For Renee Coleman, CRMP, a loan officer with CrossCountry Mortgage, mortgage lending has never been just about rates, terms, or closing dates. It’s about people—particularly seniors—navigating some of life’s most complex and emotional transitions with dignity, clarity, and choice.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Coleman spent nearly three decades living in neighboring New Hampshire before returning to her home state about five years ago. Today, she is licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Florida, bringing a broad regional perspective to her work as a mortgage lender. While she entered the mortgage industry in 2012 through the forward lending world, it was a deeply personal experience that ultimately drew her into reverse mortgages—and reshaped the focus of her career.
Discovering Reverse Mortgages Through Family
Coleman was first introduced to reverse mortgages in 2016 while working at Finance of America, back when the company also offered forward mortgages. At the time, she admits she knew very little about the product. But as she completed an internal training course, her curiosity was piqued—not for business reasons, but for family.
“I was really thinking about it for my parents,” she recalls.
That curiosity soon became conviction. In 2017, Coleman originated her first reverse mortgage—for her own mother and father. The experience not only deepened her understanding of the product but also cemented her belief in its value when used responsibly and strategically.
Today, Coleman still works in both forward and reverse lending, completing several reverse mortgages each year. While reverse lending represents a smaller portion of her overall volume, it is a growing and increasingly important part of her practice—especially as she becomes more visible as one of relatively few reverse mortgage specialists in Massachusetts.
An Educator in a Conservative Market
Operating in New England presents unique challenges. Coleman describes the region as “very conservative,” particularly when it comes to financial products like reverse mortgages.
“People here take a minute to warm up to the idea,” she says. “They need to understand how it really works.”
That reality has shaped how Coleman approaches her role. Rather than seeing herself solely as a loan originator, she views her work in reverse mortgages primarily as education. Much of her time is spent meeting with financial advisors, real estate professionals, and consumers to explain what modern reverse mortgages are—and what they are not.
Her goal is simple: to ensure that trusted advisors understand reverse mortgages well enough to recognize when they may be an appropriate option for their clients.
A Unique Niche at the Intersection of Divorce and Housing
In addition to her reverse mortgage work, Coleman has developed a highly specialized niche in divorce mortgage planning. On the forward side of her business, she is a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP) and the founder of Divorce Mortgage Planning of New England.
Through this consulting practice, Coleman works with divorcing homeowners to analyze their housing and mortgage options before final divorce agreements are signed. The service has become increasingly important as higher interest rates have complicated traditional divorce-related refinancing strategies.
“In the past, one spouse would refinance the marital home fairly quickly to remove the other from the mortgage,” Coleman explains. “Now, with rates having doubled, people are delaying those decisions.”
Her consulting firm provides a comprehensive, flat-fee analysis that explores every option—refinancing, assumptions, cash-out strategies, selling, or purchasing a new home—so clients can negotiate their divorce with clear financial expectations.
Notably, Coleman has seen her two worlds collide through the rise of “gray divorce.” For older couples with substantial home equity, reverse mortgages can play a critical role in buyouts, eliminating monthly mortgage payments, or accessing funds to fairly divide assets.
“Here in Massachusetts, people often have hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity,” she says. “Reverse mortgages can be a practical solution when one spouse needs access to that equity but can’t take on a new monthly payment.”
Professional Growth and the Value of Mentorship
When asked about her greatest professional accomplishments, Coleman points to earning her Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP) designation as a recent highlight. The process required extensive study and a deep dive into regulations and complex program details.
“It took a lot of time, but I learned so much,” she says.
She credits the support and study groups organized by her team at CrossCountry Mortgage for making the process manageable—and emphasizes that mentorship and teamwork are essential for anyone entering the reverse mortgage space.
“You really need someone to help guide you in the beginning,” she advises. “There’s so much to learn, and it’s not something you can master overnight.”
Why the Work Matters
Of all the aspects of her job, Coleman is most passionate about working directly with seniors. She speaks warmly of the relationships she’s built and the stories she’s heard over the years.
“I love my seniors,” she says simply. “They’re fascinating people with incredible life experiences.”
Her age and life experience, she believes, help her connect more naturally with her clients. And when she explains reverse mortgages, she often points to the most powerful example she knows: her own family.
Her parents opened a reverse mortgage line of credit years before they needed it. When the time came to renovate the kitchen—just before the COVID-19 pandemic—the funds were there.
“While everyone was sheltering in place, mom was having a blast baking things in her new kitchen,” Coleman says with a laugh.
After her father passed away last year, that same financial flexibility became even more apparent when an unexpected $13,000 boiler replacement arose. The reverse mortgage line of credit provided immediate relief without creating a new financial burden.
“She tells me all the time how grateful she is,” Coleman says. “It’s made a real difference in her life.”
A Life Rooted in Connection
Outside of work, Coleman finds joy in gardening, spending time outdoors, and nurturing her home landscape. She and her husband even created a cut-flower garden—flowers she now brings to in-person client meetings, particularly with her reverse mortgage borrowers.
It’s a small gesture, but one that reflects her approach to business: personal, thoughtful, and grounded in genuine care.
With six adult children between her and her husband, family gatherings and staying connected remain central to her life.
At every stage—whether guiding seniors, supporting families through divorce, or educating fellow professionals—Renee Coleman’s work is driven by one consistent principle: helping people make informed decisions about their homes, their finances, and their futures.
And for her, that’s exactly what modern reverse mortgage lending should be about.
