The five HECM payout structures
- Lump sum (fixed rate) — single full draw at closing.
- Line of credit (adjustable) — draw as needed; unused balance grows.
- Tenure — monthly payment for life while you occupy the home.
- Term — equal monthly payment for a borrower-selected number of months.
- Modified term / modified tenure — combination of monthly payments and a line of credit.
Why the line of credit is often preferred
Independent retirement research, including work by Wade Pfau and others, has highlighted the standby HECM line of credit as one of the most flexible cash-flow tools available to retirees. Because the unused portion grows over time and is not subject to lender freezing in a falling-home-value environment, it functions as protected, on-demand liquidity.
When the lump sum makes sense
If a Utah homeowner is paying off a sizeable existing mortgage at closing, the lump-sum fixed-rate HECM may be the right structure. It locks the rate on the full balance and converts a monthly payment obligation into a no-required-payment loan.
Tenure payments and Social Security
Some Utah retirees use tenure payments to delay claiming Social Security, allowing the Social Security benefit to grow until full retirement age or age 70. Whether that math works depends on health, other income, and tax planning — Tres walks through both sides.
What you cannot do
You cannot convert a closed fixed-rate HECM into a line of credit. Choose the structure carefully at the outset. If flexibility matters more than a fixed rate, the adjustable structure is almost always the better choice.