Reverse Mortgage Guides
How Reverse Mortgages Actually Work
The full mechanics of a HECM loan: who qualifies, how much you get, payout options, costs, and how the loan ends. Start here.
Read the guide →California Reverse Mortgage Rules & Protections
California adds real protections on top of federal law: mandatory counseling, a 7-day cooling-off period, and plain-language disclosures. Know your rights.
Read the guide →What Happens to Your House (and Your Heirs)
The question every family asks. Non-recourse protection, the 95 percent rule, and the exact options your children will have.
Read the guide →Jumbo Reverse Mortgages (Homes Over the FHA Limit)
Home worth $1.5 million, $2 million, or more? Jumbo programs count your full value, go up to $4 million, and can start at age 55.
Read the guide →The 4 Types of Reverse Mortgages
HECM, jumbo, HECM for Purchase, and single-purpose loans. What each one is, and which fits your situation.
Read the guide →HECM vs Jumbo, Side by Side
The visual comparison: charts, a decision path, and one table with every difference.
See the comparison →Can You Get a Reverse Mortgage on a Home Worth More Than $1.2 Million?
Yes, but the FHA HECM only counts $1,249,125 of your home's value in 2026. Above that figure, a jumbo reverse mortgage counts the full value. How to tell which one pays you more.
Read the guide →Reverse Mortgage at 55 in California
The FHA HECM requires age 62. Proprietary jumbo reverse mortgages in California start at 55. What the seven-year difference costs you, and when waiting is the better move.
Read the guide →Reverse Mortgages in Laguna Woods, Leisure World and Other Co-ops
If you own a stock cooperative unit, you cannot get a HECM. Congress authorized co-op reverse mortgages in 2008 and HUD never issued the regulations. How to check what you actually own.
Read the guide →Reverse Mortgages in Beverly Hills, Malibu and the Westside
In Beverly Hills, Malibu, San Marino and Palos Verdes the median home passed the $1,249,125 FHA limit years ago, which changes which reverse mortgage actually pays. Local figures and what they mean.
Read the guide →Newport Beach and Laguna Beach Reverse Mortgages
Newport Beach has more than 12,000 owner-occupied households aged 62 and older, with median values above $2 million. Which reverse mortgage fits coastal Orange County, and the two local traps.
Read the guide →Can You Get a Reverse Mortgage on a Condo?
Yes, if the condominium is FHA approved, or if your individual unit qualifies for FHA Single-Unit Approval. What to do when your building is not on the approved list.
Read the guide →Buying a Home With a Reverse Mortgage (HECM for Purchase)
You can buy a house with a reverse mortgage. Put down roughly half, finance the rest, and make no monthly mortgage payment. How HECM for Purchase works in California.
Read the guide →Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons, Stated Plainly
The real advantages and the real drawbacks. Upfront costs run 2 percent of the lending limit, the balance compounds, and it reduces what your heirs inherit. What you get in return, and who should walk away.
Read the guide →What Is a HECM?
HECM stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the FHA-insured reverse mortgage. It requires age 62, counts up to $1,249,125 of your home value in 2026, and accounts for roughly 19 of every 20 reverse mortgages written.
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