Your San Diego home is worth around $980,000. If you are 62 or older, a reverse mortgage lets you access that equity without selling, without moving, and without making a single monthly mortgage payment.
San Diego Median Home Value
San Diego County Seniors 65+
Minimum Age to
Qualify
Reverse Mortgage Specialist
I’m Adam Kelley, and my office is right here in San Diego County, just 30 minutes from downtown. I work exclusively with California homeowners. I understand San Diego property values, local appraisal trends, and what it takes to close a loan in this market smoothly.
If a reverse mortgage is not the right fit for you, I will say so plainly. No pressure, no games. The conversation is always free.
Qualifying comes down to a few core requirements. Most long-term San Diego homeowners meet every one of them.
The youngest borrower on the title must be at least 62. Some jumbo programs allow borrowers as young as 55.
The home must be where you live most of the year. Vacation homes in coastal areas like Mission Beach or Pacific Beach do not qualify.
Most lenders require at least 50% equity. With San Diego median values near $980,000, most long-term owners qualify easily.
You must be current on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any HOA dues. Under Prop 13, many longtime San Diego owners pay assessed taxes well below current market rates, making this easier to maintain on a fixed income.
Single-family homes, FHA-approved condos, townhomes, and manufactured homes on owned land qualify. San Diego has a large condo market downtown and in coastal communities. FHA approval status varies by building, so check with us before assuming.
Federal law requires a one-time session with an independent HUD-approved counselor before any application. About 60 to 90 minutes by phone. No charge for the session.
San Diego County seniors age 65+
Homeownership rate, San Diego County
Median home value, San Diego city
County single-family median, December 2025
Not all reverse mortgage products are the same. The right program depends on your home value, age, and financial goals.
The most widely used reverse mortgage in the country. FHA-insured and HUD-backed with strong consumer protections.
Designed for San Diego homes valued above the HECM limit. No government-set lending cap for higher-value properties.
Buy a new San Diego home using a reverse mortgage. Bring a down payment and the reverse mortgage covers the rest.
If you already have a reverse mortgage and your San Diego property has appreciated since you closed, refinancing may put more money in your hands.
A lower-cost option offered by some state and local agencies for a specific, lender-approved use such as home repairs or property taxes.
A private reverse mortgage product outside the FHA system, flexible for unique property types or borrowers who need terms not available under the HECM.
A reverse mortgage is not free money. It is a financial tool. When used correctly, it gives San Diego seniors real options that did not exist a generation ago.
If you still carry a mortgage on your San Diego home, the reverse mortgage pays it off first. From that point forward, no required monthly mortgage payment. For many San Diego retirees on fixed incomes, that alone frees up $2,000 to $4,000 per month.
You remain the owner and stay on the title. There is no requirement to sell or move. As long as you live in the home as your primary residence and keep up with taxes, insurance, and maintenance, the home is yours.
Choose how you receive your equity. A one-time lump sum, scheduled monthly payments, a growing line of credit you draw from as needed, or any combination. You control when and how much you access.
On HECM loans, you and your heirs can never owe more than what the home sells for, even if the loan balance exceeds the property value. FHA insurance covers the difference. This is a federal protection, not an optional add-on.
If you choose the line of credit option, the unused portion grows over time at the same rate as the loan interest. Your available credit can increase even in years when San Diego home values are flat, a feature unique to reverse mortgages.
San Diego's cost of living runs 47% above the national average. Social Security and savings do not always cover the full cost of retirement here. A reverse mortgage can bridge the gap, covering healthcare, home improvements, or simply the difference between what you have and what you need each month.
Want to see what these benefits look like with your specific San Diego property? The estimate is free.
Reverse mortgages have been around for decades, but misconceptions still circulate. Here is what is actually true — and what is not.
"The bank takes ownership of your home."
You remain the legal owner of your home throughout the life of the loan. The lender places a lien, just like a traditional mortgage. Your name stays on the title. You decide what happens to the property.
"My children will be stuck with the debt."
HECM loans are non-recourse. Your heirs are never personally responsible for the loan balance. They can sell the home and keep any remaining equity, refinance to keep the property, or simply walk away. If the home sells for less than the balance, FHA insurance covers the shortfall.
"Reverse mortgages are only for people who are broke."
Many financially stable San Diego homeowners use reverse mortgages as a strategic retirement planning tool. The growing line of credit feature, tax-free proceeds, and ability to delay Social Security make it a legitimate financial planning option, not a last resort.
"You cannot get a reverse mortgage if you still owe on your home."
You can. The reverse mortgage pays off your existing mortgage balance first. Any remaining equity is then available to you. In fact, eliminating an existing mortgage payment is one of the most common reasons San Diego homeowners apply.
"Reverse mortgages are a scam."
The HECM program is regulated by the FHA, insured by the federal government, and requires independent HUD counseling before any application is filed. It is one of the most heavily regulated mortgage products available. That said, not every homeowner should get one, which is exactly why we review your situation honestly first.
A reverse mortgage is not the right solution for every homeowner. We believe you deserve an honest look at the drawbacks alongside the benefits, before you commit to anything.
If a reverse mortgage does not make financial sense for your specific San Diego property and circumstances, we will tell you directly. We would rather lose a loan than place someone in the wrong product.
From your first call to funded — in 30 to 45 days.
Call (888) 887-0492 or visit 243 S Escondido Blvd Suite 2004, just 30 minutes from central San Diego. We review your home value, age, and goals. You leave with real numbers, not a brochure. Zero obligation.
We identify the right program for your San Diego home. Most city homeowners choose between a HECM and a jumbo reverse mortgage. Both options are laid out side by side in plain language before you decide anything.
Federal law requires a session with an independent HUD-approved counselor before any application. About 60 to 90 minutes by phone. The counselor is neutral, works on your behalf, and is there to make sure you fully understand the loan before moving forward.
We submit your application. A licensed appraiser assesses your San Diego property. Appraisers working in this market know the difference between a La Jolla bluff-top home and a Clairemont Mesa condo. That local knowledge keeps your valuation accurate.
The lender reviews your application, appraisal, and financial information. Reverse mortgages do not require a high credit score or strict income minimums, which makes approval accessible for many San Diego retirees on fixed incomes.
You sign documents. We can arrange a mobile notary to come directly to your San Diego home so no travel is needed. After the three-day federal rescission period, your funds are released. No required monthly mortgage payment as long as you live in your San Diego home as your primary residence.
Ready to take the first step? It starts with a free, no-pressure conversation.
Most reverse mortgage companies advertising in California are based out of state and operate from call centers. Our office is in San Diego County, just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego. You can sit across the table from Adam Kelley in person.
Reverse mortgage services offered exclusively to California homeowners. No multi-state queue. Your loan gets real attention at every step.
Our office at 243 S Escondido Blvd Suite 2004 is a short drive from central San Diego. Sit down with Adam directly, review your numbers face to face, and ask every question you have before making any decision.
From La Jolla estates to Mission Valley condos to Rancho Bernardo townhomes, we understand which properties present appraisal challenges and which FHA-approved condo projects are ready to move. Local knowledge speeds up your loan.
We are not licensed across 50 states managing thousands of loans at once. Every file we handle is in California. That focus means your loan gets proper attention at every stage instead of sitting in a queue behind files from markets we have no connection to.
Adam holds NMLS #2125432 via C2 Financial and CA DRE #01905780. Both are publicly verifiable on the NMLS Consumer Access portal before you make any call. There is nothing to take on faith.
A reverse mortgage is not right for every San Diego homeowner. If the numbers do not work in your favor, or if your goals are better served another way, we will tell you directly and explain our reasoning.
Call (888) 887-0492 or walk into the office. Not a help ticket. Not a different time zone. You reach us directly every time.
Real feedback from California seniors who trusted us with their home equity decisions.
Happy Clients
CA Counties Served
Out-of-Pocket at Closing
The questions we hear most from homeowners in Escondido and across North San Diego County.
A reverse mortgage is not the right move for every homeowner. But if you are 62 or older, own a home in San Diego, and want honest answers about your options, this conversation is free and there is no obligation.
243 S Escondido Blvd Suite 2004
Escondido, CA 92025
(888) 887-0492
Mon to Fri 8 AM to 6 PM
contact@californiareversemortgage.us
