Recent legislation and changes in the marketplace are increasing the use of reverse mortgages. Here are three factors that make reverse mortgages an improved retirement-planning tool.

1. Fees are lower. The government with support from lenders has revised how reverse mortgages are structured.
2. Loans are more flexible. New loans let borrowers take money as they need it instead of all at once.
3. Selling isn't always feasible. Reverse mortgages generally don’t pay as much as selling a house outright, but these days selling a house can be very difficult.

Source: SmartMoney.com, Alyssa Abkowitz