Finance of America Chief Production Officer Jonathan Scarpati has argued that older homeowners and reverse mortgages could offer mortgage lenders a faster route to growth than focusing only on first-time buyers. That is an industry view, not a proven comparison of lender growth rates. For lenders weighing the opportunity, the key distinction is between the sizeable housing wealth held by older Americans and the portion any borrower may actually be able to access through a suitable reverse mortgage.
What Scarpati’s summit message means for lenders
HousingWire’s October 1, 2026 summit coverage presents Scarpati’s thesis as a potential growth path for mortgage lenders: serving older homeowners through reverse mortgages may be a faster avenue than concentrating only on first-time buyers. The available coverage supports that high-level characterization, but not a detailed account of his arguments or a claim that reverse lending will outperform other channels for any particular lender. HousingWire’s summit coverage and Finance of America’s event announcement identify the discussion; Finance of America identifies Scarpati as its Chief Production Officer.
Finance of America framed its summit conversation with Texas MBA CEO Scott Norman around competing for the “whole opportunity,” borrower demand, product innovation, home equity, and reverse mortgages. For lenders, the practical question is how to serve eligible older homeowners responsibly—not whether aggregate housing wealth automatically translates into loans or revenue.
Reverse mortgages and HECMs are not interchangeable terms
A reverse mortgage is a broad product category. A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is the reverse mortgage insured by the federal government; it is available only through a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved lender. HUD describes HECM as allowing eligible homeowners to withdraw a portion of their home equity, with possible uses including maintenance, repairs, or general living expenses. Other reverse-mortgage products, such as proprietary loans, are not HECMs simply because they also let borrowers access home equity. HUD’s HECM guidance explains the federally insured program.
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Why senior housing wealth is an opportunity, not an origination forecast
The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA), using its RiskSpan index, estimated that homeowners aged 62 and older held $14.92 trillion in housing wealth in the first quarter of 2026, a record for that index. NRMLA attributed the quarterly increase to a $314.8 billion rise in senior home values, partly offset by a $10.5 billion increase in mortgage debt held by seniors. These are estimates of housing wealth and changes in the index—not lending volume, available proceeds, or a forecast of business for an individual lender. NRMLA’s Q1 2026 equity report provides the figures.
Separately, NRMLA reported that total reverse-mortgage loan amounts recorded in HMDA data rose 54%, from $6.25 billion in 2023 to $9.65 billion in 2025. That is the association’s characterization of CFPB HMDA data. It is a measure of reported loan amounts, not evidence that every lender’s volume or revenue grew by the same amount. NRMLA’s report on HMDA data describes the comparison.
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What determines a HECM borrower’s available proceeds
HECM proceeds are not calculated from home value alone. HUD says the amount depends on factors including the age of the youngest borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse, the current interest rate, and the lesser of the appraised value, the HECM FHA mortgage limit, or the purchase price. Consequently, a large home-equity estimate at the market level does not establish what a particular homeowner can borrow.
For HECM case numbers assigned from January 1 through December 31, 2026, HUD lists a nationwide maximum claim amount of $1,249,125. This is a program limit used in calculations, not a promise that a borrower can receive that amount. Individual proceeds depend on the applicable factors and the borrower’s circumstances. HUD’s 2026 HECM limit information states the annual maximum.
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HECM borrowers may remain in their homes indefinitely as long as property taxes and homeowner insurance stay current, according to HUD. This continuing responsibility belongs in borrower communication and lender servicing processes: accessing equity does not remove the need to meet those property-charge obligations.
For a lender, evaluating a reverse-mortgage offering therefore involves more than estimating demand. Relevant questions include whether the product is an FHA-insured HECM or a proprietary reverse mortgage; who qualifies and what proceeds are likely; how pricing and interest rates work; what licensing or FHA approval and counseling steps apply; whether the lender can support servicing; how it will explain property charges; and which geographies it can serve. The available sources do not establish a current lender ranking or pricing comparison, so lenders need product-specific information before drawing conclusions.
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