One of the most powerful features of an FHA-insured reverse mortgage is the line of credit option. Unlike a traditional HELOC, the unused portion of a HECM line of credit can grow over time — giving you a larger pool of funds available later without your having to qualify again. Here's how it works and why it matters for retirement planning.
How the LOC Works
When you get a HECM, you don't have to take all your available proceeds at once. You can leave some (or all) in a line of credit. You can draw from it when you need it — for home repairs, medical expenses, travel, or simply peace of mind. You're not required to make monthly principal and interest payments on what you've drawn; the balance grows over time and is repaid when the loan becomes due (when you no longer live in the home). You still must pay property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. For a full overview of how reverse mortgages work, see our homeowner guide.
The Guaranteed Growth Feature
The standout feature is growth on the unused portion. The amount of credit available to you (the line of credit balance you haven't drawn) increases over time at a rate tied to your loan's interest rate plus the ongoing FHA mortgage insurance premium (often around 0.5% annually). So if you don't touch the line, the amount you can borrow later can be meaningfully larger than what you had available at closing. No other mainstream product offers this kind of guaranteed growth on unused credit. A regular HELOC has a fixed limit; it doesn't grow, and the lender can freeze or reduce it. With a HECM LOC, the growth is built into the loan terms.
Comparison to a HELOC
With a HELOC, you typically make monthly payments on what you've borrowed, and the line doesn't grow — it can even be reduced or frozen by the lender in a downturn. With a HECM line of credit, you don't make monthly mortgage payments on the amount you've drawn, and the unused portion grows. That makes the HECM LOC especially attractive for retirees who want a backup source of funds they might use years later. We compare reverse mortgages and HELOCs in more detail in reverse mortgage vs. HELOC.
Growth Rate and an Example Over 10 Years
The growth rate is typically your note rate plus the ongoing MIP (e.g., if the rate is 6.5% and MIP is 0.5%, the line grows at roughly 7% per year on the unused amount). So if you leave $100,000 in the line at closing and don't touch it, in 10 years that available credit could be roughly double (depending on the exact rate). That's not a guarantee of future dollars in your pocket — it's growth in the amount you're allowed to borrow. When you draw, you're borrowing against that larger pool. You can use our calculator to see estimated proceeds and how a line of credit might look; the results include line-of-credit growth projections.
Strategic Uses and Why Planners Recommend a Standby LOC
Many financial planners suggest opening a HECM line of credit early in retirement and leaving it mostly unused — a "standby" LOC. That way, the line grows over time. If you never need it, you've paid the upfront costs but have a large backup. If you do need it later (health care, home modifications, market downturn), you have access to a larger amount than you would have had without the growth feature. It can also help with "sequence of returns" risk: drawing from the LOC in a down market instead of selling investments can help preserve a portfolio. Whether a standby LOC is right for you depends on your age, equity, and goals — but it's a strategy worth understanding. For more on using a reverse mortgage in a retirement plan, see 5 ways a reverse mortgage can strengthen your retirement.
If you'd like to see how much you might have available and how your line of credit could grow, try our reverse mortgage calculator. When you're ready to discuss your situation, reach out — I'm happy to walk through the numbers and options with you.
Have questions about reverse mortgages or want to see how much you might access? Try our calculator or schedule a conversation with Jerry.