Forward → Reverse refinanceMary and Tom kept their home — and their savings.
After 37 years as schoolteachers, Mary and Tom retired in 2024 still owing about $185,000 on their forward mortgage. The monthly P&I payment was eating into their pension and Social Security in ways they hadn't planned for. They came to Lyon House unsure if a reverse mortgage was right for them — they'd heard mixed things from friends and felt nervous about the decision.
Three weeks later, after HUD counseling and a careful walk through their long-term cash flow, we closed a HECM that paid off the existing mortgage and left them with a $48,000 line of credit. Their monthly mortgage payment went to zero. They're still in the same Laguna Niguel home they raised their kids in.
Mortgage paid off
$185,000
Line of credit available
$48,000
“We were genuinely scared a reverse mortgage would mean losing the house. Jason walked us through every page, twice. We still own it. We sleep better.”
Mary & Tom Parker · retired teachers · Laguna Niguel
A photo of Mary & Tom will appear here
Once they review & approve it
Tapping equity for familyOne reverse mortgage, two new homes.
Carlos and Elena, both in their late 60s, had over $1.3 million of equity in their Dana Point home but didn't need the cash for themselves. Their son Diego was trying to buy his first house and couldn't quite make the down payment work in this Orange County market. They wanted to help, but not by selling the house they planned to leave him eventually.
We structured a reverse mortgage that gave them $400,000 in a lump sum with no monthly payment. They gifted $250,000 to Diego for his down payment, kept the rest for emergencies and travel, and watched Diego close on his first home in San Juan Capistrano six weeks later.
“We had the equity. We didn't have a way to share it without selling. Jason found one.”
Carlos & Elena Martinez · Dana Point
A family photo will appear here
With the Martinez family's permission
HomeSafe jumbo refinanceWhen a $1.15M cap wasn't enough.
Margaret, 79, owns a coastal home in Dana Point worth $2.8M. She'd taken out a small HECM back in 2019, when the FHA limit was $726,525, so she'd only been able to access a fraction of her equity. By 2025 her home had appreciated significantly and her granddaughter was heading to college.
We refinanced her HECM into a HomeSafe jumbo — uncapped, age-based PLF — which gave her access to roughly $1.2M in proceeds. She drew $200K for her granddaughter's tuition, set up a line of credit on the rest for future flexibility, and still has no monthly mortgage payment.
New proceeds available
~$1,200,000
Drawn for tuition
$200,000
“I didn't realize how much had changed since my first reverse. The new product was simply better for my situation.”
Margaret · age 79 · Dana Point
Margaret's portrait will appear here
Pending her review