I can get a small but free (no fees) reverse mortgage here in Texas, at a very attractive interest rate, with guaranteed acceptance, single page application and probably most over 65 can get it in other State.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Form 50-126
It’s called property tax deferral. My taxes are high, $12k per year. If and when I pay my house off, I can defer the taxes at 5% fixed until I no longer own the property as my primary residence. So the “cash back” from the “reverse mortgage” is given out ever year in the amount of the property tax I’m NOT paying.
I think I have to be careful not to defer more than the property is worth, though. But if I keep living there until I die, and the house can’t pay for the taxes and interest after I die, the local governments eat the loss… they have to. They can’t come after my kids for my taxes. They can probably become a debtor and line up in probate. But I won’t care.