Finance of America leads Money's ranking of six best reverse mortgage lenders for November 2026, scoring 4.4 out of 5. The lender serves all 50 states and Washington D.C., offers both standard HECMs and proprietary jumbo products up to $4 million, and reported an average HECM rate of 5.55% in July 2026.
Longbridge Financial ranks best for coverage options, available in all 50 states with an average rate of 5.91%. The company launched a proprietary product called Platinum Preserve in 2025, which lets borrowers reserve 10% to 40% of home equity for future use while locking in a fixed rate. Longbridge also offers a home equity line of credit for seniors with access up to $400,000 in as little as five business days.
Guild Mortgage offers the lowest average rates at 5.86% among large nationwide lenders and serves 49 states. The company scored 4.97 out of 5 on Zillow based on over 42,000 reviews.
South River Mortgage specializes in HECM refinances and serves 28 states with an average rate of 5.93%. Northwest Reverse Mortgage, available in 28 states, functions as a niche mortgage broker offering access to multiple lenders' products, including options from Finance of America and Longbridge.
Fairway serves all 50 states and offers HECMs for home purchases plus e-closing options. It reported an average rate of 6.19% in July 2026.
The 2026 HECM maximum claim amount is $1,249,125. Reverse mortgages require borrowers to be at least 62 years old for standard HECMs, while proprietary products start at age 55. Government data from June 2026 showed average HECM rates ranging from 5.48% to 5.98%.