Reverse mortgage guidance for Marin & Sonoma homeowners 62+
Helping North Bay Seniors Retire in the Homes They Love
A reverse mortgage lets you turn part of your home equity into money you can use, with no required monthly mortgage payment. You keep living there, and you keep the title.
I’m Kathlene Carney Seidel, a Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist here in the North Bay. I’ll walk you through how it works, what it costs, and whether it actually makes sense for you.
No pressure, just answers
Why Do People Hate Reverse Mortgages?
Let’s be honest: reverse mortgages have a bad reputation. A lot of people picture a last resort, a trap where the bank ends up with the house, or a mess the kids get stuck with.
Much of that comes from how these loans worked decades ago, plus a few bad actors and a lot of rumors. Judging today’s loans by those stories is like skipping a local restaurant because of a review from twenty years ago.
The most common reverse mortgage today is the HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage). It’s insured by the FHA and closely regulated. Some people use one because money is tight. Others use one as part of a well-planned retirement strategy. Both are good reasons, and the protections are the same either way.
- You keep the title. The lender holds a lien, just like any mortgage. The bank doesn’t own your home.
- Your heirs are protected. It’s a non-recourse loan; no one will ever owe more than the home is worth.
- You call the shots. There’s no required monthly mortgage payment. You can pay as much or as little as you like, whenever you like. (Borrowers are still responsible for paying their property tax, insurance, and maintaining the home, just as with any mortgage.)
I built this Resource Center to cut through the noise and give you the real facts, so you can decide whether a reverse mortgage fits your life, or whether something else fits better.
Read the Full Breakdown: Are Reverse Mortgages a Scam?See It Explained
How a Reverse Mortgage Actually Works in 90 Seconds
A short, clear walk-through of how a reverse mortgage turns part of your home equity into money you can use, and what you can use it for.
See your own numbers
What Could You Qualify For?
Try the calculator below for a free, no-obligation estimate based on your home’s value and age. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Explore the RESOURCE Center
Answers to questions I hear most often.
Start with the one that’s on your mind.
How Does a Reverse Mortgage Actually Work?
The basics in plain English: how you get the money, what it costs, and why the title stays in your name.
Read the Plain-Language Guide Myth-BustingAren’t Reverse Mortgages a Scam?
The bank doesn’t take your home, and your kids won’t inherit debt. Forget the 20-year-old rumors—here’s how FHA rules protect you today.
Debunk the 4 Big Myths Side-by-Side ComparisonWhat Are the Alternatives to a Reverse Mortgage?
A reverse mortgage isn’t for everyone. Compare cash-out refinances, HELOCs, downsizing, and HECM for Purchase side-by-side to find the right fit for your goals.
Compare Your Options Local Market RealityHouse-Rich but Cash-Poor in the North Bay?
Your home may be worth a lot while your monthly budget feels tight. You’re far from alone. See what’s happening locally, and the options your neighbors are using.
Read the North Bay Housing ParadoxIn their words
What Clients Say
People tend to mention the same things about working with me: I take complex financial topics and explain them in everyday language, at a pace that works for them, with no pressure, and they come away confident in their decision.
These reviews were shared with me directly by clients and their families.
I spoke with a few loan officers before finding Kathlene, and the difference was clear right away. She didn’t rush the conversation or assume what I knew.
It never felt like she was pushing a loan, just helping us understand the option.
Kathlene was professional, friendly, and generous with her time. She answered all of my questions in a way that was easy to understand and made me feel comfortable throughout the process.
I thank you so much for helping me through all the rigamarole of the reverse mortgage process. I must say that now it’s done, I feel so much better. I walk differently in the world.
Beyond the loan
In the Community
I’m an active member of both the Marin and Sonoma Sections on Aging. I also volunteer with MERP, the Medical Equipment Recycling Program, which gets secondhand medical equipment to families who need it.
Throughout the year, I give free talks at senior centers, libraries, community centers, and churches across the North Bay, including the Petaluma Senior Center, the Sonoma County Council on Aging, and the Mill Valley Public Library. Whether it’s a room full of neighbors or a one-on-one conversation, you’ll get the same patient, plainspoken answers.
Free resource
Get Your Free Reverse Mortgage Guidebook
A plain-English guide to how reverse mortgages work, common myths, and the questions worth asking — yours free, no strings attached.
Kathlene Carney Seidel · NMLS #2040727
Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist