Am I eligible for a Reverse Mortgage?

In Australia, reverse mortgages are generally available to homeowners aged 55 or over. You must own your home, meet lender property criteria, and be able to maintain rates, insurance and upkeep. The amount available depends on your age, property value and lender policy. Seniors First assesses eligibility across multiple specialist lenders.

Is a Reverse Mortgage safe for older Australians?

Yes. Reverse mortgages are heavily regulated in Australia and include safeguards such as the No Negative Equity Guarantee, mandatory legal advice, full disclosure, responsible lending obligations and broker Best Interest Duty. You retain the right to live in your home for life provided conditions are met.

How much can I borrow with a Reverse Mortgage?

Borrowing depends on your age, property value, lender LVR limits and existing mortgages. As a guide, borrowing may start around 15–20% at age 60 and increase with age. Seniors First compares multiple lenders and provides calculator estimates before personalised advice.

What can a Reverse Mortgage be used for?

Funds can be used flexibly, including retirement income, living expenses, debt consolidation, medical costs, home repairs, vehicles, family support or travel. Access options include lump sums, income streams or cash reserves depending on the lender.

Do I keep ownership of my home?

Yes. You remain the legal owner of your home. The loan is repaid when you sell, permanently move out or pass away. The No Negative Equity Guarantee ensures you or your estate never owe more than the property value.

Why choose a specialist Reverse Mortgage broker?

Specialist brokers provide access to niche lenders, broker-only rates, deep product comparisons, Centrelink expertise, regulatory compliance, loan structuring strategies and coordination of mandatory legal and financial advice. Seniors First has specialised exclusively in reverse mortgages since 2006.

What are Reverse Mortgage interest rates?

Reverse mortgage interest rates are generally higher than standard home loans due to the absence of repayments and compounding interest. Rates vary by lender, structure and market conditions. A specialist broker helps compare options and explain long-term impacts.

Will a reverse mortgage affect my Age Pension?

Usually not, but it depends on how funds are used. Money spent on exempt assets often has no impact, while cash or investments may affect Centrelink assessments. Seniors First explains general considerations and recommends confirming with Centrelink or an FIS officer.

SERAH™ - "Seniors Equity Release Access Hub" by Seniors First

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1300 745 745

Check Eligibility

What is SERAH™?

SERAH™ stands for "Seniors Equity Release Access Hub". It's a secure portal for Australians 55yrs+ who want to learn about home equity release options. It includes 6+ hours of informational videos about downsizing, the Government HEAS, and Reverse Mortgages.

Why Over 55's Use SERAH™

Learn at your own pace

Take your time to understand the different home equity release options, without feeling rushed or pressured.

Explore privately

Ask questions about Reverse Mortgages and access educational content from the comfort of your home.

Understand what may be possible

Use calculators and tools to explore various scenarios. Compare the pros and cons of different equity release options such as downsizing, the Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS) & Reverse Mortgage.

Get support when you need it

Book a meeting with a Seniors First specialist whenever you feel ready. Or chat online with our team.

Feel more confident

Understand the Reverse Mortgage application process step-by-step, before making important financial decisions.

What You Get Access To

Discover the tools, education and support designed to help you explore Reverse Mortgages with greater clarity and confidence.

Learning Centre

Over six and a half hours of easy-to-follow educational videos designed to explain the pros and cons between the Government's Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS), downsizing, and Reverse Mortgages - all in plain English.

Perfect for:

Retirees researching their options
Families helping parents understand finance options
Homeowners comparing alternatives
Anyone wanting to learn before speaking to a broker

"Ask SERAH"

"Ask SERAH" is a your private AI assistant available to discuss equity release, day or night.

Ask questions such as:

How does a Reverse Mortgage work?
Will I still own my home?
What are the risks?
How much could I access?
What alternatives are available?

Get simple explanations in a safe and supportive environment.

Reverse Mortgage Calculator

Get a general estimate of what may be possible based on your age and property value.

This helps you understand whether a Reverse Mortgage may be worth exploring further.

Express Broker Access

Direct connection to expert brokers. Get loan application help when you need it. Book a meeting with a Seniors First specialist at a time that suits you.

No waiting for callbacks or complicated scheduling.

Personalised Dashboard

Everyone who signs up to SERAH™ gets a secure, personalised dashboard. You can download the app to your phone to explore equity release options 24/7, without getting hassled.

If you decide to proceed with a loan application, SERAH™ helps you track every step of your journey with clear updates and guidance.

How it Works

Step 1

Complete Eligibility Check

Step 2

Access SERAH™

Step 3

Learn & Explore Your Options

Step 4

Speak With a Specialist If Ready

GET ACCESS NOW

Who’s Behind SERAH™?

SERAH™ was created by Seniors First, Australia's leading Reverse Mortgage broker. We specialise in helping homeowners aged 55+ explore later-life finance with greater clarity and confidence.

Built on over 20 years of experience, SERAH™ combines education, support and guidance in one secure platform.

What our customers say

Rated 4.9 stars on Google with over 560 reviews. Here's what some of our customers have to say about their experience with Seniors First reverse mortgage brokers.

evelyn G.

3 days ago

From start to finish going through the whole process of the loan I found Cheryl Maclean has helped me greatly with every aspect of it she has always been accessible when ever I had a question that I was not sure of and it didn't matter what time it was so I would highly recommend Cheryl from Seniors First the place to go if you are thinking of a Reverse Mortgage Broker

Glenn R.

1 week ago

Andrew has been outstanding. He has assisted us in a professional manner and was always across our needs. We are very impressed and would recommend him to anyone seeking a capable broker.

Dana H.

1 week ago

Palka Kumar has made the process of applying for a reverse mortgage very easy. She has been extremely helpful, patient and was available at all times to explaining the whole process to us. I highly recommend Palka to anyone who is interested in applying for a reverse mortgage.

Lisa H.

1 week ago

Greg was excellent and guided me through the process which can be long and complex

paul B.

1 week ago

Having selected Seniors First as our broker, Seema took on our case and we are glad she did, Guiding us through the process, with person to person communication together with the Serah portal. Tks Seema.

Stephen L.

1 week ago

Palka Kumar brokered with us for the best options to take out a Reverse mortgage loan. We found her to be fully conversed with the process and able to answer every question we had about concerns. Always very pleasant and helpful, taking the stress out of what is a very big decision to make. Thank you Palka for your assistance and we would recommend you to anyone wanting to talk on this subject and financing in general.

Ian B.

1 week ago

At age 86 I was surprised to find that the bank I relied on for eighty years no longer provided reverse mortgages. Although very wary of the web I searched and found Seniors First which appeared well respected. My journey through the application process and the complications presented by an existing Government HEAS loan has been guided every step of the way to completion by their R. M. Specialist Cheryl Maclean. Thank you Cheryl and Seniors First – 100%.

Ramsay S.

2 weeks ago

Professional, caring, and very pleasant indeed! I don’t think there are many people out there who work with such dedication, and this is my second reverse mortgage signed successfully with Palka.

Mario B.

2 weeks ago

from the time we started to the time everything was done,Cheryl Maclean has been so helpful to us she has been there for us anytime we needed her.She is a huge credit to the company and it has been a pleasure knowing her .

Dina B.

2 weeks ago

Our experience with Cheryl has been nothing but amazing. She has helped along this process with much thought and dedication, she has been so patient and supportive throughout the whole experience. We definitely recommend Cheryl. Even when things were getting a bit complicated for us she was always patient. So many phone calls that we made to her she never made us feel like we were a nuisance. A very high praise to her. I’m sure as she went home at night she will feel she’s doing a great days work, for us and anyone else she’s helping. Thank you so much Cheryl for your help at this time of this experience we went through together. We are very grateful that you have been there for us. A very special thanks from Mario and Dina.

Peter W.

3 weeks ago

Thanks Angela Giokaris at Seniors First. Your help and guidance made it much easier to successfully apply for a Reverse Mortgage Loan.

Patricia A.

3 weeks ago

Thank you for all your help... Very good too deal with

Richard H.

3 weeks ago

Angela Giokaris was our Reverse Mortgage Consultant at Seniors First to assist my wife and I to obtain a Reverse Mortgage. Angela's service was exceptional. She provided comprehensive information in a very user-friendly format and was always available to answer questions and provide clarifications. Angela secured an excellent interest rate following a competitive tender of available providers of Reverse Mortgages. My wife and I are very happy with the outcome and recommend Seniors First, and particularly Angela Giokaris, to other people interested in this product. Richard Hughes

Mark W.

3 weeks ago

Palka Kumar from Seniors First was excellent at guiding me through my Reverse Mortgage process.

Lorette S.

3 weeks ago

I cannot speak highly enough of my experience with Cheryl Maclean her patience and guidance from my tentative inquiries to a result I am more than happy with. There was never a question I had that Cheryl couldn't answer confidently which in turn helped me make I believe the right decisions going forward. Thank you Cheryl

Sue H.

3 weeks ago

Cheryl has been an absolute godsend since day one. Nothing was too difficult. Always there to answer any questions or to give advice through this whole journey. I would recommend Cheryl to anyone contemplating a reverse mortgage Many thanks Sue

Jenni A.

4 weeks ago

Our consultant Cheryl Maclean was at all times very professional. She answered all our questions and took us through the process smoothly and we felt very confident. We highly recommend her services.

Dorothy M.

4 weeks ago

I can not speak more highly about the way I was looked after and by Senior first / Reverse mortgage Broker I would and will recommend them to anyone else who needs help . Your's Faithfully Dorothy Mattsson .Thank you once again for their help.

Kathleen H.

1 month ago

My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Seniors First for our reverse mortgage especially the great help with our stock broker Cheryl Maclean from Seniors First she could not do enough for us in helping us get the best reverse mortgage loan for us in Inviva and making sure we understood the whole process Much appreciated Cheryl thank you 😊

lorraine G.

2 months ago

.My first phone call to Seniors First was the wisest move in gaining financial security and confidence in my senior years. Due to the expertise and sound advice of my broker, Adam Oakley, the process was fast and efficient. His excellent communication skills and knowledge make me wish I had acted sooner. He was so patient and supportive throughout the process, especially when I was navigating the digital technology of my application. Thank you Adam

sandra T.

2 months ago

My reverse mortgage has just been settled and I am very grateful to my broker Richard Chapman for all his help and advice. Richard guided me through the process providing all information in a timely manner and was always available to clarify any questions which arose. His professional approach together with his warm and engaging manner made working with Richard a positive experience from start to finish. My heartfelt thanks to Seniors First and Richard for their valuable service.

Frequently asked questions

Is SERAH free?

Yes. SERAH is provided 100% free to eligible Seniors First clients.You can also read a blog post about why we launched SERAH.

How do I get access to SERAH?

The first step is to check your eligibilty for a Reverse Mortgage with Seniors First. If eligible, you will then automatically receive an email invitation with a link to join on SERAH. Once you activate the link you will then get full access to SERAH

How secure is the SERAH portal?

SERAH is built on 256-bit TLS Encryption, which means it enjoys bank-grade security. The technology powering SERAH is SOC 2 Type 2 Certified, the highest grade compliance. It's also important to note that no personal documents or financial data is ever stored on SERAH. It contains only educational information, and basic loan tracking data related to the status of a loan application (should you wish to proceeed).

Does checking eligibility affect my credit score?

No, it is only a preliminary check based on initial criteria. There is no reference to your credit score at all - that will only come if you wish to later apply for a Reverse Mortgage loan, and then only after you sign application forms giving express consent for the chosen lender to conduct credit checks.

Does SERAH change or replace contact with a Seniors First broker?

No, it does not replace contact with your Seniors First broker. You would still have full access to your specialist Broker. SERAH is an additional resource, available 24/7 that can accelerate your understanding of Reverse Mortgages, and further enhance your journey from application to loan settlement.

Industry Awards & Recognition

Senior's First has developed a reputation as an award-winning Reverse Mortgage broker, and a trusted name among public policy organisations, the aged care industry, senior’s groups, older borrowers and their families.