HUD-Approved Counseling
Nonprofit
Since 1974
Credit.org is a nonprofit, HUD-certified housing counseling agency and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). We have provided trusted reverse mortgage counseling for more than 50 years.
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency
NFCC Member
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
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Service overview
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Your journey
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No Obligation
No Pressure
Why counseling matters
Tools & guidance
Speak directly with a certified housing counselor
Always Free
No Obligation
Confidential
For Educational Guidance
Estimated Available Equity
Estimated Monthly Payment Option
Interest Rate Range
Speak with a certified housing counselor to review your situation, questions, and next steps.
Common questions
To qualify as a borrower, you must be 62 or older, own your home outright or have significant equity, and live in it as your primary residence. If you have a spouse under 62 who isn't on the loan, they're considered a non-borrowing spouse and will need to complete counseling too, even though they won't be a borrower on the HECM.
A HUD-certified reverse mortgage counselor makes sure you understand the risks, costs, and benefits before you commit to anything. HUD requires this session before any HECM reverse mortgage can close, and the counselor has no financial stake in whether you move forward, unlike a loan officer.
Our HUD-approved counselors will help you assess your finances, explain the pros and cons, and guide you through the decision based on your goals and needs. We cover alternatives like downsizing, home equity loans, or debt management programs so you can compare all your options.
Yes. Any home equity left after the reverse mortgage loan balance and interest are repaid goes to your estate or heirs when the home is sold or the last borrower moves out. HECM reverse mortgage loans are non-recourse, so your heirs will never owe more than the home is worth, even if the loan balance has grown past that. Counseling covers this in detail so your family knows what to expect.
A typical HECM counseling session lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. We take the time needed to ensure you fully understand every aspect of the reverse mortgage, explore alternatives, and answer all your questions thoroughly.
To begin your HECM counseling session, you'll need to read the pre-counseling material we send before your scheduled appointment. Bring your current mortgage statement, property tax information, and any questions you have. Your counselor will guide you through everything else. One more thing to plan around: your counseling certificate is valid for 180 days, so schedule your session with your target closing timeline in mind.
Every borrower on the loan must complete counseling, along with any co-borrower and any non-borrowing spouse who lives in the home but isn't on the loan. If you own the home jointly with someone who isn't your spouse, they may need to attend too, depending on their interest in the property. HUD requires this for every HECM reverse mortgage, no exceptions.
It can, depending on which benefits you receive. Reverse mortgage proceeds usually don't affect Social Security retirement or Medicare, but they can count as a resource for needs-based programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid if you don't spend the funds down within the same month you receive them. Your counselor will walk through this with you, since it's one of the topics HUD requires every session to cover.
Take the first step
Private & Confidential
Educational Guidance
HUD-Approved Agency
No Lender Sales Pressure
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