Core Perspective - The article discusses a couple's differing views on reverse mortgages, highlighting the tension between financial philosophies and the implications of such financial products on home equity and consumer protection [1][3]. Group 1: Reverse Mortgage Overview - A reverse mortgage is a financial product available to homeowners aged 62 or older, allowing them to borrow against their home equity without making monthly mortgage payments [2]. - The loan balance is repaid when the borrower dies, sells the home, or moves out, as per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [2]. Group 2: Financial Position of the Couple - The couple, both aged 72, is in a secure financial position, having sold their previous home and planning to pay cash for a new upper-middle-class construction house [3]. - They report having a strong Social Security income and substantial liquid assets, exceeding the proposed loan amount [4]. Group 3: Motivations and Concerns - The husband views the reverse mortgage as a means to access $100,000 for home upgrades and to enhance their lifestyle, despite the starting fees of $7,000 [4]. - The wife expresses concerns about the potential risks associated with reverse mortgages, including the possibility of losing home equity and facing predatory terms that could lead to a forced sale of the house [5][6].