Reverse mortgages, explained in your own community

A plain-English session on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the reverse mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration. What it is, what it costs, what it protects, what it asks of you, and who it's wrong for. Bring your questions and bring your kids.

What you'll learn

What a HECM is, and isn't
A federally insured loan against your home that pays you, with no required monthly principal and interest payment. You keep the title. The bank does not take your house.
Where the bad reputation came from
What went wrong before 2015, what HUD changed (financial assessment, draw limits, spouse protections, required counseling), and why the product your neighbor had isn't the one offered today.
Why it works, with real numbers
An anonymized case of a real couple: what they had, what they chose, and what it meant for their monthly life. Then your questions, as many as you have.

The straight version of the pitch

If you're 62 or older, own your home, and have meaningful equity, a HECM can turn part of that equity into a line of credit that grows over time, a monthly check, a lump sum, or a mix. It's insured by FHA, which is what guarantees that neither you nor your heirs will ever owe more than the home is worth. It is a loan, not a benefit: interest and mortgage insurance accrue on the balance, the upfront costs are real, and it's a poor choice if you expect to move within a few years. The job of the session is to help you tell which group you're in.

What won't happen

Nobody is signed up for anything. No forms at the door, no raffle, no follow-up unless you ask for it.
Nothing else is sold. No annuities, no insurance, no investments.
Nobody is told what to do. By law you'd meet with an independent HUD-approved counselor before applying for a HECM, and I'll show you how to find one.

Bring

Your questions, and if you like, a rough idea of what your home is worth and what you owe on it. That's enough to know whether the numbers are worth a closer look. Adult children, spouses, and friends are welcome; the best sessions are the ones where the family argues a little.

After the session

If you want your own numbers, a 15 to 30 minute Discovery call gets you one to three real options in writing within one business day, free, with no application and no credit pull. If you'd rather think it over, the videos below cover everything the session does.

Missed the session, or want your own numbers?

Tell me what you're considering. A 15 to 30 minute conversation, then within one business day your options in writing, or the plain reason it doesn't fit yet and what would change that. No application, no credit pull.

The consultation and the options review are free. If you choose to proceed, third-party costs such as HUD counseling and an appraisal may be due before closing. Licensed in 20 states; see the full list below.