Senior housing wealth reaches record level in first quarter

Housing wealth among homeowners age 62 and older rebounded to a record $14.92 trillion in the first quarter of 2026 after declining in the previous two quarters, according to the latest National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) – RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index.

The quarterly index, which has tracked senior home values and home equity trends since 2000, found that the increase was driven by rising home values and relatively modest growth in mortgage debt.

Senior housing wealth increased by an estimated $314.8 billion, or 1.8%, during the quarter. That gain was partially offset by a $10.5 billion, or 0.4%, increase in mortgage debt held by homeowners age 62 and older.

According to RiskSpan, the improvement coincided with mortgage rates falling to their lowest levels since 2022.

The company said the temporary improvement in housing affordability appears to have supported higher home values for older homeowners while mortgage debt growth slowed compared to the previous two quarters.

“The rebound in senior housing wealth is encouraging news for older homeowners and underscores the important role home equity continues to play in retirement security,” said NRMLA President Steve Irwin. “With senior home equity reaching another record level, many older Americans have greater financial flexibility to help address rising living expenses, healthcare costs, or other retirement needs.”

This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.