Help Clients Get Closer to What Matters Most

by Richard McWhorter, Sr Retirement Mortgage Advisor

As a real estate professional, you know:
Not every move is about square footage or zip code.

Sometimes, it’s about getting closer to grandkids.
Sometimes it’s about avoiding stairs or a long hallway.
Sometimes it’s about downsizing, simplifying, and breathing easier – financially and physically.

For your clients aged 62 and up, those deeply personal moves often come with an uncomfortable trade-off:

“I want to move… but I can’t afford to lose the financial safety I’ve built.”

That’s where HECM for Purchase (H4P) can quietly transform hesitation into action – and help you serve older buyers in a way most agents never even consider.

What Is a HECM for Purchase?

A HECM for Purchase is a federally insured reverse mortgage that allows your qualifying clients (62+) to purchase a new primary residence using a combination of:

• A down payment (typically 50–60% of the purchase price, depending on age and rates), and
• A reverse mortgage loan to cover the rest – with no monthly mortgage payments for life.

Let’s pause there, because that’s big:

✅ Buy a more suitable home
✅ Put about half down
✅ Never make a monthly mortgage payment again

That’s not just a “retirement perk.”
That’s life-changing leverage… especially when the move isn’t about prestige or price, but about purpose.

Use Case: Moving With Meaning

For many of your older clients, the “right next home” isn’t about an open-concept kitchen or being near a golf course. It’s about:

• Proximity to family — watching grandkids grow up, or offering help to adult children
• One-floor living — reducing fall risk or medical complications
• Lower maintenance and stress — fewer rooms, less upkeep, better peace of mind
• Familiarity and safety — a home that feels like them, not just a transaction

But here’s the rub:

Even when they sell their current home for a good price, buying something newer or more suitable, without a mortgage payment, often feels out of reach.

Or they assume their only option is to pay all cash and drain savings they might need later.

That’s where HECM for Purchase steps in and says:
“There’s another path.”

How It Works… A Simple Snapshot

Let’s say your 70-year-old seller walks away with $400,000 in net proceeds. They find a new home for $375,000.

• With an H4P, they can use about $207,000 as a down payment
• The reverse mortgage covers the rest
• They never owe a monthly mortgage payment as long as they live in the home

That leaves them with roughly $193,000 in liquid savings, money they get to keep instead of tying up in housing for:

• Retirement cash flow
• Healthcare needs
• Legacy planning
• Just living life with less worry

How Do You Help Clients Get Closer?

You’re not just helping someone buy a house.
You’re helping them make a move that honors their lifestyle, protects their finances, and increases their sense of freedom.

Most agents never mention reverse mortgage tools — not because they don’t care, but because they simply don’t know how they work.

When you do, you stand out.

You become the agent who can say:

“Yes, we can get you closer to family and keep your savings intact.”

“Yes, we can eliminate stairs and your mortgage payment.”

“Yes, there’s a way to do this without the financial fear.”

That’s not just a deal closed… that’s a client for life, and one who’s likely to refer others with similar needs.

A Softer Way to Introduce the Idea

Of course, talking about a reverse mortgage isn’t always easy, especially when the client or their adult children have preconceived notions.

That’s where I come in.

I can provide you with:

• Language that educates without overwhelming
• Soft-touch email templates or client handouts
• A live call or co-branded explainer if you want to ease into the conversation

Or, I am available anytime via phone, Zoom or in person to be your on-call, on-site reverse mortgage expert to help your clients get closer to help sell your deal.

Sometimes, it’s just about planting the seed.
Other times, it’s about helping someone say, “Wait… you mean I really can make this move?”

Final Thought

Helping someone get closer to what matters most – family, peace of mind, or simply a safer home – is always rewarding.

But helping them do it without adding a new mortgage payment to their life?

That’s the kind of move they’ll never forget… and the kind of agent they’ll never stop talking about.

If you’d like to walk through a sample H4P scenario based on one of your clients, or you’d like us to make one up as an example, let’s connect. It’s a simple, low-pressure way to see if this could be a new tool in your Realtor toolbox.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Have a No-Pressure Conversation

At Ridge Reverse, we’re not here to “sell” anything. We’re here to help you and your clients understand options. We work with homeowners, their families, financial advisors, attorneys, and real estate professionals provide real-world clarity – not fluff.

If you’re curious how a reverse mortgage could extend your savings and reduce financial pressure, let’s talk. A short, friendly conversation could open the door to years of breathing room.

Next Steps?

Simply reach out to us at Ridge Reverse, powered by Amerifund, and let’s discuss how we can help you with a product designed specifically to meet your needs for a lifetime of happiness… while enhancing long term cashflow and quality of life. Feel free to call, text (mobile: 404-313-9785 anytime, office: 863-456-7810), or email richard.mcwhorter@ridgereverse.com and find out more.

Ridge Reverse, provides an Equal Housing Opportunity. Information is subject to change without notice. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to secure a loan. Some restrictions may apply. This material is not from HUD or FHA and has not been approved by HUD or any government agency.

Richard W. McWhorter, NMLS 1618644, as an independent reverse mortgage specialist can assist in your reverse mortgage needs in most states. Follow him on LinkedIn, Reddit, the Ridge Reverse website or contact him directly at Richard.McWhorter@ridgereverse.com.