About the author
Richard Hopkins
Mortgage Broker · Licence M16000896
Homestead Financial — Dominion Lending Centres · FSRA-licensed brokerage #11711 · verify a licence with FSRA
I've worked in mortgages since 2013 — first as a mortgage agent, now as a licensed mortgage broker. I lead the reverse mortgage practice at Homestead Financial — Dominion Lending Centres. My mother, Catherine Evel, founded the brokerage in 2009. She's been in the industry since 1999. Together, we've funded more than 2,500 mortgages for Ontario families.
My job is simple to describe. I help homeowners 55 and over figure out if a reverse mortgage actually makes sense for them. Sometimes the better answer is a HELOC (a home equity line of credit). Sometimes it's refinancing, or downsizing. I'm independent, so I compare every reverse mortgage lender in Canada — not one bank's product. And a real part of my job is telling people when a reverse mortgage isn't the right fit.
Everything on this site follows the same rule I use with clients. Plain English. Real numbers. Trade-offs stated up front. Still have questions after reading? That's what the free estimate and the phone are for. No pressure. No obligation.
Get in touch
Email richard.hopkins@homesteadfinancial.ca or call 905-690-6068. There's no cost for our advice — if you choose to proceed, the lender pays us after the loan funds.
Articles by Richard
- Choosing a Reverse Mortgage Broker in Canada (2026)
How do you choose a reverse mortgage broker? Check the licence, confirm all four lenders get compared, and ask how the broker is paid — all free to you.
- Aging in Place in Canada: Costs and How to Pay (2026)
What does it cost to age in place in Canada? The three cost buckets, what government programs actually cover, and how homeowners 55+ fund the rest.
- Reverse Mortgage Scams in Canada: The Real Cases (2026)
Is a reverse mortgage a scam? No — the product is federally regulated. The real scams work around it: the documented Canadian cases and how to stay safe.
- Reverse Mortgage Heirs: Can You Keep the House? (2026)
Can heirs keep a house with a reverse mortgage? Yes — but not by taking over the loan. The estate repays it: refinance in your name or sell and keep the equity.
- Reverse Mortgage Requirements in Canada (2026)
What are the requirements for a reverse mortgage in Canada? 55+ for every owner on title, your primary residence, and an eligible property — condos included.
- Is a Reverse Mortgage a Good Idea? When Yes, When No (2026)
Is a reverse mortgage a good idea? The six uses where it works, the five situations where it doesn't, and how to tell which one is yours.
- Is a Reverse Mortgage Taxable? OAS & GIS in Canada (2026)
Is a reverse mortgage taxable in Canada? No — the money is a loan, not income. What that means for OAS, GIS and your taxes, with real numbers.
- Mortgages for Seniors in Canada: Options at Every Age (2026)
Can a retired person get a mortgage in Canada? Yes — at any age. The real test is the income math. Every option for seniors, including one with no income test.
- Independent Legal Advice for Reverse Mortgages in Ontario (2026)
What is independent legal advice (ILA) for a reverse mortgage? What it means, when it happens, what it costs in Ontario, and a directory of lawyers.
- How Does a Reverse Mortgage Work in Canada? (2026)
How does a reverse mortgage work? You borrow against your home with no required monthly mortgage payments — repaid when you sell, move out, or pass away.
- Can You Pay Off a Reverse Mortgage Early? (2026)
Can you pay off a reverse mortgage early? Yes — any time. What the exit costs, when the charges reach $0, and the four ways out, explained for Canada.
- Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons in Canada (2026)
What are the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage in Canada? The real benefits, the real downsides, and the numbers behind both — weighed independently.
- Reverse Mortgage Renewals in Canada (2026)
What happens when a reverse mortgage term ends? Nothing is due — the rate resets to the lender's posted rate. Why that number matters, and when switching pays.
- What Is a Reverse Mortgage in Canada? (2026 Guide)
What is a reverse mortgage? A loan for Canadian homeowners 55+ that turns home equity into tax-free cash with no required monthly mortgage payments.
- Bloom Reverse Mortgage: An Independent Broker Review (2026)
Is the Bloom reverse mortgage right for you? An independent review of its lifetime fixed SafeRate, 2026 rates and fees, the equity Mastercard, and who it fits.
- CHIP Reverse Mortgage: An Independent Broker Review (2026)
Is the CHIP Reverse Mortgage worth it? An independent review of HomeEquity Bank's rates, fees, all four CHIP products, and who each one actually fits.
- Equitable Bank Reverse Mortgage: An Independent Review (2026)
Is the Equitable Bank (EQ Bank) reverse mortgage right for you? An independent review of the Flex products, 2026 rates, exit charges, and renewals.
- Reverse Mortgage Rates in Canada (2026)
What are reverse mortgage rates in Canada? Posted 5-year fixed rates sit at 6.23%–6.39% in July 2026 — and the sticker is only the start of the real cost.
- Reverse Mortgage vs HELOC in Canada (2026)
Reverse mortgage vs HELOC: the HELOC is cheaper on paper, but most retirees can't pass the bank's income and stress tests. The real numbers, both ways.
- What Happens to a Reverse Mortgage When You Die? (2026)
What happens to a reverse mortgage when you die? It becomes due — the estate gets 180 to 365 days to repay, penalties are waived, and the family keeps the rest.
- Best Reverse Mortgage Companies & Lenders in Canada (2026)
Which is the best reverse mortgage company in Canada? All four lenders — CHIP, Equitable, Bloom, Home Trust — compared on 2026 rates, fees, and penalties.
- Home Trust EquityAccess: An Independent Broker Review (2026)
Is Home Trust's EquityAccess reverse mortgage worth it? An independent review of all three tiers, real borrowing caps, 2026 rates, fees, and how it compares.
- How Much Can You Get From a Reverse Mortgage by Age? (2026)
How much can you get from a reverse mortgage? By age — about 46% of your home's value at 55, up to the market's top tier near 60% for older borrowers.
- Reverse Mortgage & Long-Term Care: What Happens? (2026)
What happens to a reverse mortgage if you move into long-term care? It becomes due — but you get up to a year, penalties ease, and a spouse can stay.
- Reverse Mortgages in Ontario: The Complete 2026 Guide
How do reverse mortgages work in Ontario? All four lenders compared, 2026 rates, typical costs, and who qualifies at 55+ — in one complete guide.
- Reverse Mortgage Statistics Canada (2026)
How big is Canada's reverse mortgage market? $10.9 billion owed, growing 20.9% a year — every key statistic with named sources, updated quarterly.
- Reverse Mortgage Horror Stories: What's Real in Canada (2026)
Are reverse mortgage horror stories real? Yes — mostly in the U.S. See what actually happened, Canada's two real cases, and the protections that apply here.