Why is this important? A reverse mortgage works best if you plan to stay in your home for a long time. The longer you stay the less expensive the loan is because the associated upfront fees. Borrowers typically pay origination fees, closing costs and, in the case of HECM loans, a mortgage insurance premium. Those fees are typically rolled into the loan amount so you don’t have to pay them up front, and they help guarantee you won’t have to repay the loan as long as you stay in your home. But if you plan to move in a few years, you’ll end up paying for protection you don’t need.