Stay in the home you love, on your own terms.
I'm Chris Nassief, a reverse mortgage specialist here in Northern Virginia. My job in our first conversation is to answer your questions honestly, including the ones that make a reverse mortgage NOT the right choice for you. That's the whole approach.
What a reverse mortgage actually is
A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is an FHA-insured loan for homeowners 62 and older. Instead of you paying the bank each month, the loan lets you draw on the equity you've built. You stay in your home and you keep the title. The loan is repaid later, typically when the last borrower leaves the home.
It is a loan, not a government benefit, and it must be repaid. That's exactly why the protections below matter.
- You keep the title. Always. Your name stays on the deed. The bank does not take your home. You remain the owner, with the same responsibilities: taxes, insurance, and upkeep.
- You can never owe more than the home is worth. HECM loans are non-recourse and FHA-insured. Neither you nor your heirs will ever owe more than the home's value when the loan is repaid.
- Independent counseling is required. Before any HECM closes, you meet with a HUD-approved counselor who works for you, not for me. I encourage it. An informed client is exactly who I want to work with.
Three ways to receive the funds
- Lump sum. Take the funds at once. Often used to pay off an existing mortgage and eliminate the monthly payment entirely.
- Monthly payments. Steady monthly income for as long as you live in the home, or for a period you choose.
- Line of credit. Draw only what you need, when you need it. The unused portion grows over time, a feature most people have never heard of.
The 2025 HECM lending limit is $1,209,750. For higher-value Northern Virginia and Maryland homes, jumbo reverse options can reach up to $4 million in accessible equity. Which structure fits depends entirely on your situation; that's what the free consultation is for.
Ask Which Fits YouWhen a reverse mortgage is NOT the right choice
About a third of the people I meet with should not get one. Here's when I'll tell you no:
You plan to move soon
If this isn't the home you want to stay in for years, the costs usually outweigh the benefit.
The budget can't carry the home
You still pay taxes, insurance, and maintenance. If those are a struggle, a reverse mortgage can put the home at risk, and I'll say so.
A simpler tool fits better
Sometimes a HELOC, downsizing, or a family arrangement serves you better. If it does, that's the recommendation you'll get.
The questions every smart client asks
What happens to my heirs?
Can I still leave the home to my kids?
What does it cost?
Will the bank take my home?
Do I have to take a big lump sum?
Ready for a real conversation about a reverse mortgage?
Free consultation. No pressure. Real answers, including when the answer is no.
Reverse mortgages are loans that must be repaid, typically when the last borrower leaves the home; they are not government benefits. Borrowers must complete HUD-approved counseling. NMLS ID# 205178.