Finding a Qualified HECM Counselor

Homeowners aged 62 and over can get counseling for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) by calling an agency listed on the HUD HECM Counselor Roster.

 But before calling any counselor, please read this important information:

1. Who Should Request Counseling A homeowner who wants counseling should call to set up a counseling appointment. Alternately, a homeowner's authorized legal representative can request counseling. This person must be the owner's guardian, conservator, or must hold a durable power of attorney to act on the owner's behalf in this matter. No one else should call to request counseling "on behalf" of a homeowner. In particular, HUD Mortgagee Letter 2004-25 says that "the lender may not contact a counselor or counseling agency to refer a client."  
    
2. Only Counselors listed on the HUD HECM Counselor Roster can provide the mandatory HECM counseling 
   
3. By Phone or In Office If you live near a network counselor, you may prefer to go to the agency's office to be counseled in person on a face- to-face basis. But you may also request to be counseled by telephone (unless telephone counseling is not permitted in your state).
4. Ask for Printouts In Advance  Your counselor will provide you with computer printouts showing how a reverse mortgage on your home would work for you. Ask your counselor to send you these printouts before you discuss them with the counselor if you want to review them in advance. This would let you note any questions you have about them and then ask those questions during a counseling session.

To find HUD National HECM Network Counselors, click here.