A free education resource for homeowners 62+ and the families helping them decide. No pressure, no obligation. Just clear answers.
Pick the one that sounds most like you.
The basics, in plain language: what a reverse mortgage is, who qualifies, and how it works.
Start with the basics →A free estimate based on your age, home value, and mortgage balance. No contact info needed.
Try the calculator →What adult children and heirs should know, and how to start the conversation.
Guide for families →Could I lose my home? Will my kids owe money? Honest answers to the big worries.
See the answers →A traditional reverse mortgage pays off your current mortgage. A newer option, the second-lien reverse mortgage, sits behind it instead, so you keep your low-rate loan and still use some of your home's equity.
Good to know: it isn't offered in every state, and like any reverse mortgage, the balance grows over time.
A reverse mortgage lets homeowners 62 and older turn part of their home's value into money, without a required monthly mortgage payment, as long as they keep up with property taxes, insurance, and basic maintenance. It's one of the most misunderstood options available to retirees. This site explains it in plain language, with no pressure to do anything.
Pay for changes like a ramp or walk-in shower, or for help at home.
Pay off your current mortgage and free up money every month.*
Extra income to help with everyday bills, so retirement savings last longer.
Money set aside for medical bills, home repairs, or the unexpected.
Most worries about reverse mortgages come from misunderstandings, many of them decades old. Here are the three questions we hear most, with straight answers.
"Will the bank take my home?"
No. You remain the owner of your home throughout the life of the loan, just as with a traditional mortgage. The loan is repaid later, typically when the home is sold or is no longer your primary residence. As long as you keep up with property taxes, insurance, and basic maintenance, the home stays yours.
"Will my children inherit a debt?"
No. A reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan, meaning your heirs are never required to pay more than the home is worth at the time of repayment. If the home sells for less than the loan balance, FHA insurance covers the difference, not your family.
"Is this a scam targeting older people?"
No. Reverse mortgages are federally regulated. The most common type, the HECM, is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Before closing on any HECM, federal law requires you to meet one-on-one with a HUD-approved counselor (independent of any lender) to make sure you fully understand the loan and your alternatives.
Plain-language articles on what's new in reverse mortgages, and what it means for you.
The federally insured HECM requires age 62, but some private reverse mortgages start at 55 depending on your state. Here's what changes when you borrow younger, and when waiting is the better call.
Read the article →When the last borrower dies, a reverse mortgage comes due. Here's the usual timeline for heirs, their four choices, and what parents can do now to make it easier.
Read the article →The HECM limit is the most home value FHA will count, not the amount you can borrow. Here's how it works, who it affects, and when the 2027 number arrives.
Read the article →Share a few details about your home and situation. A licensed reverse mortgage professional will follow up with a clear overview of which programs may fit.