Reverse mortgages.
55+, equity-rich, and done making payments — tax-free access to the home's value, repaid only when you leave it. BC and Alberta.
Canadian retirement has a design flaw: the wealth is in the house and the income is somewhere smaller. A reverse mortgage resolves it without selling the house — equity out, no payments in, repaid when you eventually leave. It's also a product with a real cost that compounds quietly, which is why our version of selling it is refusing to: we model the balance year by year, compare it against the HELOC you might qualify for instead, and let the honest math make the decision.
Equity working, payments gone.
Monthly advances or a lump sum from the home — tax-free, with no required payments.
The whole point: age in place without selling, downsizing, or taking on a payment.
An existing mortgage or consumer debt cleared, so the pension stops servicing payments.
Right-sizing to a new home using a reverse mortgage on the purchase itself.
Helping kids with down payments now, from equity, without touching investments.
Under 55, or outside reverse guidelines — a private product pauses payments for up to five years.
Reverse, its younger cousin — and the honest alternative.
The no-negative-equity guarantee is the product's backbone: you (or your estate) never owe more than the home's fair value. Interest accrues instead of being paid, so the balance grows — that's the honest trade, and we model it in writing before you sign.
The reverse mortgage's younger cousin: payments pause, interest accrues onto the balance, and the exit is a sale or refinance on your schedule. Terms vary by lender and property.
If your income can carry a HELOC comfortably, it's usually cheaper than accruing reverse interest. We show the comparison honestly — reverse when it's right, not by default.
Advances, pricing, and program rules are typical ranges for illustration — last reviewed July 2026 — and depend on age, property, location, and product. Model your scenario with the reverse mortgage calculator.
Files like yours.
Common reverse-mortgage questions.
What is a reverse mortgage and who qualifies?+
A reverse mortgage lets homeowners 55+ access tax-free equity with no required monthly payments — commonly up to about 55% of the home's value, sometimes higher under certain programs for older homeowners. The exact advance depends on age, property, location and product. Qualifying is based on the home and your age, not income or credit — there's no stress test.
When does a reverse mortgage get repaid?+
When the home is sold or the last borrower moves out — there's no fixed term and no required payments along the way. A no-negative-equity guarantee applies: neither you nor your estate ever owes more than the home's fair market value.
What's the catch?+
Compounding. With no payments, interest accrues onto the balance, so the debt grows while you stay — that's the product working as designed, not a trick. The real question is whether the equity you're consuming buys something worth more to you than the inheritance it reduces. We put the year-by-year math in front of you before any decision.
Is the money taxable? Does it affect my pension or benefits?+
The advances are loan proceeds, not income — so they're tax-free and generally don't affect income-tested benefits the way investment withdrawals can. For the interaction with your specific benefits and estate plan, we encourage a conversation with your accountant or advisor, and we're happy to join it.
I'm under 55 — is there anything like this for me?+
Yes — an all-ages private equity-release product: no payments for up to five years and no prepayment penalties (BC, ON and AB), with interest accruing onto the balance and repayment on sale or refinance. Terms vary by lender and property; it's a bridge product rather than a lifetime one.
Can I use a reverse mortgage to buy a home?+
Yes — reverse-for-purchase pairs your down payment with a reverse advance on the new home, so you right-size without taking on a monthly payment. It's a common move from the family house to the easier-to-keep one.
Wouldn't a HELOC be cheaper?+
If your income qualifies and the payment is comfortable — often yes, and we'll tell you so. The reverse products earn their place when qualifying or cash flow is the problem: no stress test, no payment, no risk of a missed-payment default. We run both numbers before recommending either.
Considering it? Have these ready.
No income documents, no credit anxiety — reverse files are refreshingly short. Bring the family into the conversation if you'd like; we think the best reverse decisions are made out loud.
- Ages of all title-holders — the advance is age-driven
- Property address and a realistic sense of value — we can order the appraisal
- Current mortgage or HELOC balance, if any (it gets paid out first)
- What the funds are for — lump sum, monthly advances, or both
- Property tax and insurance status — staying current on both is the ongoing obligation
- Independent legal advice contact — standard on reverse files
- Family in the loop, if you want them there — we're glad to walk everyone through it
The house did its job. Let it fund the next chapter.
Tell us your age, the home, and what the money's for — we'll show you the reverse math, the HELOC comparison, and our honest recommendation, in writing.