There are several excellent books on reverse mortgages available through our bookstore or from your local public library.

But in addition, there are hundreds of free documents available online to anyone interested in reverse mortgages. These range from simple brochures outlining reverse mortgage basics to in-depth academic research papers analyzing different aspects of the reverse mortgagfe concept.

Here’s a list of four freely available documents that will give anyone seriously considering a reverse mortgage a thorough look at the good, the bad and the ugly. These documents can be viewed online or downloaded in pdf format to be read with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Home Made Money - This is AARP’s 52-page “consumers guide to reverse mortgages”. The guide is thorough and well-written. It focuses on the HUD HECM program, but covers other major reverse mortgage options only in passing. It does an especially good job of explaining the reverse vs forward mortgage concept in understandable terms.

2. Money from Home - This is Fannie Mae’s 96-page version of a “consumers guide to reverse mortgage options”. Like the AARP guide it covers the HUD HECM program in-depth but also covers its own Fannie Mae Homekeeper reverse mortgage option in detail. The document includes an excellent set of checklists and worksheets for the homeowner to use to help determine whether a reverse mortgage is a good fit.

3. Reverse Mortgages for Seniors - A three-page critique of reverse mortgages prepared by the American Institute for Economic Research. One of the better hard-nosed critiques of the reverse mortgage concept we’ve seen. Serious food for thought for anyone considering a reverse.

4. Evaluation Report of FHA’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Insurance Demonstration - This 178-page report is a comprehensive review of the HUD HECM program. Though somewhat dated (March 2000) it provides some very interesting insights into the HECM program and into reverse mortgages in general. Much of the report is technical probably of little interest to the average reader. However chapters two (”Profile of HECM Borrowers, Properties and Loans”) and five (”Borrower Feedback”) provide very helpful and interesting information.

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A Few More Related Articles of Interest:

Worthwhile Critiques of Reverse Mortgages

Example Reverse Mortgage - Alabama’s Premier Reverse Mortgage Lender

Introducing Reverse Mortgage Information Forums

Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for Me?

Special Offer for Reverse Mortgage Professionals: Free HECM Loan Data