Senior housing wealth tops $15 trillion for the first time

Housing wealth among homeowners ages 62 and older rose to a record $15.34 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, surpassing $15 trillion for the first time, according to the latest quarterly Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI) published by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) and RiskSpan. Since 2000, the index has tracked trends in senior home values and home equity accumulation, serving as a benchmark for understanding the financial position and borrowing potential of older homeowners. The second-quarter increase was driven by an estimated $430 billion, or 2.5%, rise in senior home values, partially offset by a $30 billion, or 1.2%, increase in mortgage debt held by seniors. “This latest RMMI milestone underscores the extraordinary financial resource that home equity represents for today’s older homeowners,” Steve Irwin, president of NRMLA, said in a statement. “Even as borrowing costs remain elevated, senior homeowners continue to build substantial housing wealth, giving them greater financial flexibility as they navigate retirement. The challenge and opportunity for our industry is to ensure that older homeowners understand how this wealth can be responsi...