I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. I guide reverse mortgage clients through every step including counseling — it’s an important protection for borrowers and I make sure clients use the session fully. Call (800) 239-1103.
Before you can apply for a HECM reverse mortgage in California, you must complete a counseling session with an independent HUD-approved housing counselor. This isn’t optional — it’s a federal requirement. Here’s what the session covers, how to find a counselor, and what California’s unique rules add to the process.
Why Counseling Is Required
HUD mandates counseling to ensure borrowers understand the reverse mortgage product before committing. The counselor is completely independent — they don’t work for the lender and have no financial stake in whether you get the loan. Their sole purpose is to give you unbiased information about how HECMs work, what the alternatives are, and what your obligations will be as a borrower. I tell every client: use this session fully. Ask every question you have. The counselor is on your side.
What Reverse Mortgage Counseling Covers
The session typically covers how HECM reverse mortgages work mechanically, your financial situation including income, assets, debts, and ongoing property charges, alternatives to a reverse mortgage (HELOC, home sale, family arrangements, other programs), loan costs and fees and their long-term impact on home equity, payout options (lump sum, monthly payments, line of credit, or combinations), your obligations as a borrower (property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance), what happens if you default or move out, and your heirs’ options after the borrower passes. A session typically takes 60–90 minutes and can be done by phone, video call, or in-person through some agencies.
Cost and Finding a HUD-Approved Counselor
Counseling fees typically range from $125 to $200. If you cannot afford the fee, many HUD-approved agencies will waive it — ask when you call. The lender cannot pay for your counseling; that would create a conflict of interest. Find a counselor through HUD’s website or by calling 1-800-569-4287. Major California agencies include the CCCS of San Francisco Bay Area, National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nationwide phone counseling), Money Management International, and GreenPath Financial Wellness.
California’s 7-Day Waiting Period
California adds a consumer protection on top of federal requirements: your lender cannot take a completed application or charge any fees until 7 days after you complete counseling. This gives you a meaningful cooling-off period to think, talk to family, and compare lenders without pressure. I recommend using that time to get quotes from multiple reverse mortgage lenders — rates and fee structures vary more than borrowers expect.
After Counseling: What Comes Next
After completing counseling, you’ll receive a HECM Counseling Certificate (HUD-92902). This certificate is required to submit your loan application and is valid for 180 days. After California’s 7-day waiting period, you can formally apply. I typically begin gathering your documentation — property information, income verification, homeowners insurance, and tax records — during the waiting period so we’re ready to move immediately when it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions — Reverse Mortgage Counseling California
How long does reverse mortgage counseling take in California?
A reverse mortgage counseling session typically takes 60–90 minutes. It can be completed by phone, video call, or in-person through some agencies. Most California borrowers do their session by phone or video for convenience. The counselor will review your financial situation, explain the HECM product in detail, discuss alternatives, and answer your questions. There’s no test or exam — it’s an information and discussion session. After completing it, you’ll receive a HUD counseling certificate (Form 92902) required to apply for the loan.
Can both spouses be on the reverse mortgage in California?
Yes — both spouses should be on the HECM whenever possible, and both must be 62 or older to both be borrowers. If one spouse is under 62, the younger spouse can be listed as an eligible non-borrowing spouse, which provides protection allowing them to remain in the home after the borrowing spouse passes or moves to a care facility — but their age reduces the loan amount available at origination. The counseling session covers this scenario specifically. I recommend both spouses attend the counseling session together even if only one is applying.
How soon after counseling can I apply for a reverse mortgage in California?
In California, you must wait at least 7 days after completing counseling before your lender can accept a completed application or charge any fees — this is a California-specific consumer protection on top of federal rules. Your HUD counseling certificate is valid for 180 days, so there’s no rush once you receive it. Most borrowers apply within a few weeks of counseling. I coordinate the application timing around the waiting period and begin collecting your documentation during those 7 days so we can move quickly once we’re clear to proceed.
Related: California Reverse Mortgage Guide | Who Qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
