2020-10-01 3.81% 2.95%
2020-11-01 3.62% 3.02%
2020-12-01 NA 3.02%
2021-01-01 4.81% 2.91%
2021-02-01 3.37% 2.91%
2021-03-01 3.37% 2.64%
2021-04-01 NA 2.57%
2021-05-01 3.43% 2.56%
2021-06-01 3.31% 2.26%
2021-07-01 NA 2.33%
2021-08-01 3.43% 2.30%
2021-09-01 3.25% 2.39%
2021-10-01 3.38% 2.36%
2021-11-01 3.37% 2.31%
2021-12-01 4.18% 2.35%
2022-01-01 3.31% 2.55%
2022-02-01 3.48% 2.58%
2022-03-01 3.06% 2.95%
2022-05-01 4.37% 3.97%
2022-04-01 3.18% 3.49%
2022-06-01 3.31% 4.11%
2022-07-01 4.43% 4.71%
2022-08-01 NA 5.15%
2022-09-01 NA 5.75%
2022-10-01 5.93% 6.23%
2022-11-01 NA 6.66%
2022-12-01 5.81% 7.15%
2023-01-01 NA 7.02%
2023-02-01 NA 7.27%
2023-03-01 NA 7.41%
2023-04-01 NA 7.12%
2023-05-01 NA 6.87%
2023-06-01 NA 7.27%
2023-07-01 NA 7.39%
2023-08-01 NA 7.70%
2023-09-01 NA 7.65%
2023-10-01 NA 7.55%
2023-11-01 NA 7.65%
2023-12-01 NA 7.63%
2024-01-01 NA 7.66%

Historic Rates

Date Fixed Rate Adjustable Rate
2016-01-01 4.78% 3.54%
2016-02-01 5.04% 3.70%
2016-03-01 5.06% 3.81%
2016-04-01 5.06% 3.92%
2016-05-01 5.02% 4.05%
2016-06-01 5.06% 4.12%
2016-07-01 5.04% 4.21%
2016-08-01 5.06% 4.14%
2016-09-01 5.05% 4.37%
2016-10-01 5.02% 4.58%
2016-11-01 5.06% 4.66%
2016-12-01 5.06% 4.71%
2017-01-01 5.06% 4.80%
2017-02-01 4.96% 4.75%
2017-03-01 4.92% 4.59%
2017-04-01 5.05% 4.52%
2017-05-01 5.05% 4.44%
2017-06-01 5.04% 4.35%
2017-07-01 5.05% 4.40%
2017-08-01 5.06% 4.48%
2017-09-01 5.06% 4.47%
2017-10-01 5.02% 4.49%
2017-11-01 5.01% 4.63%
2017-12-01 5.06% 4.68%
2018-01-01 5.06% 4.65%
2018-02-01 4.94% 4.74%
2018-03-01 4.78% 4.66%
2018-04-01 4.89% 4.80%
2018-05-01 4.69% 4.86%
2018-06-01 5.06% 4.80%
2018-07-01 4.88% 4.76%
2018-08-01 4.57% 4.91%
2018-09-01 5.24% 4.95%
2018-10-01 4.70% 4.91%
2018-11-01 4.77% 5.05%
2018-12-01 4.95% 5.10%

Leading Cities in MI by HECM Loans Originated

As you might expect, Detroit leads other cities in Michigan by a large margin with over 5000 reverse mortgages originated since the program began in the 1980s.

Rank City Zip Total
1 DETROIT 48221 613
2 DETROIT 48235 553
3 DETROIT 48227 433
4 DETROIT 48204 392
5 DETROIT 48238 370
6 DETROIT 48219 313
7 DETROIT 48206 294
8 DETROIT 48234 272
9 DETROIT 48213 235
10 DETROIT 48214 203
11 INKSTER 48141 199
12 TAYLOR 48180 191
13 DETROIT 48228 190
14 DETROIT 48224 183
15 OAK PARK 48237 167
16 FLINT 48505 166
17 SOUTHFIELD 48075 142
18 WESTLAND 48185 137
19 LIVONIA 48154 133
20 ROSEVILLE 48066 129
21 DETROIT 48203 129
22 DETROIT 48210 129
23 DETROIT 48205 126
24 ROYAL OAK 48073 125
25 DETROIT 48202 125
26 DETROIT 48217 121
27 TRAVERSE CITY 49686 117
28 ANN ARBOR 48103 113
29 FLINT 48504 111
30 NILES 49120 110

Housing Counselors

BRIDGING COMMUNITIES, INC.
6900 MCGRAW STREET, DETROIT MI 48210
(313) 361-6377
BridgingCommunities.org

CENTER FOR FINANCIAL HEALTH
600 W MAPLE ST, LANSING MI 48906-5093
(517) 708-2550
http://www.centerforfinancialhealth.org

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
2055 SPRING ARBOR RD, JACKSON MI 49203-2705
(888) 860-4167
http://www.greenpath.com

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
44978 FORD RD SUITE C, CANTON MI 48187-5086
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
27780 NOVI RD SUITE 105, NOVI MI 48377-3401
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
271 WOODLAND PASS SUITE 125, EAST LANSING MI 48823-2060
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
3501 LAKE EASTBROOK BLVD SE SUITE 222, GRAND RAPIDS MI 49546-5938
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
131 COLUMBIA AVE E SUITE 112, BATTLE CREEK MI 49015-3788
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
3210 RACQUET CLUB DR SUITE A, TRAVERSE CITY MI 49684-4704
(888) 860-4167

GREENPATH, INC.
36500 CORPORATE DRIVE, FARMINGTON HILLS MI 48331-3553
(888) 860-4167

OAKLAND COUNTY HOUSING COUNSELING
250 ELIZABETH LAKE RD STE 1900, PONTIAC MI 48341-1035
(248) 858-1189
http://www.oakgov.com/chi

Want to learn more? Click here to get free information about a reverse mortgage!