About Simply Approved Mortgages — honest reverse mortgage education for seniors 62 and older
Last updated: · Reviewed by Simply Approved Mortgages (NMLS #2620881)
Simply Approved Mortgages is an independent reverse mortgage education site covering HUD's HECM program, reverse mortgage eligibility, costs, and alternatives — explained the way we'd want our own parents to learn about them: clearly, slowly, and without sales pressure.
What this site is
Plain-English education on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage — the federally insured reverse mortgage that 95%+ of U.S. borrowers use. Every page is grounded in HUD's published rules, FHA program documentation, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) consumer guidance. Where we present numbers, we cite the source — and where we present an estimate, we say so.
Simply Approved Mortgages has a Reverse Mortgage Division
Simply Approved Mortgages has a Reverse Mortgage Division. Simply Approved is a licensed mortgage brokerage — not a lender — meaning our specialists shop multiple HUD-approved HECM lenders on your behalf and present the options side-by-side. When you request a estimate here, that estimate is provided by Simply Approved's reverse mortgage specialists, who focus on helping homeowners age 62 and older understand their options. Simply Approved Mortgages NMLS #2620881.
What we'll never do
- Run a hard credit check without your explicit written permission.
- Push a HECM when an alternative is genuinely better — see our alternatives guide.
- Sell your contact information to third parties.
- Use fabricated testimonials, fake "trusted by" logos, or made-up statistics.
Sources we rely on
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Mortgagee Letters and HECM program rules.
- Federal Housing Administration (FHA) — HECM insurance and PLF tables.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — consumer-protection guidance.
- IRS published guidance on the tax treatment of loan proceeds.
Contact
Simply Approved Mortgages (NMLS #2620881)
Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 7 PM ET · Sat, 9 AM – 2 PM ET
Ready to get started? Get my free estimate.
See How Much Home Equity You Could Access in 2026
Get a free, no-obligation reverse mortgage estimate from a Simply Approved Mortgages specialist. We'll estimate your available home equity, explain your HECM options, and answer your questions today.
Estimate what you could qualify for in about a minute
Enter a few details about your age, home, and goals. We'll show you an estimated HECM benefit, a complimentary home value estimate, and connect you with a Simply Approved Mortgages reverse mortgage specialist.
What could you qualify for?
Includes a complimentary home value estimate
Lenders set this weekly from the 10-yr CMT index plus their margin. Default rate shown for illustration only — actual rates vary by lender, market conditions, and the date your loan is locked.
Your personalized HECM estimate is ready. Enter a few contact details and a licensed Simply Approved Mortgages specialist will share your numbers and walk you through your options.
Latest reverse mortgage articles, rate updates, and HECM guides
New reverse mortgage articles are publishing soon. In the meantime, browse upcoming categories:
Documents required for a reverse mortgage
When you apply for a HECM reverse mortgage, your lender will request documents that verify your identity, property ownership, income, and assets. Gathering these in advance can speed up your estimate and application.
- Government-issued photo ID
Current driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID.
- Social Security number verification
Social Security card or award letter showing your SSN.
- Current mortgage statement
Most recent statement if refinancing; purchase agreement if buying.
- Homeowner’s insurance declarations page
Shows current coverage, premium, and mortgagee clause.
- Property tax statement or receipt
Latest county tax bill showing taxes are current or payment history.
- Bank statements
Last 1-2 months to verify closing funds and residual reserves.
- Investment or retirement accounts
Recent statements for IRA, 401(k), brokerage, or other liquid assets.
- HOA or condo information
Homeowners association statement or condo questionnaire if applicable.
- Trust or title vesting documents
Required when the home is held in a living trust or entity.
- Flood insurance declaration
Current policy if the property is in a flood zone.
- HUD-approved counseling certificate
Required before loan application. Obtained from a HUD-approved reverse mortgage counselor.
Why we pull credit for your reverse mortgage pre-approval
HUD requires a Financial Assessment for every HECM reverse mortgage. That includes a tri-merge credit report so we can verify your identity, review your obligations, and confirm you can continue paying property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance after closing.
Pay for your credit report — SmartPay
Simply Approved Mortgages uses MeridianLink SmartPay to securely collect the credit report fee for your reverse mortgage pre-approval. Payment goes directly to the credit vendor — not to us — and unlocks your tri-merge report (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) so your specialist can complete your HUD Financial Assessment.
- Secure, PCI-compliant checkout hosted by MeridianLink
- Required for a formal HECM pre-approval decision
- Soft-touch process — your loan officer will guide you through it
You'll be redirected to cic.meridianlink.com (SmartPay).
Check your credit first — $1 trial at MyITINCredit
Before you apply, it's smart to know exactly where your credit stands. MyITINCredit offers a $1 trial for 15 days that includes all three credit reports and scores (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), plus ongoing credit monitoring so you can catch errors, dispute inaccuracies, and watch for identity theft.
- See all 3 bureau reports & scores before your lender does
- Ongoing monitoring alerts you to new accounts or score changes
- Fix errors early — cleaner credit can widen your reverse mortgage options
You'll be redirected to myitincredit.com. Third-party service — terms apply.
Credit report fees are paid directly to the credit vendor. Simply Approved Mortgages (NMLS #2620881) does not profit from the credit pull. MyITINCredit is an independent third-party service; pricing, terms, and features are set by that provider.
Have Questions? Talk to a Reverse Mortgage Specialist
Prefer a real conversation? A Simply Approved Mortgages reverse mortgage specialist can walk you through HECM rules, payout options, and how a reverse mortgage fits your retirement plan — no pressure, no obligation.