Requesting HECM Counseling by
Calling a HUD National HECM Network Counselor

Homeowners aged 62 and over can get counseling for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) by calling a member of the national HECM counseling network approved by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

You can find HUD National HECM Network Counselors by using the "click here" link at the bottom of this page. But before calling any counselor, please read this important information:

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."  

HUD National HECM Network Counselors are the only HECM counselors who have achieved the quyalifying score on the HECM counselor exam and been approved by HUD to provide telephone counseling nationwide. They are employed by local housing counseling agencies that may also employ other counselors who have not met the those standards. 

Asking for a Network Counselor In many cases, the telephone numbers listed on this site for HUD National HECM Network Counselors are the numbers of the local agencies that employ them rather than the direct numbers of the counselors themselves. So to obtain counseling with a network counselor in these cases, say "I have been referred by the AARP Foundation, and would like to request a reverse mortgage counseling appointment with __________________." (fill in the blank by saying the name of the HUD Network Counselor)

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 you live in NC, where this counseling must be face-to-face).

   5.  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.