Podcast
Reverse Mortgage News & Insights from HECMWorld
Hosted by HECMWorld · EN
Get the latest news, commentary and insights for the US reverse mortgage and property finance industries.
Founded by Shannon Hicks and now hosted by Gabrielle Hayen, HECM World Weekly is the nation’s longest-running weekly podcast, trusted by reverse mortgage professionals for news, insights and trends on the reverse and wider mortgage industry, property equity, wealth and retirement and much more. Brought to you by Lenderful Solutions.
Each week we also bring you Industry Leader Insights, where top industry influencers share what's happening at the cutting edge of the mortgage industry, and Food For Thought, our segment focused on professional and personal development for mortgage professionals.
This podcast is brought to you by HECM World, the leading independent media platform for the reverse mortgage industry in the United States.
Find out more and join our community of 6000+ industry leaders at https://hecmworld.com
For business inquiries, contact info@hecmworld.com
HECM World is owned and operated by Reverse Focus, a technology and marketing company that has supporting the reverse mortgage industry with full service digital marketing solutions since 2006. Find out more at https://reversefocus.com
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Food For Thought: What Realtors Get Wrong About HECM For Purchase (And Why It Matters)
2d ago00:04:40Tap to summarizeHECM for Purchase is gaining momentum across the reverse mortgage industry, but many Realtors still don’t fully understand how it works. In this week’s Food For Thought, Lisa Moriello, National Reverse Mortgage Sales Leader at Loan Depot, breaks down the five biggest misconceptions Realtors have about HECM for Purchase and explains how reverse mortgage professionals can reframe the conversation. Whether you’re building Realtor relationships or looking to grow your purchase business, these practical insights can help you turn common objections into opportunities. In this video: • Why HECM for Purchase isn’t a loan of last resort • The truth about down payments and buyer strength • Why closing timelines aren’t what many Realtors think • How HECM for Purchase can create more listings and transactions • A simple way to overcome negative perceptions before offers are submitted If you’re serious about growing your HECM for Purchase business, this is a conversation worth sharing with your Realtor partners. 🌐 Read the article: https://hecmworld.com/2026/07/15/food-for-thought-what-realtors-get-wrong-about-hecm-for-purchase-and-why-it-matters/ Subscribe to HECM World for weekly insights, industry news and practical strategies for reverse mortgage professionals.
Transcribe →Industry Leader Insights: The Ideal Reverse Mortgage Client Has Changed. Has the Industry Kept Up?
4d ago00:08:33Tap to summarizeWho is the ideal reverse mortgage client today—and how has that changed over the past decade? In this edition of Industry Leader Insights, Gabe Bodner, President of the 55 Plus Division at OneTrust Home Loans, explores one of the most important questions every reverse mortgage professional should be asking. As housing wealth grows, retirement planning evolves and attitudes toward home equity continue to shift, the traditional “last resort” borrower is no longer the only client worth focusing on. Gabe discusses the rise of planning-based borrowers, why defining your ideal client can transform your marketing and referral strategy, and how loan officers can position themselves for the next generation of HECM borrowers. Whether you’re looking to grow your business, refine your target market or better understand where the industry is heading, this conversation offers valuable insights into the future of reverse mortgage lending. 🔗 Read the companion article: https://hecmworld.com/2026/07/13/industry-leader-insights-the-ideal-reverse-mortgage-client-has-changed-has-the-industry-kept-up/
Transcribe →EP939: HUD Reform, AI and Housing Wealth - This Week’s Biggest Stories
1w ago00:10:46Tap to summarizeThis week on HECM World Weekly, we explore the biggest stories shaping the reverse mortgage industry and the future of housing wealth. HUD is considering changes to property standards that could make reverse mortgages more accessible, Finance of America expands HomeSafe Second into new markets, and artificial intelligence is driving an extraordinary luxury housing boom in San Francisco unlike anything seen in decades. We also unpack Realtor.com’s updated housing forecast, examine a new Federal Reserve study on housing demand, discuss why Gen Z is entering the housing market while many Boomers continue ageing in place, and look at what President Trump’s comments on Australia’s retirement system could mean for the future of retirement planning in the United States. Whether you’re a reverse mortgage professional, lender, financial adviser or simply interested in the trends shaping retirement, this episode provides the context behind the headlines—and what they could mean for your clients and your business. In this episode: • NRMLA pushes for modernised HUD property standards • Finance of America expands HomeSafe Second • AI’s growing role in mortgage lending • Realtor.com’s updated 2026 housing forecast • Federal Reserve study sparks housing demand debate • San Francisco’s AI-fuelled housing boom • Gen Z homebuyers and the mortgage lock-in effect • Trump’s interest in Australia’s retirement system Read the full HECM World Weekly article:https://hecmworld.com/2026/07/10/hecm-world-weekly-housing-wealth-enters-a-new-era-as-ai-policy-and-demographics-reshape-retirement/ Subscribe for weekly reverse mortgage news, housing market insights and retirement trends from across the industry.
Transcribe →EP938: Housing Market Finds Its Footing, Finance of America Expands, and Home Equity Comes Under the Spotlight
2w ago00:10:22Tap to summarizeAmerica’s housing market is entering a new phase. This week, Realtor.com reported the largest annual decline in asking prices since it began tracking the data in 2017. But is this the beginning of a downturn—or simply a return to a more balanced housing market? In this week’s HECM World Weekly, Gabrielle Hayen breaks down the biggest housing, home equity and reverse mortgage stories shaping the industry, including: Housing asking prices post their biggest annual decline on record Why the market may actually be becoming healthier Luxury housing continues to outperform the broader market The latest developments surrounding the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Finance of America expands its reverse mortgage business through the acquisition of Onity’s servicing portfolio June’s Top 100 Retail HECM Lenders Report and Finance of America’s return to the number one spot Why Hometap’s growing legal challenges could have broader implications for the home equity market As always, we go beyond the headlines to explain what these developments mean for reverse mortgage professionals, older homeowners, and the future of housing wealth in America. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, like and share to help us continue bringing independent news and insights to the reverse mortgage industry.
Transcribe →EP937: Congress Takes Aim at Housing Affordability, Housing Costs Squeeze Seniors, and Communities Double Down on Aging in Place
3w ago00:10:23Tap to summarizeCongress passes the biggest bipartisan housing package in years… then, just hours before it was due to become law, President Trump pulls the brakes. In this week’s HECM World Weekly, Gabrielle Hayen unpacks what happened, why the housing bill matters, and what it could mean for housing affordability, aging in place and the reverse mortgage industry. We also explore: Why this landmark housing bill could indirectly shape the future of home equity and retirement planning New Redfin data showing home prices continue to climb Harvard research revealing why more older homeowners are becoming asset rich but income constrained AARP’s record investment in helping older Americans age in place What these trends mean for HECM professionals and the growing role of housing wealth in retirement Read the full article here: hecmworld.com Subscribe to HECM World for weekly news, insights and analysis covering the reverse mortgage industry, home equity and retirement planning.
Transcribe →EP936: Fed Signals a New Direction, Housing Wealth Grows, and More Seniors Choose to Stay Put
4w ago00:10:52Tap to summarizeThis week on HECM World Weekly, we examine several major developments shaping housing, retirement planning, and the reverse mortgage industry. The Federal Reserve entered a new era under Chairman Kevin Warsh, holding rates steady while signaling a more hawkish outlook for the months ahead. We break down what the Fed’s latest decision could mean for mortgage rates, housing activity, and reverse mortgage borrowers. We also explore new forecasts showing housing wealth continues to grow, with the typical homeowner expected to gain another $16,000 in equity this year. Yet despite rising home values, more older Americans are choosing to age in place rather than downsize. In this episode: What the Fed’s new direction means for housing and reverse mortgages • Why housing wealth continues building despite affordability challenges • America’s rapidly aging suburbs and the rise of aging in place • Why downsizing no longer makes financial sense for many retirees • The latest Social Security Trustees Report and what it means for retirement security Taken together, these stories point to a growing trend: older Americans continue accumulating housing wealth, but increasingly want to access it without leaving the homes and communities they love. Read the full HECM World Weekly article: https://hecmworld.com/2026/06/19/podcast-fed-signals-a-new-direction-housing-wealth-grows-and-more-seniors-choose-to-stay-put/ Subscribe to HECM World for weekly news, insights, interviews, and commentary covering reverse mortgages, home equity, retirement finance, aging in place, and the future of housing wealth.
Transcribe →EP935: Homeowners Tap Equity, Housing Mobility Improves, and Washington Signals Change
Jun 1200:10:01Tap to summarizeHousing wealth is becoming one of the most important financial resources available to older Americans — and this week’s news highlighted why. In this episode of HECM World Weekly, we explore the growing role of home equity in retirement planning as homeowners increasingly access equity without refinancing, existing-home sales show signs of recovery, and policymakers look for ways to improve housing mobility. We also examine new research showing housing wealth may be becoming more influential than income in shaping future financial outcomes, discuss proposed legislation aimed at encouraging senior downsizing, and explore why aging in place remains a critical part of the housing conversation. Plus, we recap key takeaways from NRMLA’s Western Regional Meeting, including discussions around Reverse for Purchase, industry advocacy, aging-in-place solutions, artificial intelligence, and the future of retirement finance. In this episode: Homeowners tap equity at the fastest pace since 2021 • Why HELOCs and second liens are surging • Existing-home sales post their strongest month of 2026 • New research on housing wealth and generational opportunity • The proposed Nest Egg Protection Act and senior downsizing incentives • Why aging in place remains a powerful housing trend • NRMLA Western Regional Meeting highlights • FHA leadership changes and what they could mean for HECMs As retirement planning and housing planning continue to converge, understanding home equity has never been more important. Tune in and read the full article: https://hecmworld.com/2026/06/12/podcast-hecm-world-weekly-homeowners-tap-equity/ Subscribe to HECM World for weekly insights on reverse mortgages, retirement finance, housing wealth, aging in place, and the future of home equity.
Transcribe →EP934: Buyers Return, Older Americans Carry the Economy, and Reverse Mortgage Consolidation Continues
Jun 500:12:38Tap to summarizeThis week’s HECM World Weekly breaks down the latest housing and economic data shaping the future of retirement finance. The housing market is becoming more rational again. Sellers are adjusting expectations, buyers remain active when affordability makes sense, and mortgage activity continues slowing under the weight of higher rates and elevated housing costs. At the same time, new research shows Americans age 50+ now generate $12.5 trillion in economic activity annually — reinforcing just how central older homeowners have become to the broader U.S. economy. But there’s another side to the story: Older Americans are also carrying more debt, facing higher living costs and increasingly relying on housing wealth to support retirement stability. In this episode: Why the housing market is starting to normalize What slowing mortgage activity means for aging in place Why affordability is driving almost every housing decision now The growing economic influence of Americans 50+ Rising debt pressure among retirees The emotional complexity behind the Great Wealth Transfer Onity’s approved reverse MSR sale to Finance of America The latest May 2026 HECM endorsement numbers The broader takeaway? Retirement planning is increasingly becoming housing planning. Read the full article here: https://hecmworld.com/2026/06/05/podcast-buyers-return-older-americans-carry-the-economy/ Subscribe for weekly reverse mortgage industry news, housing insights and retirement finance analysis from HECM World.
Transcribe →EP933: Housing Re-Freezes, Retirement Adapts, and Home Wealth Faces a Political Reckoning
May 2900:12:25Tap to summarizeThis week on HECM World Weekly, we unpack one of the biggest trends shaping the future of retirement and housing finance in America: Housing wealth is becoming more important at the exact same moment the housing market itself is becoming more frozen, expensive and politically contested. As mortgage rates climb back toward 6.7%, new-home sales slow, affordability pressures intensify and policymakers push more aggressive housing agendas, older Americans are increasingly being forced to rethink retirement, mobility and aging in place. In this episode: Why the U.S. housing market is becoming increasingly “stuck” What higher mortgage rates mean for retirees and downsizers Why aging in place is becoming more financially important How affordability pressures are reshaping retirement behavior The growing political debate surrounding housing wealth Why home equity may become one of the defining retirement finance stories of the next decade Get the full show notes here: hecmworld.com
Transcribe →EP932: HUD Warning Signs, Home Equity Regulation Evolves, and Retirement Pressure Builds
May 2200:11:18Tap to summarizeThis week’s developments across the reverse mortgage, retirement and housing sectors highlighted an increasingly important reality for the HECM industry: retirement pressure is intensifying, and home equity is becoming more central to how older Americans manage financial stability later in life. From HUD audit failures exposing vulnerable reverse mortgage borrowers to potential default, to Illinois rolling out one of the nation’s most comprehensive home equity investment regulatory frameworks, the conversation around housing wealth continues shifting from optional strategy to financial necessity. At the same time, new retirement research, capital gains concerns and mortgage assistance initiatives all reinforced the growing importance of liquidity, income sustainability and aging-in-place strategies. For reverse mortgage professionals, the environment continues becoming more strategic, more policy-driven and more interconnected with mainstream retirement planning.
Transcribe →