Home values are rising and equity held by senior homeowners is growing, two positive signs that retirees are on steadier footing today than they were after the bubble burst. However, too many older adults are leaving the workforce underprepared to fund their longevity, and reverse mortgage professionals are committed to addressing this challenge as they gather Nov. 15-18 in San Francisco for the 2015 National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association Meeting and Expo.
During this year’s conference, “The Golden Gate to Retirement: Reverse Mortgages & Funding Longevity,” NRMLA members will engage industry leaders, federal officials, academic researchers, and experts on aging in place about the importance of consumer protections for borrowers, developments in the regulatory landscape, major research findings on the satisfaction and acceptance of reverse mortgages, and the obstacles facing older adults who want to live independently in their own homes.
“As professionals who work with seniors to help them meet their financial goals, NRMLA members understand the vital role that the home plays in our lives and our longevity,” said NRMLA President Peter Bell. “Our annual meeting is an opportunity for reverse mortgage professionals representing all aspects of the industry to learn and share best practices for effectively serving the borrowers who benefit from this financial tool, which treats the home as a means to supplement retirement income and funding strategies in a sustainable way.”
NRMLA is proud to welcome several government speakers to the conference including the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Kathleen Zadareky who manages the daily operation of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program, Karin Hill, a Senior Policy Advisor at HUD, and Nora Dowd Eisenhower who serves as the Assistant Director for the Office of Older Americans at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
“Members of our association always look forward to the opportunity to hear directly from, and interact with, the people who design and implement the policies that regulate the HECM program,” said Bell. “HUD and CFPB’s presence at the meeting is reflective of our efforts to work together to improve the product and processes for consumers.”
In addition to the informative sessions and expert panelists, this year’s annual meeting includes a day of service when NRMLA members and their families will support local seniors in need. Volunteers are going to spend Sunday morning, Nov. 15, preparing meals, distributing Thanksgiving bags, and socializing at the Curry Senior Center located in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Curry provides homeless and nearly-homeless seniors with a wide range of integrated services including health care, housing, nutrition, and a strong sense of community.
On Monday evening, NRMLA member companies will host a benefit and silent auction to raise money for the Center.
