HUD-Certified

Default Prevention

Nonprofit

Protect your home from reverse mortgage default

Buying your home is a big step, and it’s essential to feel informed and confident throughout the journey. Through our HUD-approved home buyer counseling, you can gain the knowledge and resources to make smart decisions. Understand how to access first-time home buyer programs that help you achieve homeownership in a way that aligns with your budget and goals.

Credit.org is a nonprofit HUD-certified housing counseling agency and NFCC member.

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency

NFCC Member

501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Your reverse mortgage counseling session starts at $199 for HECM and $229 for proprietary programs (non-HECM). Each session provides expert, HUD-approved guidance tailored to your housing goals.

* In cases where individuals are unable to afford our services, managers have the liberty to reduce or waive associated fees.
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How we help

What You Gain From

Reverse Mortgage Default Counseling

Expert, judgment-free guidance designed to help you understand your situation, explore every option, and take decisive action to protect your home.
  • Avoid the Emotional Toll and Get Guidance

    Gain a clear understanding of why reverse mortgages go into default, such as unpaid taxes or insurance, and how to prevent further complications. Learn your rights, responsibilities, and the protections available to help you stay in your home.
  • Relieve the Pressure by Exploring Solutions

    During your session, a certified housing counselor will assess your situation and walk you through tailored solutions, like repayment plans, property charge assistance, or extensions, so you can make informed decisions with professional support.
  • Take Action to Protect Your Home and Retirement

    Leave your session with a step-by-step plan designed to help you avoid foreclosure and stabilize your finances. With continued support, you will be empowered to protect your home and still be able to enjoy your retirement.
Your path forward

How default counseling protects your home

A structured, supportive process designed to give you clarity, options, and a realistic path forward.
  • Step 01

    Identify the Default Risk

    Your counselor starts by reviewing your reverse mortgage loan terms, property tax status, homeowners insurance, and any lender notices you have received. Together, you will pinpoint exactly why default is threatened and what needs immediate attention.
  • Step 02

    Explore Resolution Options

    We walk you through every available path - repayment plans, loss mitigation programs, loan modification requests, forbearance, and alternatives to foreclosure. Your counselor explains each option in plain language so you can compare them clearly.
  • Step 03

    Create Your Action Plan

    Together, you and your counselor build a step-by-step action plan tailored to your situation. This includes communication scripts for your lender, document checklists, payment strategies, and clear timelines so you never feel lost or overwhelmed.
  • Step 04

    Ongoing Support & Follow-Through

    Your counselor remains available after your session to answer questions, help with lender communications, and adjust your plan as needed. You are never alone in this process - we stay with you until your situation is resolved.
  • No sales pressure. No lender bias.

    Just clear education to help you make an informed decision.

100% Free

No Obligation

No Pressure

Why act now

Benefits of default prevention counseling

Taking action early gives you more options and better outcomes. Our counseling ensures you have expert guidance at every stage.

Immediate Risk Assessment

Within your first session, you will understand exactly where you stand — what triggered the default risk, how urgent it is, and what steps can stop it. No guessing, no confusion.

Compassionate, Judgment-Free Support

Our counselors understand that financial hardship happens to good people. You will never face judgment or pressure — only practical help and genuine care for your situation.

Lender Negotiation Guidance

We help you understand how to communicate with your reverse mortgage servicer, what to ask for, and what documentation to provide. You will feel prepared and empowered in every conversation.

Home Protection Strategy

Your counselor helps you build a personalized plan to resolve the default, protect your home equity, and stabilize your housing situation for the long term. Every plan is unique to your needs.

Do not wait. The sooner you reach out, the more options are available to protect  your home. Our counselors are ready to help — no judgment, just solutions.

Tools & resources

Resources to help you take control

Access free guides, templates, and educational resources designed to help you navigate  the default
resolution process with clarity and confidence.

Default Prevention Guides

Step-by-step booklets explaining reverse mortgage default, your rights as a homeowner, and what to expect from the resolution process.
Free downloads

Financial Assessment Tools

Budget worksheets and expense trackers to help you understand your full financial picture and identify areas to stabilize.
Easy to use

Educational Articles

Expert-written articles on reverse mortgage responsibilities, property tax management, and avoiding common default triggers.
Updated regularly

Video Resources

Watch short, clear videos explaining the default resolution process, lender communication tips, and homeowner success stories.
On-demand

Lender Communication Templates

Ready-to-use letter templates and phone scripts to help you communicate confidently and effectively with your reverse mortgage servicer.
Ready to use

Document Checklist

A comprehensive checklist of documents to gather before your counseling session, so you can make the most of your time with your counselor.
Printable
Need More Guidance?

Speak with a certified housing counselor.

Financial tools

Explore reverse mortgage estimates with guidance

Use our educational calculator to better understand how home value, available equity, interest rates, and loan costs may affect a reverse mortgage estimate. These numbers are examples only and should be reviewed with a certified housing counselor.

  • Smart Retirement Planning

    See how a reverse mortgage could impact your long-term financial security and provide extra cash flow when you need it most.
  • Clear Financial Insights

    Understand how much equity you can access and how it could supplement your retirement income.
  • Personalized Loan Estimates

    Get a tailored breakdown of potential loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment scenarios based on your home's value.
Explore Educational Calculator

Always Free

No Obligation

Confidential

For Educational Guidance

  • Estimated Home Value

    Based on market data
$425,000
Sample estimate - actual values vary

Estimated Available Equity

~$210,000

Estimated Monthly Payment Option

~$1,050

Interest Rate Range

6.5% - 7.2%
These are sample estimates for illustration only. Speak with a certified counselor for accurate figures based on your situation.
Want personalized guidance?

Speak with a certified housing counselor to review your situation, questions, and next steps.

Common questions

Default Prevention FAQs

Answers to the most common questions about reverse mortgage
default and prevention.
What Is a Reverse Mortgage Default?

A reverse mortgage default occurs when you fail to meet loan obligations such as paying property taxes, keeping homeowners insurance current, or maintaining the home. Unlike traditional mortgages, you cannot be foreclosed for missing monthly payments because none are required — but failing other obligations can trigger default.

How Quickly Should I Act If I Receive a Default Notice?

Immediately. The sooner you contact a HUD-certified counselor, the more options are available. Waiting can limit your choices and make resolution more difficult. Our counselors can help you understand the notice and what steps to take right away.

Can Default Counseling Really Help Me Keep My Home?

Yes. Many homeowners successfully avoid foreclosure through early intervention and expert guidance. Your counselor will help you explore repayment plans, loss mitigation options, loan modifications, and other paths to resolve the default and protect your home.

What Documents Do I Need for Default Counseling?

Bring your reverse mortgage statement, any default or delinquency notices from your lender, property tax bills, homeowners insurance documentation, and recent income or financial records. Your counselor will guide you on exactly what is needed.

Is Default Counseling Confidential?

Absolutely. Credit.org is an independent nonprofit organization. Your counseling session is private and confidential. We have no lender affiliation and no sales pressure — our only goal is to help you find the best path forward.

How Much Does Default Counseling Cost?

Our default prevention counseling is provided at no cost through our nonprofit mission. In cases where individuals are unable to afford our services, managers have the liberty to reduce or waive associated fees. We are here to help, not to add financial burden.

Do not wait to get help.

Our certified housing counselors are ready to guide you through your options.

Take the next step

Protect your home.
Get expert help today.

Speak with a HUD-certified housing counselor for personalized default prevention guidance. No judgment, no lender pressure — just clear, honest answers from a nonprofit you can trust.

Private & confidential

Educational guidance

HUD-approved agency

No lender sales pressure

50,000+
People helped yearly
Trusted guidance from certified housing counselors
50+
Years of experience
Helping homeowners make confident, informed decisions
4.9/5
Client satisfaction
Based on thousands of counseling sessions