Curious how a trusted local lender can turn home equity into steady cash while you keep living in the house you love?
Elite Lending Service, founded by Brad Bailey after two decades with the same team, serves Jacksonville and North Florida with personalized guidance. They match you with the ideal mortgage product and explain when a reverse option may fit your goals.
Most of these plans are FHA-insured HECMs and let homeowners 62+ convert equity into a lump sum, monthly payments, a credit line, or a mix. Costs include fees, appraisal, mortgage insurance, and interest, and the loan is repaid when the home is sold or you move.
Throughout this guide, Elite Lending Service offers clear, step-by-step help so you can weigh benefits, obligations, and costs with confidence. Call (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com for a personalized review.
Key Takeaways
- Local expertise: Elite Lending Service provides personalized advice across Jacksonville and North Florida.
- Options include lump sums, monthly payouts, or a line of credit to meet retirement goals.
- HECMs are often FHA-insured and non-recourse, protecting borrowers and heirs.
- Expect origination fees, closing costs, appraisal, and ongoing interest.
- Brad Bailey’s team helps compare loan scenarios to match your needs.
- Contact (904) 263-0376 or brad@elitelendingservice.com for individualized guidance.
Your Jacksonville Buyer’s Guide to Reverse Mortgages with Elite Lending Service
Discover practical steps Jacksonville residents can take with Elite Lending Service to access home equity safely and on their terms.
Brad Bailey and his team serve Jacksonville, North Florida, and surrounding areas. They match your goals—first home, refinance, investment, or downsizing—with the right mortgage solution and clear guidance.
Applicants must complete a HUD-approved counseling session through the U.S. Department Housing process. These sessions typically run about 90 minutes and cost roughly $125. The session explains risks, payout choices, and borrower obligations.
Funds from a reverse mortgage loan can be a lump sum, monthly payments, a line of credit, or a combination. The loan is repaid when you sell, move out of the primary residence, or pass away.
What to expect next
- Local, plain-language answers that respect your timeline.
- Step-by-step support: counseling session, application, appraisal, and closing.
- Personalized estimates and side-by-side options from a trusted lender.
For a tailored review in North Florida, call (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com.
Reverse Mortgage Basics: What It Is and How It Works
Home equity conversion lets qualified homeowners age 62 and older turn property value into usable funds while staying in their primary residence.
This loan uses the home as collateral and does not require you to make monthly payments. You may choose a lump sum, regular monthly payments, a line of credit, or a mix to fit your cash needs.

How lenders fund the plan
Lenders advance funds because the home secures the loan and interest accrues on what you borrow. Most programs are federally insured HECMs with mortgage insurance to protect borrowers and lenders.
- Repayment triggers: The loan becomes due when you sell home, move out of the primary residence, or pass away.
- Costs to expect: Upfront MIP (about 2% of appraised value) and annual MIP (~0.5%), plus fees and appraisal.
- Protections: Non-recourse rules mean you or heirs will not owe more than the property value when the loan is repaid.
Elite Lending Service educates you on these fundamentals so you can choose confidently. For a personalized review, call (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com.
Types of Reverse Mortgages
Understanding the main plan types makes it simpler to match your home equity goals with the right financial tool.
HECMs (FHA-insured)
HECMs, backed by the Federal Housing Administration, are the most common option. They offer non-recourse protection and flexible payout choices.
HECMs require HUD counseling and are available through FHA-approved lenders. For 2025 the HECM maximum claim amount is $1,209,750.
Single-purpose programs
State or local single-purpose plans typically cost less. These loans must be used for specified needs such as repairs or property taxes.
They are a low-cost path when your use is narrow and well-defined.
Proprietary (jumbo) options
Proprietary reverse products from private lenders suit higher-value homes that exceed FHA caps. They can unlock larger principal limits.
Expect varied pricing and fees; terms differ by lender, so comparison matters.
- HECMs: broad protections and flexible payouts.
- Single-purpose: lower cost, limited uses.
- Proprietary reverse: higher limits, variable terms.
Elite Lending Service evaluates HECM, single-purpose, and proprietary solutions so you get the most equitable, competitive path in Jacksonville and North Florida.
Reverse Mortgage Eligibility
Before you apply, know the basic qualifications that determine who can tap home equity and how the process works. Elite Lending Service reviews eligibility early so you have clear expectations and no surprises.

Borrower requirements
You must be at least 62 years old and usually hold significant equity in your home—many borrowers have roughly 50% or more.
A HUD-approved counseling session is required by the U.S. Department of Housing to ensure you understand benefits, costs, and alternatives.
Home requirements
The property must be your primary residence and meet FHA property standards. Eligible types often include single-family houses, some condos, PUDs, and qualifying manufactured homes.
Ongoing obligations
Keep property taxes and homeowners insurance current and maintain the property to avoid default.
Lenders may set aside a Life Expectancy Set Aside (LESA) to cover taxes and insurance if budgets are tight.
- Eligibility: age, equity, counseling session.
- Property: primary residence that meets FHA standards.
- Obligations: payments for taxes, insurance, and upkeep.
Brad Bailey and Elite Lending Service verify documentation, equity, and property details early. Call (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com for a clear, personalized review.
How Much You Can Borrow and Ways to Receive Funds
Your available funds depend on three simple factors: your age, the home’s value, and today’s interest environment.
Principal limit factors determine borrowing power. Older borrowers and higher home values generally increase the principal limit, while higher interest rates reduce it. For HECMs in 2025 the maximum claim amount is $1,209,750.
Payout choices
Choose a payout that fits your goals: a lump sum, monthly payments (term or tenure), a growing line of credit, or a combination. Lump sum draws often use a fixed interest rate; monthly payments provide steady income.
First-year draws and line growth
First-year draws are generally capped at 60% of the principal limit unless mandatory obligations push the cap higher by up to 10%. For example, a 62-year-old at a 7.25% interest rate may see a PLF near 0.301. On a $500,000 home that equals roughly $150,000 before fees and about $130,000 after closing costs, mortgage insurance, and origination fees.
- We calculate your personalized principal limit and show net proceeds after fees.
- The line of credit option can grow over time at the loan rate plus about 1.25% on unused funds.
- Elite Lending Service compares payout options so you can pick steady income, reserves, or one-time funds with confidence.
Ready for a customized estimate? Call Brad at (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com.
Costs and Fees You Should Expect
Know up front what fees and closing costs shape your net proceeds and long-term cost. Elite Lending Service prioritizes transparency and breaks every charge down so you can compare options clearly.
Upfront and closing costs
What you may pay at signing
Expect origination fees, appraisal, HUD counseling, and standard closing costs. For FHA-insured HECMs the upfront mortgage insurance premium is typically 2% of appraised value.
Ongoing charges to plan for
Annual mortgage insurance premiums (about 0.5% on the outstanding balance), service fees, and interest accrue over time. Lenders disclose a Total Annual Loan Cost (TALC) so you can compare lifetime expenses across payout choices.
- Clear disclosures on closing costs, origination fees, appraisal, counseling, and ongoing charges so there are no surprises.
- FHA-insured plans include mortgage insurance that funds borrower protections such as non-recourse coverage.
- Interest rates and service fees affect lifetime cost; TALC provides a standardized comparison.
- Property charges like property taxes and homeowners insurance remain your responsibility and affect default risk.
Elite Lending Service will model how fees change between a lump sum, monthly plan, or line of credit. Call (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com for a clear cost roadmap and personalized estimates from a local lender.
Reverse Mortgage: Repayment, Protections, and Risks
Knowing how and when a home loan becomes due helps you protect equity and plan for heirs. Elite Lending Service explains triggers, safeguards, and common risks so you can make informed choices.
When repayment is triggered
The loan must be repaid if you sell home, move out of your primary residence for more than a year, or when the estate settles after death. HECM plans include non-recourse protection, so neither you nor heirs owe more than the home’s value.
Stay current to avoid default
Keeping up with property taxes, homeowners insurance, and routine maintenance is essential. Falling behind can cause default and put the property at risk.
Protecting proceeds and spotting scams
Watch for high-pressure sales, contractor fraud, and misuse of power of attorney. Use reputable contractors, document work in stages, and verify credentials before you sign.
- Heirs’ options: heirs may repay the loan to keep the property or coordinate a sale to satisfy the balance.
- Safety features: counseling and first-year draw limits help reduce early risk and promote long-term stability.
- Alternatives: a targeted single-purpose reverse option may solve small needs with lower cost and risk.
Elite Lending Service educates you on protections and risks so you can proceed with confidence. For questions, call (904) 263-0376.
Local Guidance in North Florida: Counseling, Compliance, and Next Steps
Elite Lending Service combines HUD-approved counseling with local market insight to guide Jacksonville homeowners through equity-based loan choices. The counseling session from the U.S. Department Housing clarifies features, risks, and payout options and usually costs about $125.
In counseling, you review benefits, obligations, and alternatives via a neutral, standardized curriculum. This step meets Department Housing Urban requirements and reduces surprises at closing.

How Elite Lending Service helps
- Preparation: Elite Lending Service helps you gather documents and draft questions so counseling is efficient.
- Local alignment: The team ties Jacksonville property values, taxes, and senior living needs to program choices.
- Option comparisons: Brad Bailey provides side-by-side analysis of HECMs, proprietary reverse, and single-purpose reverse options.
- Compliance and timing: The lender coordinates appraisal, disclosures, and closing to keep your file accurate and on schedule.
Next steps
When you’re ready, call Brad Bailey at (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com for a customized estimate and timeline. Elite Lending Service stays available to answer questions as your plan evolves.
Conclusion
Smart use of your home’s value starts with a personalized review and clear cost comparisons.
Elite Lending Service, led by Brad Bailey, helps Jacksonville and North Florida homeowners weigh HECMs, proprietary reverse options, and single-purpose reverse mortgage choices. They model payout mixes—lump sum, steady payments, or a growing line credit—so you see net proceeds after fees.
Eligibility, obligations, and repayment triggers are explained plainly, including federal housing protections from the Federal Housing Administration. That clarity helps you compare mortgage loans and choose a path that protects equity and heirs.
Call Brad at (904) 263-0376 or email brad@elitelendingservice.com for a customized plan that aligns home goals, taxes, and estate priorities.