I work for a major home mortgage lender in Florida, and due to the risks of proprty value fluctuation, most reverse mortgage plans are NOT great deals for the consumer. The lender has to have an incentive for the extra risk (i.e. extra fees, a share in the equity, etc.) However, if the owner has immediate need for these funds, as it sounds in the case of your mother, it may be a superior alternative, especially if it is important to her to remain in her home. With any mortgage provided by a third party, there will be many "extra" fees and costs. It was a excellent choice to provide this mortgage to your mother; you should clearly explain all this to the other beneficiaries of you mother's will, especially if your mother is not 100%.