Senior Housing Wealth Tops $7T for First Time

Mar 13, 2019

Homeowners 62 and older experienced a 1.4 percent growth in their housing wealth, or $98 billion, from the third quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter, resulting in a record high of $7.05 trillion, according to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) in its latest NRLMA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI) data.

The fourth quarter RMMI reached 254.10, a new peak for the index, which was first published in 2000. NRLMA credited this homeowner wealth spike to an estimated 1.3 percent or $110 billion increase in senior home values and offset by a 0.7 percent or $11.7 billion increase of senior-held mortgage debt.

However, on a year-over-year measurement, the RMMI increased by 6.5 percent in 2018, compared to 8.4 percent in 2017 and 8.2 percent in 2016. NRMLA attributed this to lower home price appreciation rates.

“Despite slower home price appreciation, we ended 2018 on a high note,” said Steve Irwin, Executive Vice President. “The RMMI increased for the 31st consecutive quarter, there are now 23.9 million senior homeowners—the highest number ever—and these homeowners hold a record $7.05 trillion in home equity. For many retirees, a reverse mortgage offers the perfect solution to extract this home equity and put it to good use, so that they can live more financially secure lives.”

About the author

Phil Hall

Link copied

Published

Mar 13, 2019

Courts

UWM Previews Bid To Dismiss Rocket’s $100M Servicing Lawsuit

UWM argues Refi75 was permissible mass advertising

United Wholesale Mortgage is preparing to ask a New York court to dismiss Rocket Mortgage’s $100 million lawsuit over alleged violations of mortgage servicing rights agreements, arguing that Rocket’s claims conflict with the contracts and rely on unsupported allegations.In a...

Analysis and Data

Homebuyer Assistance Programs Reach Record High As Grants Expand

Down Payment Resource identified 2,746 programs nationwide, although only 77% were active and funded at the beginning of July

The number of U.S. homeownership assistance programs climbed to a record high in the second quarter as more grants and programs covering manufactured homes and multi-unit properties became available.Down Payment Resource identified 2,746 programs nationwide as of July 1, an ...

Nov

Houston, TX

More from

Reverse

Record Senior Equity Widens Reverse Mortgage Opportunity

Homeowners age 62 and older hold $14.92 trillion in housing wealth, but lenders still face the challenge of turning equity into production

Reverse

Jul 23, 2026

Finance of America Expands Reverse Mortgage Portfolio With $5.2B MSR Acquisition

Acquisition of approximately 20,000 HECM loans from Onity strengthens the company's servicing platform while establishing a three-year subservicing partnership

Reverse

Jul 02, 2026

Reverse Mortgage Borrowers Are Showing Up Too Late

GreenPath data suggests more seniors are arriving later in the financial cycle, limiting flexibility for loan structuring

Reverse

Apr 22, 2026

HECM Volume Rebounds In March But Signals Persisting Reverse Mortgage Slowdown

Endorsements rise month over month, but flat annual volume and growing proprietary competition reshape opportunity for LOs

Reverse

Apr 07, 2026

Finance Of America Launches Second-Lien Reverse Mortgage Amid Rate Lock-In Demand

New HomeSafe second line of credit targets equity-rich homeowners seeking access to cash without refinancing into higher rates or taking on monthly payments

Reverse

Apr 02, 2026

Mortgage Cadence Exec George Morales Joins NRMLA Board

George Morales, National Sales Director at Mortgage Cadence, has been elected to the NRMLA Board of Directors, where he will help guide reverse mortgage industry policy, modernization, and consumer-focused innovation

People On The Move

Dec 05, 2025

Popular