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What is the history of the Reverse Mortgage?

  • 1961 - As the story goes, the first reverse mortgage was written in 1961 to a woman in Portland, Maine by a small, local bank. The owner of the bank wanted to help the wife of his high school football coach stay in her home after her husband passed away, even though she didn't have enough income to pay on a mortgage. 

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  • December 22, 1987 - US Congress passes FHA Legislation.

 

  • February 5, 1988 - President Ronald Reagan signs the bill into law and HUD gained the right to insure reverse mortgages through FHA.

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  • October 19, 1989 - The first FHA Reverse Mortgage loan is made to Marjorie Mason of Fairway, Kansas by James B. Nutter & Company.

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