Housing wealth among homeowners aged 62 and older reached a new all-time high in the third quarter of 2025, climbing 1.9 percent to a record $14.66 trillion, according to the latest release of the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI). The milestone surpasses the previous record of $14.39 trillion set just one quarter earlier in Q2 2025, underscoring the continued growth of senior-held home equity.
Reflecting these gains, the RMMI rose to 511.99 in Q3 2025 — the highest level since the index’s inception — up from 502.47 in the prior quarter. Since 2000, the RMMI has tracked reverse mortgage market opportunity by analyzing long-term trends in senior home values and home equity accumulation.
The quarter-over-quarter increase in senior housing wealth was driven primarily by an estimated two percent rise in home values, adding approximately $295.4 billion in equity. This growth was partially offset by a modest one percent increase in senior-held mortgage debt, totaling $22.8 billion.
“The latest release of the RMMI underscores the extraordinary level of housing wealth held by older Americans,” said NRMLA President Steve Irwin. “At a time when inflation pressures and the fear of outliving one’s retirement savings remain top concerns for retirees, home equity stands out as a powerful — yet often underutilized — financial resource. When incorporated responsibly into a broader retirement strategy, this wealth can help seniors offset rising costs, reduce income shortfalls, and gain greater peace of mind about their long-term financial security.”