Here's a number that stopped me when I first saw it: American homeowners now hold $34 trillion in combined home equity nationally, according to Harvard's latest housing report, up 88% since 2019, with the average homeowner holding around $295,000. In Williamson County and the Nashville area, where home values have risen sharply amid the state's broader growth boom, a lot of longtime owners are sitting on considerably more than that.
Equity isn't just a number on paper
I'm not suggesting everyone should rush out and borrow against their home. But if you've spent decades paying down a mortgage, or moved to Tennessee specifically to put down roots without a state income tax eating into your retirement income, it's worth understanding what that home equity can do for you now. For higher-value Brentwood or Franklin properties, Longbridge Platinum reaches equity that a standard HECM's limit can't. For Del Webb community owners with an existing low-rate mortgage, HomeSafe Second accesses equity without disturbing it.
Licensed in Tennessee: A reverse mortgage is a loan that must be repaid. You keep ownership of your home and remain responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. David Rider, Tennessee license #200787 (matches NMLS) · NMLS #200787.
