February 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to the February edition of the Atlantic Avenue Mortgage Monthly Newsletter!
Last month, we introduced you to AAM and shared some of the exciting milestones from 2025. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our most exciting areas of growth, our expanding Maryland office.
Since opening our Annapolis location, we’ve continued to grow our presence, quickly becoming a thriving extension of the AAM family. We’ve added new team members to the office, hiring three new employees. With this growth, we are able to help more homeowners explore their reverse mortgage options with clarity and confidence.
Our Maryland team brings the same commitment to education, transparency, and personal service that Atlantic Avenue Mortgage is known for. As we continue to grow, our focus remains the same: providing clear answers, thoughtful guidance, and solutions tailored to each homeowner’s unique goals.
We’re excited about the momentum we’re building in Maryland and grateful for the homeowners who trust us to be part of their retirement planning journey.
We hope you enjoy this month’s update!
AAM in its new Annapolis, Maryland office
New! LESA Educational Guide for Homeowners
With our continued efforts to provide relevant education to help you understand your options for the best path to financial freedom, we created a new educational video that explains what a LESA is, how it works, and why it can provide added peace of mind as part of a long-term retirement plan.
A Life Expectancy Set-Aside (LESA) is an important feature of some reverse mortgages. It is designed to help protect homeowners by setting aside a portion of their loan proceeds to cover required property charges, such as property taxes and homeowners insurance, over their expected lifetime. While not everyone needs a LESA, it can be a valuable tool for borrowers who may benefit from having these expenses paid automatically, helping them stay current on their obligations and remain in good standing with their loan. To make this concept easier to understand, check out the video below!
Word on the Street
We’re pleased to share a recent client review that highlights what we aim to deliver in every interaction: clear guidance, responsive communication, and a steady commitment to service. Client feedback matters to us because it reflects the real experience of the individuals and families we support. Here is a review recently shared about Ben Hillyer’s work with a client and her father:
“Working with Ben Hillyer was an incredible experience. His patience, expertise, and guidance were greatly appreciated. He explained everything clearly to my father and I and answered all questions, even on the weekends, making the process feel smooth and manageable. Thank you for everything Ben.”
– Carol G.
Ben Hillyer shared the following remarks regarding the guidance and communication provided during this client’s transaction:
What stood out to you about this client’s situation, and how did you approach their situation to ensure they felt supported throughout the process?
This client’s situation involved a Power of Attorney (POA), which can add complexity and requires clear guidance to keep everything moving smoothly. Because I’m familiar with POA transactions, I was able to set expectations early, explain the applicable guidelines in plain language, and clearly outline exactly what documentation was needed so the client felt supported at every step.
How does collaboration contribute to positive client outcomes?
Collaboration is a major driver of positive outcomes. No one person has every answer, and there were times I relied on my manager and our processing team for clarification and support. When the team is aligned and responsive, the client benefits—and in this case, everyone worked together seamlessly. I’m grateful for their efforts and support.
What does client feedback like this mean to you professionally?
Feedback like this reinforces that I’m delivering the level of service our clients deserve—professional, thorough, and dependable. It also reflects trust, which is the most important outcome. When clients feel confident in the process, they know they can come back to us in the future and refer others with confidence.
Ben Hillyer
Senior Loan Officer
MLO NMLS #2175734
Client experiences may vary. Testimonials reflect individual client opinions and are not necessarily representative of all client experiences or outcomes.
Market Updates
This past month saw various market ups and downs. In early January, mortgage rates briefly fell to the lowest they have been since early 2023. In the HECM world, the final 2025 HECM Endorsement reports were released, in which AAM was the top HECM Broker for 2025!
Reverse Mortgages: Since the last newsletter, the remaining 2025 HECM Endorsement reports were released, resulting in AAM on top.
- Atlantic Avenue Mortgage helped over twice as many borrowers as the next top broker.
- When factoring both lenders and brokers, AAM was 5th in originations in the nation and guided just under 900 borrowers through the HECM process.
- The average HECM interest rate dropped from 6.49% in January of 2025 to 5.76% in December according to the FHA reports.
Home Buyer Information: Interest rates have been hovering around 6% this year, offering many homeowners the ability to refinance and save on their monthly payments.
- Mortgage Rates fell to 6.04% on January 9th, the lowest since early 2023.
- More than one-third of major markets saw home prices decrease, which is the largest share of single month declines since last October.1
- National home inventory remains at a 12% deficit when compared to the 2017-2019 same month average.2
State of the Market:
- The Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate steady following the January 2026 meeting.
- The January 2026 press release states “Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated.”3
- Home affordability improved to its best level in nearly 4 years, with 27.8% of the median income required to pay the average mortgage payment.4
- The overall mortgage delinquency rate fell last month, but the number of loans with 90+ days past due increased by 30,000.5
Sources
- ICE Mortgage Monitor Report, January 2026, p.16
- ICE Mortgage Monitor Report, January 2026, p.14
- Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement, January 2026
- ICE Mortgage Monitor Report, January 2026, p.12
- ICE Mortgage Monitor Report, January 2026, p.3
Written on Feb 23, 2026
