The RMMI rose in Q4 2020 to 289.44, another all-time high since the index was first published in 2000.  The increase in senior homeowner's wealth was mainly driven by an estimated 2.7 percent or $261 billion increase in senior home values, offset by a 1.5 percent or $27 billion increase in senior-held mortgage debt.

Year-over-year, the RMMI increased by 8.3 percent in 2020, compared to 5.4 percent in 2019 and 6.3 percent in 2018, mainly driven by higher home price appreciation.

"Reverse mortgages provide a strategic retirement option for older homeowners of all income levels," says NRMLA President Steve Irwin. "Reverse mortgages allow people to pay for in-home care and other services that allow them to age in place or provide an alternative to selling retirement assets after a market downturn. While a reverse mortgage isn't for everyone, it can provide the financial security that many people are looking for in retirement."