This is the standard everything on the site is held to. If a figure can’t be tied to a public source, we don’t publish it as fact.
Our analysis is grounded in public, authoritative sources, including:
Our reverse-mortgage calculator estimates HECM proceeds and costs entirely in your browser — no name, no phone number, no network call. It approximates HUD’s Principal Limit Factor (PLF) as a function of the youngest borrower’s age and the expected interest rate, applies the FHA maximum claim amount, and then subtracts the real cost side: upfront MIP, the origination fee, closing costs, and any existing mortgage that must be paid off first. It also projects how the growing loan balance erodes the equity you leave behind. The full model, its assumptions, and its limits are documented openly in our calculator math spec.
The PLF approximation and the FHA maximum claim amount are directionally accurate but not exact — HUD’s actual PLF tables and current-year lending limit will produce a different figure, and rates change daily. Every reverse mortgage requires independent HUD-approved counseling before you can proceed. Use our number to understand the shape of the trade-off, then get a real figure from a HUD-approved counselor and lender.
The rates cited across the site report national-average rates for HELOCs, home-equity loans, cash-out refinances, and the HECM expected rate, drawn from public sources such as Freddie Mac PMMS and published national averages. Rates are dated and vary by lender, credit, loan-to-value, and state — the figure you’re quoted will differ.
Where a data point isn’t reliably available from public sources, we report that rather than estimate or fabricate a number. We don’t publish per-lender “scores,” letter grades, or “best reverse mortgage” rankings, which invite mistaking editorial opinion for individualized advice.
We correct errors promptly and visibly. If you believe a figure or claim is wrong, email editor@theequityledger.com with the detail and we’ll review it against the source.
We are independent and do not originate loans. Our conclusions are driven by the source data; any referral relationships we add will be disclosed and will not change our analysis.