Key facts
- HECM endorsements in May remained relatively flat compared to April.
- Atlantic Avenue Mortgage led broker/TPO endorsements with 75 loans in May.
- loanDepot was second with 48 endorsements.
- Top lenders endorsed 2,034 HECM loans in July, down slightly from June.
- Proprietary reverse mortgages experienced a 245% volume increase from 2023 to 2025.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements in May maintained a slow pace, with overall numbers showing little change from the previous month. Atlantic Avenue Mortgage continued to lead the broker and third-party originator (TPO) channel, endorsing 75 loans, though this was a decrease from April's 110. loanDepot followed in second place with 48 endorsements.
Data compiled by Reverse Market Insight and published by HECMWorld.com indicated that the top five brokers and TPOs remained largely consistent. Caliver Beach Mortgage, C2 Financial Corp., and West Capital Lending rounded out the top five with 22, 19, and 17 endorsements, respectively.
Separate data from New View Advisors for July showed that the top 15 companies endorsed 2,034 HECM loans, a slight decrease from June. Finance of America led this group with 498 endorsements, followed by Mutual of Omaha Mortgage (377) and Longbridge Financial (351).
The sluggish HECM market is attributed to higher interest rates and upfront mortgage insurance premiums, which industry leaders are advocating to reduce. Despite these headwinds, demand for home equity lending solutions among senior homeowners remains strong. Proprietary reverse mortgages have seen a significant surge, with a 245% increase in volume between 2023 and 2025.
Industry experts like Dan Hultquist of Movement Mortgage and REVERSE plus emphasize the fundamental soundness of the HECM product, often deeming it the best option for retirement cash-flow needs due to its protections compared to other financial products.
In a move to support originators, Longbridge Financial launched its Reverse Analytics Market Platform (RAMP), a tool providing detailed HECM production data. Longbridge CEO Chris Mayer stated that access to such information better equips originators for market decisions and marketing efforts.
Some lenders have successfully grown their HECM businesses. Kim Smith, senior vice president of wholesale lending at Smartfi Home Loans, noted that her company's 32% increase in HECM endorsements from 2024 to 2025 is due to their team, culture, and a solution-oriented approach.