What’s the Difference?
A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) are both loans that allow borrowers to access their home equity as usable funds.
HECM Defined
Commonly known as a reverse mortgage, a HECM is a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)1 insured loan available to homeowners 62 and older. It enables borrowers to access a portion of their home equity without having to make monthly mortgage payments.2 Proceeds from the loan can be received as a lump sum,3 monthly payments, or as a line of credit. The borrower must continue to pay their property taxes and homeowners insurance.
HELOC Defined
A HELOC is a loan against the home equity that acts like a credit card: it has a credit limit that one can borrow against. The borrower must pay all or part of the balance in order to borrow again up to the credit limit. The draw period usually lasts 5 to 10 years, during which time the borrower is only required to pay interest on money withdrawn. At the end of the draw period, the repayment period begins and is usually about 10 to 20 years. During the repayment period, the borrower must pay both principal and interest to pay off the entire loan balance, either through installments or a single payment.
Let’s take a look at a simple comparison of the HECM vs. HELOC.
| HECM | HELOC | |
| Rate Type | Adjustable or fixed interest rate | Adjustable interest rate only |
Repayment Term | No repayment for as long as the borrower continues to meet the loan obligations2 | Repayment of the lineof credit principal and interest is required within 10-20 years. Monthly payments are drastically higher once entered into the repayment period. |
Line of credit accessibility | Line of credit stays open and available regardless of the housing market conditions and/or deterioration of the borrower’s credit | The lender reserves the right to freeze the line of credit when adverse information emerges about the borrow-er’s credit or when market conditions deteriorate |
Growth Rate | Unused funds in the line of credit grow over time4allowing the borrower to have more borrowing capacity | Borrower must request a line of credit increase. Generally, a review of the property value and the borrower’s credit and financials is required |
| Age Restriction | Available to homeowners 62+ | No age restriction |
Other Eligibility Requirements | Requires equity in the home. The borrower must meet financial eligibility criteria as established by HUD | Requires equity in the home, good credit, and enough income to make monthly payments |
| Best Use | May be best for long-term borrowing | May be best for short-term borrowing |
Both products have pros and cons, so choosing the product that’s right for you depends on your financial goals. If you’re a senior homeowner looking to use a line of credit from your home’s equity, consider a reverse mortgage. Try our reverse mortgage calculator above or call 1 (800) 976-6211 to speak with a licensed loan advisor.
Important Disclosures
1As required by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), you will be charged an initial mortgage insurance premium (MIP) at closing and, over the life of the loan, you will be charged an annual MIP based on the loan balance.
2Your current mortgage(s) and any other existing liens against the property must be paid off at or before closing. You must live in the home as your primary residence, continue to pay required property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintain the home according to FHA requirements. Failure to meet these requirements can trigger a loan default that may result in foreclosure.
3This disbursement option is only available for a fixed rate loan.
4The “line of credit growth feature” -once you secure a traditional Home Equity Line of Credit, the total amount you can borrow is set at the time you sign the loan. But with a Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit, the unused portion of your credit line grows over time, independent of your home’s value. That means that the less you take upfront, the more you’ll be able to borrow later. As long as you meet your loan obligations, your Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit cannot be reduced.