Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements fell by 5.9% to 4,007 loans for the month of August 2020, a slight dip on the August numbers but still a high figure overall in emphasizing that the reverse mortgage business remains on strong footing during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. This is according to the August HECM Lenders report compiled by Reverse Market Insight (RMI).

While a simple majority of the top 10 lenders recorded dips in their origination volume, four of the ten recorded gains in August when compared with their origination totals for July. Mahwah, N.J.-based Longbridge Financial led the way for growth among the top 10, posting its second consecutive monthly volume record by seeing a 38.2% increase to 275 loans. In the month of August, the company ranks 4th in originations but ranks 8th over the past year.

Open Mortgage followed with a 28.1% rise in volume to 178 loans in August, rounded out by Mutual of Omaha Mortgage’s 15.5% rise to 246 loans. HighTechLending also gained an additional three loans in August, rising to 98 for the month.

While still technically the 7th largest reverse mortgage lender by volume over the past 12 months, the now-shuttered One Reverse Mortgage recorded zero endorsements in both July and August, and recorded only one endorsement in June.

In terms of regional growth, the Midwest led the way by rising 13.6% to 242 loans in August. It was followed by New England recording a 10.1% jump to 120 loans, followed by New York/New Jersey which grew 4.8% and the Great Plains which rose by 1.5%.

Read the August HECM Lenders report at RMI.