Who Brian Helps
Retirement guidance for Central Oregon homeowners
A reverse mortgage is not right for everyone. Brian starts with your goals, then shows you honestly whether it fits, and how it compares to the alternatives.
Homeowners 62+
Turn part of your home equity into tax-deferred cash flow while you keep living in the home you own.
Right-Sizers
Buy a home that fits this chapter of life using HECM for Purchase, with no required monthly mortgage payment.
Financial Advisors
A standby line of credit can help protect a portfolio from sequence-of-returns risk. Brian partners with your advisor.
Realtors & Families
Reverse for Purchase opens options for retiree buyers, and heirs are protected by the loan's non-recourse feature.
Reverse Mortgage Options
The reverse programs Brian works with
Every reverse mortgage is a home-secured loan that must be repaid. Brian will walk through which option, if any, fits your situation, and what it means for your home and your heirs.
HECM Reverse Mortgage
The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the FHA-insured reverse mortgage, with a 2026 lending limit of $1,249,125.
Reverse for Purchase
Buy your next Central Oregon home with a HECM for Purchase and no required monthly mortgage payment.
Line of Credit
A reverse mortgage line of credit that can grow over time, set up as a standby reserve before you need it.
Reverse Refinance
Refinance an existing reverse mortgage when a higher lending limit or better terms may benefit you.
Jumbo & Proprietary
Proprietary reverse options for higher-value Bend homes above the FHA limit, some available from age 55.
Pay Off an Existing Loan
Use a reverse mortgage to pay off your current mortgage and remove that monthly payment from your budget.
Based in Bend
Meet in Bend, Brian can travel to you, or by phone. Your choice
Brian's office is at 601 NW Harmon Blvd, Suite 11, Bend, OR 97703. He meets homeowners across Central Oregon at his Bend office, in your own home if that is easier, or over the phone, and is glad to include your family and financial advisor in the conversation. Call (541) 771-6175 to talk with Brian directly.
Client Reviews
5.0 / 5.0 (19 reviews)
Aggregate rating from Brian's Google Business Profile. Read more on Experience.com.
Client reviews
What clients say
Reviews from homeowners Brian and the Fairway team have helped.
"Brian, Chris and I would like to thank you for your professionalism, transparency, and overall great advice in helping us secure our Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. This type of reverse mortgage is nothing like the reverse mortgage of the old days, but a consumer-protected financial plan that meets the needs of people here in Terrebonne and throughout Central Oregon."
"Brian and his assistant, Jennifer, were so helpful and responsive for any questions I had regarding our application for an HECM reverse mortgage. Random questions texted on a weekend were responded to like he works seven days a week. I highly recommend them if you are looking for top tier customer service."
"Brian was great to work with and his guidance was invaluable. Brian and his team at Fairway made the process quick, efficient, and transparent. I am so grateful I contacted him. I highly recommend him to anyone thinking about a reverse mortgage."
"If you have questions about a reverse mortgage, Brian Albrich is where you need to start. He walked me through the process from start to finish, answering all of my questions and concerns. Brian is thorough and knowledgeable, someone who knows the reverse mortgage process from start to finish."
"I shopped extensively and found Brian to be the most competitive and most transparent. He and his team shepherded me through the entire process with not so much as a hiccup. We are located in different states, which was no issue whatsoever. I absolutely recommend Brian for your reverse mortgage needs."
"Our experience working with Brian and his team was exemplary. Their expertise, marked by professionalism, accessibility and graciousness, made our reverse-mortgage process seem simple, easy and safe. It was a pleasure."
"Working with Brian on this recent transaction was virtually effortless. His follow through, attention to detail, and breadth of knowledge were evident from the start. The entire process was personal in the best of ways. Thank you Brian and Fairway team."
"From the very first phone call until the final title papers were signed, Brian and his assistant Jennifer were professional and extremely helpful in making this loan process as uncomplicated and seamless as it could possibly be. Timely in their responses, knowledgeable, approachable and kind."
"Brian helped me work through my reverse mortgage smoothly and very efficiently. I was going through a hard time in my life and he was there for me. I so appreciate him."
"Fairway couldn't have a better representative than Brian. He walked us through the process and communicated with us all the way through. We are recommending Brian and Fairway to others."
"Brian was great to work with, very knowledgeable, pleasant, and very helpful to me in making the right choices for my future."
"Brian was helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. Enjoyed talking to him. Excellent company."
Individual client experiences. Not a guarantee of future results.
How a Reverse Mortgage Works
A loan built for the way retirement actually works
A reverse mortgage lets eligible homeowners 62 and older convert part of their home equity into funds, while keeping ownership of the home. You choose how to receive the money, and you have no required monthly mortgage payment as long as you meet the loan terms.
- You keep your home
- You keep the title to and ownership of your home. You do not sign your home over to the lender.
- No required monthly mortgage payment
- You continue to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, and upkeep, and to live in the home as your primary residence.
- Your heirs are protected
- A HECM is non-recourse. You or your heirs will never owe more than the home is worth when the loan is repaid.
- Independent counseling
- Before a HECM, every borrower completes a session with a HUD-approved reverse mortgage counselor, so you get an unbiased second opinion.
The Process
Clear steps, no pressure
Brian keeps the process straightforward and unhurried, so you understand each decision before you make it.
- 1. Conversation: Talk through your goals, your home, and whether a reverse mortgage even makes sense for you.
- 2. Options & numbers: Review a personalized illustration of the programs that may fit, with the costs and trade-offs laid out.
- 3. HUD counseling: Complete independent counseling with a HUD-approved counselor for an unbiased review.
- 4. Application & closing: Brian and the Fairway team handle appraisal, underwriting, and closing, keeping you informed at each step.
Why Brian
"As a dedicated retirement mortgage specialist, I am passionate about helping clients manage one of their most significant assets: their home. Whether it is creating extra cash flow by paying off a current mortgage or providing additional funds for enjoyment, I am grateful to help clients enhance their retirement by using their home equity."
5.0 average rating, 19 Google reviews
Reverse mortgages are a specialty, not a sideline. Brian focuses on retirement-age homeowners across Central Oregon.
FAQs
Reverse mortgage answers
Who is a good reverse mortgage specialist in Bend, Oregon?
Brian Albrich (NMLS #91018) is a Retirement Mortgage Specialist with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, based in Bend and rated 5.0 from 19 Google reviews. He focuses on reverse mortgages for homeowners 62 and older across Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, Sisters, La Pine, and Central Oregon, including HECM, HECM for Purchase, line-of-credit strategies, and jumbo reverse options. Terms subject to program eligibility and approval.
What is a reverse mortgage and how does it work?
A reverse mortgage is a home-secured loan that lets eligible homeowners 62 and older convert part of their home equity into funds, received as a lump sum, monthly amounts, a line of credit, or a combination. You keep the title to your home and have no required monthly mortgage payment, as long as you continue to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance, maintain the home, and live in it as your primary residence. The loan balance grows over time and is repaid when the last borrower sells, moves out, or passes away.
Do I still own my home with a reverse mortgage?
Yes. With a reverse mortgage you keep the title to and ownership of your home. You do not sign your home over to the lender or the government. The reverse mortgage is a lien on the home, like any mortgage, and you remain the owner for as long as you meet the loan terms.
How old do I have to be for a reverse mortgage?
For a HECM, the FHA-insured reverse mortgage, at least one borrower must be 62 or older. Certain proprietary reverse mortgage products may be available to homeowners as young as 55, depending on the state and program. Brian can tell you quickly which options your age and home make possible.
Will I still make monthly mortgage payments?
A reverse mortgage has no required monthly mortgage payment. If you currently have a mortgage, the reverse mortgage pays it off, which removes that monthly payment from your budget. You do continue to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, any HOA dues, and home upkeep, and you must keep the home as your primary residence, or the loan may become due and payable.
What happens to my heirs and my home?
A HECM is a non-recourse loan, so you or your heirs will never owe more than the home is worth when the loan is repaid. When the loan comes due, your heirs can repay the balance and keep the home, sell the home and keep any remaining equity, or, if the balance is higher than the value, satisfy the loan at 95 percent of the current appraised value. They generally have time and options to decide.
How much money can I get from a reverse mortgage in 2026?
The amount depends on the age of the youngest borrower, current interest rates, and your home's value, up to the 2026 HECM lending limit of $1,249,125. Higher-value Bend homes above that limit may use a jumbo or proprietary reverse instead. Brian can prepare a personalized illustration so you see real numbers for your situation, subject to program eligibility and approval.
Guides & Resources
Reverse mortgage guides from Brian
Plain-language guides on how reverse mortgages work, who they fit, and what they mean for your home in Central Oregon.
Reverse Mortgages in Bend
A local retiree's guide to using home equity in Bend and Central Oregon's housing market.
Read guide →Reverse Mortgage Programs
HECM, Reverse for Purchase, line of credit, refinance, and jumbo reverse compared.
Read guide →Pros and Cons
An honest look at the real benefits and the real downsides before you decide.
Read guide →How It Works
A plain-English walk through how a reverse mortgage works, step by step.
Read guide →