Plain Talk. Real Answers. From People Who Actually Know This Product.
This site exists because most reverse mortgage information in Canada is written by lenders, for lenders. The glossy brochures. The TV ads. The calculators that only show one lender's product.
We built something different. An independent, plain-language resource for Canadian homeowners 55+ who want to understand their options before they talk to anyone — and who want to be treated like adults when they do.
- Why this site exists -
The gap we kept seeing.
A reverse mortgage is one of the most consequential financial decisions a Canadian homeowner will make. The product is well-regulated, genuinely useful for the right borrower, and frequently misunderstood — sometimes by the people selling it.
The gap we kept seeing: Canadians who had heard of CHIP but didn't know there were three other lenders. Borrowers who signed without understanding the renewal rate structure — the question that determines long-term cost more than any other. Families who learned about a reverse mortgage for the first time at the estate settlement table, caught off guard in ways that created stress and sometimes conflict.
This site was built to close that gap. The 10 pillar pages, the blog articles, the free guide, the calculator — all of it is written with one standard: what would we want a close friend or family member to know before making this decision?
"We work with all Canadian reverse mortgage lenders. We have no financial incentive to recommend one over another. The right product for each borrower depends on their age, property, draw needs, timeline, and how long they plan to hold the mortgage. We find that product. Sometimes it's CHIP. Sometimes it isn't."
- The Basics -
Matthew Hines
Mortgage Agent, Level 2 · FSRA #M09000211 · CRMS · CSEC
Dominion Lending Centres Edge Financial
I came to reverse mortgages the same way most people do — through a family situation. Someone I cared about was house-rich and cash-limited, trying to figure out how to stay in the home they'd lived in for 35 years without making a financial mistake they couldn't undo. The advice they were getting was incomplete, inconsistent, and occasionally just wrong.
I decided to learn the product properly. That meant understanding not just how reverse mortgages work but how the four Canadian lenders actually differ from each other — in renewal rate structure, draw flexibility, property acceptance criteria, and long-term cost. The differences are meaningful. Most borrowers never see them.
I hold a Level 2 Mortgage Agent licence in Ontario (FSRA #M09000211), the Canadian Reverse Mortgage Specialist (CRMS) designation, and the Certified Smart Equity Coach (CSEC) designation. I work through Dominion Lending Centres Edge Financial, which gives me access to all Canadian reverse mortgage lenders and the full range of products.
The Canada Reverse Mortgage Guide — the book — came out of the same impulse as this site. If I'm going to explain this product to someone, I want to do it completely and honestly, not just well enough to get a signature.
- The Process -
What actually happens when you book a call.
A free consultation is not a sales call. Here's what it is.
Before the call, you'll have access to the prequalification tool — which gives you estimated amounts across all four lenders based on your age, home value, and location. The call builds on that starting point.
During the call, we'll cover: your specific situation, what you're trying to accomplish, how a reverse mortgage does or doesn't fit, and — if it fits — which lender and product structure makes the most sense for you. If a reverse mortgage isn't the right answer, we'll say so. That's happened more than once, and we'd rather have that conversation upfront than have you sign something that doesn't serve you.
If you decide to proceed, we'll produce a written prequalification report comparing all four lenders side by side — costs, rates, terms, conditions, and a projected equity analysis based on a conservative 3.5% annual home value growth rate and the historical rate for your specific property type and area. You'll see the full picture before you make any commitment.
01
Try the calculator
No personal info required. See estimated amounts across all Canadian reverse mortgage lenders.
02
Download the free guide
Understand the product completely before you talk to anyone.
03
Book a free call
30 minutes. Your questions. Honest answers. No obligation.
04
Get the written report
Full lender comparison, equity projection, and a clear recommendation. Or a clear explanation of why we're recommending something else.
What the written prequalification report includes
Every client who proceeds to a consultation receives a full written analysis — not a one-pager, a proper report.
All Canadian Reverse Mortgage Lenders compared side by side - Costs, rates, and terms
Equity projection at 3.5% CAGR - Historical growth rate for your area
Recommended product and structure
- A Note On Independence -
How we're paid, and what that means for you.
In Canada, mortgage brokers and agents are paid by reverse mortgage lenders — not by borrowers. That's the standard structure, and it means you never pay a broker fee to arrange a reverse mortgage. All Canadian reverse mortgage lenders work on this basis without exception.
What it doesn't automatically guarantee is that the broker has access to all lenders or the knowledge to compare them genuinely. Many mortgage professionals place the occasional reverse mortgage file. We do this exclusively.
Matthew Hines holds a Level 2 Mortgage Agent licence with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA #M09000211). You can verify this at any time at fsrao.ca. We'd encourage you to.
The information on this site is produced independently. We are not compensated by any lender for editorial coverage, and no lender can purchase placement or favourable treatment in our content.
Ready to get some straight answers?
Book a free 30-minute call with Matthew. Bring your questions — there's no such thing as a silly one when it comes to your home and your retirement.
📞 (647) 372-0762
📍 8 Sampson Mews, Suite 201, Toronto ON M3C 0H5
- keep Learning -
Straight Talk from the Blog
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Canada's trusted plain-language resource for reverse mortgage information. Helping Canadians 55+ understand their options and make confident decisions.
Matthew Hines | Mortgage Agent, Level 2
Ontario - FSRA #M09000211
Contact
(647) 372-0762
8 Sampson Mews, Suite 201 Toronto ON
M3C 0H5
This website provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or mortgage advice. Always consult a licensed professional for advice specific to your situation. - Helping Canadian homeowners aged 55+ enjoy more financial freedom. Home Equity Freedom. | www.homeequityfreedom.ca | Privacy Policy
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