Home / Reverse Mortgage / Tennessee
By Trevor Forbes, Mortgage Loan Officer · NMLS #2478105 · Last reviewed
Reverse Mortgage · Tennessee · Age 62+

A local Tennessee reverse mortgage specialist — not a national call center.

If you're 62 or older and have significant equity in your Tennessee home, a HECM reverse mortgage may let you access that equity without a monthly mortgage payment. I'm Trevor Forbes, a Memphis-area mortgage loan officer, and I sit down with you face to face — at your kitchen table if you prefer — from the first conversation through signing your documents.

As a broker, I work with some of the top reverse mortgage lenders in the country. You get national lending strength, and a local person you can actually sit across the table from.

Schedule a Consultation → Call 901-663-0004
In-home
Face-to-face meetings
Local
Memphis-area based
62+
Minimum age
Prefer to talk in person?

Most reverse mortgage companies do everything by phone from out of state. Trevor comes to you. Invite your adult children or a trusted advisor to sit in — questions are welcome.

Book an In-Home Consultation

Not ready yet? See what affects your numbers →

Local vs. national

Why work with a local reverse mortgage specialist?

Reverse mortgages are a big decision, usually about the home you've spent decades paying for. Many homeowners are contacted by national companies that handle everything over the phone. There's nothing wrong with national lenders — I work with some of the best in the country. The difference is who sits across the table from you.

Typical national call center

  • Phone and email with whoever picks up
  • Documents mailed or signed with a stranger
  • Rep has never seen your street or your market
  • One company's product menu

Working with Trevor

  • One local person, start to finish
  • I sit down with you — and sign documents with you — face to face
  • Memphis-area based, and I know Tennessee homes and values
  • Access to some of the top reverse lenders in the country
Trevor Forbes, Tennessee reverse mortgage loan officer
Trevor Forbes
NMLS #2478105
NEXA Mortgage, LLC · NMLS #1660690
Who you'll sit down with

Meet Trevor Forbes.

I'm local, right here in the Memphis area. I've spent more than 30 years advising clients on their finances, I studied at Austin Peay State University, and I hold a degree in finance — so I look at a reverse mortgage the way a retirement advisor would: cash flow, what it does for your plan, and what it leaves for your family.

I'll never pressure you. My job is to lay out the options side by side — reverse mortgage, HELOC, selling and downsizing, or doing nothing — so you and your family can decide with clear numbers. Compare reverse mortgage vs. HELOC →

How it works

Reverse mortgages in Tennessee.

A HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) is a reverse mortgage insured by the FHA, available nationwide to eligible homeowners 62 and older. Tennessee homeowners have an added layer of protection: the state's own Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Act, which reinforces the federal counseling requirement and helps make sure Tennessee seniors work only with vetted, HUD-approved lenders before committing to anything.

Instead of you paying the lender each month, eligible proceeds can flow to you — as a line of credit, monthly advances, a lump sum, or a combination — while you continue living in the home as your primary residence and stay current on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and basic upkeep.

Common reasons homeowners explore this
Paying off an existing mortgage, retirement cash-flow flexibility, establishing a line of credit, aging in place, or covering major home or healthcare expenses.
Where it fits best
Homeowners who plan to stay in their Tennessee home long-term and want to reduce or eliminate a monthly mortgage payment.
Reverse mortgage options

More than one kind of reverse mortgage.

Because I work with multiple top reverse lenders, I can match the program to your home and your goals instead of fitting you into one company's product.

HECM (FHA-insured)
The standard reverse mortgage for homeowners 62+. Line of credit, monthly advances, lump sum, or a mix. Non-recourse protection for you and your heirs.
HECM for Purchase
Downsizing, right-sizing, or moving closer to family? Buy your next Tennessee home with a reverse mortgage plus a down payment — and no monthly mortgage payment on the new home.
Jumbo (proprietary) reverse
For higher-value homes above the FHA lending limit. Private reverse programs can unlock more of your equity on properties in Germantown, Collierville, and other higher-value areas.
Second-lien reverse
Already have a low-rate first mortgage you want to keep? Some programs let you access equity in second position without refinancing your existing loan.

Program availability, age minimums, and terms vary by lender and are subject to underwriting. Proprietary (non-HECM) reverse mortgages are not FHA-insured.

Eligibility overview

What Tennessee homeowners need to qualify.

How much equity may be available generally depends on your age (older borrowers can typically access more), your home's appraised value, current interest rates, and the specific loan program. If you still owe money on your home, that balance is generally paid off first at closing. See the factors behind your estimate →

What working together looks like

From first conversation to signing — face to face.

01
We sit down together. At your home or wherever you're comfortable. We talk through your goals and your family's questions, and I show you the options side by side.
02
You complete HUD counseling. An independent, HUD-approved counselor — who doesn't work for me or any lender — walks you through the program. Usually by phone, about an hour.
03
Application and appraisal. I handle the paperwork with you and coordinate the FHA-approved appraisal and financial assessment.
04
We review your disclosures together. You'll receive required disclosures in advance, and I'll go through every page with you so nothing is a surprise.
05
Signing — in person, with me there. No stranger, no mail-away packet. I sit down with you and sign your documents face to face.
Required before you apply

HUD counseling comes first.

Federal law requires an independent counseling session with a HUD-approved counselor before any HECM application can move forward — and Tennessee's HECM Act reinforces this at the state level. The counselor doesn't work for Trevor, NEXA Mortgage, or any lender.

Need help locating a counselor?

Sessions are typically done by phone, take about an hour, and produce a certificate valid for 180 days. Tennessee does not require in-person counseling. Call for a referral to a HUD-approved counselor serving Tennessee.

Call Us — 901-663-0004 HUD Counselor Line — (800) 569-4287

HUD's official counselor search is also available directly at hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.

What heirs should know

Your home, your heirs' options.

You retain title to your home throughout the loan. When the loan becomes due — typically when the last borrower sells, permanently moves out, or passes away — your heirs generally have options: repay the loan and keep the home, sell the home and keep any remaining equity, or walk away with no further obligation. HECM loans are non-recourse, meaning heirs will never owe more than the home is worth at repayment, regardless of the loan balance. Adult children are always welcome at our meetings.

Where I serve

In-home meetings across the Memphis area — serving all of Tennessee.

I meet face to face with homeowners in Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Arlington, Lakeland, and across Shelby County. Homeowners elsewhere in Tennessee — Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Jackson — can work with me too; call and we'll set up the best way to meet. Reverse mortgage rules, HUD counseling requirements, and Tennessee's HECM Act apply the same way wherever you live in the state.

Memphis Reverse Mortgage Guide →
Specific to Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, and Collierville homeowners.
Germantown Homeowners →
Downsizing, HECM for Purchase, and jumbo reverse options for higher-value Germantown homes.
Reverse Mortgage Estimator →
See the real factors that determine your proceeds before we meet.
Reverse Mortgage vs HELOC →
Not sure this is the right fit? Compare it against a HELOC first.
FAQ

Tennessee reverse mortgage questions answered.

Do you really meet with me in person?
Yes. Trevor meets homeowners face to face — at your kitchen table if you prefer — from the first conversation through signing your loan documents. Adult children or a trusted advisor are welcome to join.
Are you a national reverse mortgage company?
No. Trevor Forbes is a local, Tennessee-licensed mortgage loan officer based in the Memphis area. As a broker with NEXA Mortgage, he works with some of the top reverse mortgage lenders in the country, so you get national lending strength with a local person you can sit down with.
Does Tennessee require anything beyond federal HECM rules?
Yes. Tennessee's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Act adds state-level protections on top of federal HUD/FHA requirements, reinforcing the counseling requirement and lender vetting.
Do I have to make monthly mortgage payments?
No traditional principal-and-interest payment is required, as long as you live in the home as your primary residence and stay current on property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Can I get a reverse mortgage if I still owe money on my house?
Often, yes. Your existing balance is typically paid off first from the loan proceeds at closing, if there's sufficient equity to do so.
Can I use a reverse mortgage to buy a new home?
Yes. A HECM for Purchase lets eligible homeowners 62+ buy a new primary residence — for example, downsizing or moving closer to family — using a reverse mortgage together with a down payment, so there's no monthly mortgage payment on the new home.
Are reverse mortgage proceeds taxable income?
Reverse mortgage proceeds are generally loan advances, not income — but tax treatment can depend on your individual situation. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to you.
Local reverse mortgage help

A Memphis reverse mortgage specialist — in your home, not on a call-center line.

Trevor meets homeowners 62+ in person across Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova and Bartlett, including signing documents at your kitchen table. Start with the guide that fits your situation.

Reverse Mortgage Memphis Reverse Mortgage Tennessee Reverse Mortgage Estimator Reverse Mortgage vs HELOC Germantown Homeowners Collierville Homeowners
Free · No Obligation · In Person

Let's sit down at your kitchen table.

A local loan officer, some of the top reverse lenders in the country, and no pressure. Bring your questions — and your family.

Schedule a Consultation Or Call 901-663-0004

No obligation · No hard sell · Just clarity on what's possible for you.