Your counseling step
Before you can get a HECM reverse mortgage, you must talk with a HUD-approved counselor. The counselor works for an independent agency, not for us.
Three things to do:
Step 1: Call a counselor
- You choose the counseling agency. You can pick any agency on this list, or any other HUD-approved HECM counselor.
- You call the agency and schedule the session yourself.
- We do not recommend an agency. We do not schedule your session, attend it, pay for it, or contact the counselor about you.
HUD has a free phone line to help you find a HUD-approved counselor.
(800) 569-4287- Agencies may charge a fee. Ask the agency about the fee before you schedule.
- The fee can usually be paid from your loan proceeds at closing.
- If paying the fee would be a hardship, ask the agency about a fee waiver.
Step 2: Give them your access code
If you want your counselor to see the numbers we prepared for you, give them a code. Sharing it is your choice.
Your code comes with your free package. It takes about two minutes.
Get my free packageIf Lending For Living already set up your loan, you may use the docport.org code we gave you instead.
Step 3: Send us your certificate
- When you finish, the counselor gives you a certificate (form HUD-92902). Sign and date it.
- You may ask your counselor to send your certificate to us. You can also send it to us yourself.
- The certificate is good for 180 days from your counseling date.
- We cannot request an FHA case number until we have your signed certificate.
- In California, we cannot take your final loan application or charge fees until 7 days after you finish counseling.
Or send it another way:
Bring to counseling
- Our loan estimate or loan package, if you have one
- The California Reverse Mortgage Worksheet Guide we gave you
- Your most recent mortgage statement, if you have a mortgage
- Your property tax amount
- Your homeowners insurance amount
- A photo ID
- Power of attorney papers, if someone acts for you
- Your questions, written down
You may share these documents with your counselor before or during the session.
Questions about this step?
Call us: (209) 528-0509
