EP936: Fed Signals a New Direction, Housing Wealth Grows, and More Seniors Choose to Stay Put

This week on HECM World Weekly, we examine several major developments shaping housing, retirement planning, and the reverse mortgage industry. The Federal Reserve entered a new era under Chairman Kevin Warsh, holding rates steady while signaling a more hawkish outlook for the months ahead. We break down what the Fed’s latest decision could mean for mortgage rates, housing activity, and reverse mortgage borrowers. We also explore new forecasts showing housing wealth continues to grow, with the typical homeowner expected to gain another $16,000 in equity this year. Yet despite rising home values, more older Americans are choosing to age in place rather than downsize. In this episode: What the Fed’s new direction means for housing and reverse mortgages • Why housing wealth continues building despite affordability challenges • America’s rapidly aging suburbs and the rise of aging in place • Why downsizing no longer makes financial sense for many retirees • The latest Social Security Trustees Report and what it means for retirement security Taken together, these stories point to a growing trend: older Americans continue accumulating housing wealth, but increasingly want to access it without leaving the homes and communities they love. Read the full HECM World Weekly article: https://hecmworld.com/2026/06/19/podcast-fed-signals-a-new-direction-housing-wealth-grows-and-more-seniors-choose-to-stay-put/ Subscribe to HECM World for weekly news, insights, interviews, and commentary covering reverse mortgages, home equity, retirement finance, aging in place, and the future of housing wealth.