Parents house rich, cash poor? Get the plan!
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FREE GUIDE FOR BC FAMILIES

Your parents own a house worth millions. They still struggle to afford their life. Read this before the next family argument.

The free Living Inheritance Guide for BC families. Plain English, written for adult kids and their parents, so everyone is on the same page.

Matt Blake, Mortgage Broker (BCFSA Licence MB600487). BRX Mortgage Inc. (BCFSA Licence X301291). | For homeowners 55+. No regular monthly mortgage payments required as long as you live in the home and meet property tax, insurance, and maintenance obligations. Interest accrues and reduces home equity.

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Provided by BRX Mortgage Inc.

Prefer a 60-second family quiz? Take the Living Inheritance Quiz →
  • Why Mom and Dad say no to selling, downsizing, or help at home, and what is usually behind it.
  • Every option side by side: HELOC, reverse mortgage, selling, or downsizing.
  • How to start the conversation so your parents stay in charge and nobody feels pushed.
Sound familiar?

The house is worth millions. The life inside it is shrinking.

A worn house with a leaking gutter, cracked window and bucket catching drips

The repairs keep getting skipped

The roof, the windows, the gutters. Nobody can afford to fix it, and nobody can get them to touch the house.

An older couple on a safari jeep at sunset

The bucket list stays a list

The trip they always talked about. The money is in the walls, and their cash flow says no.

A young family at the front door of their new home

You could use help now, not later

A first home, a down payment, a growing family. Help means a lot when they are here to see it.

A caregiver helping an older woman on a sofa at home

They need more help at home

Care, support, a safer house. The conversation is hard, and the money is tied up in the home.

There are options that keep your parents in charge and in their home. The guide walks you through them.

Google reviews

What clients say about working with Matt

5.0 stars, Google Business Review

5.0 out of 5 on Google

★★★★★ Google review
I cannot put into words how much we appreciate working with Matt. We were told my multiple mortgage brokers we weren’t able to get the house we wanted and Matt made it happen. I am also horrible at uploading paper work and he was patient and made it dummy proof and seamless. Buying houses are so stressful but Matt made it happen and we could not be more grateful, I would highly recommend!
Tamara Patterson
★★★★★ Google review
Exceptional service -Highly recommend Matt as he went up and beyond to help us with our purchase. Could not of done it without his expertise and knowledge.
Debbie Patterson
★★★★★ Google review
Working with Matt on we provided him, I believe was the most complicated mortgage we have ever done, multiple brokers told us it was not possible for a multitude of reasons. Matt conducted extensive diligence and through his experience and professional connections he methodically worked through a very extensive list required.
Gary Spencer-Smith

Reviews are from Matt Blake Mortgages home buying clients on Google, not reverse mortgage clients. Every client's situation is different.

Inside the guide

11 chapters. Written for the whole family.

1

Why Mom and Dad say no

What is usually behind the "no", and how to hear it.

2

Meet the Harrisons

A sample family, so the numbers feel real. Illustrative only.

3

Reverse mortgage or something else?

HELOC, selling, downsizing and family help, side by side.

4

How a reverse mortgage works

Five plain steps, and who it usually fits.

5

Three versions of the same story

A living inheritance, money to get by, and repairs and care. Illustrative only, not a quote.

6

Taking the money, and what it costs

Lump sum, as needed, or monthly, and how interest builds.

7

Helping a child buy a home

Gifts, loans, and keeping it fair between siblings.

8

Money to get by, repairs and care

When a parent needs more income, or more help at home.

9

Who needs to be in the room

Powers of attorney, legal advice, and keeping your parents in charge.

10

When the loan comes due

What happens to the home, and a checklist for the executor.

11

The kitchen table conversation

A 60 minute family meeting, and 11 questions for any broker, including me.

Send me the free guide

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Mom and Dad own the house. So why is every month a struggle?

You love your parents, and you can see it. The house is worth far more than they ever planned for, maybe millions. But the groceries cost more, the roof is overdue, and every phone call has a little more "we're fine" in it than you believe.

Maybe one of them needs more care. Maybe the house needs work. And every time you bring it up, you hear the same thing: "We're not selling."

So you wait. You worry. You cover things you can't really afford to cover. And you and your siblings are not even sure you agree on what to do.

You do not need to push. You need a plan.

The Living Inheritance Guide explains the real options in plain English: what each one costs, what it could mean for the family's inheritance, and how to bring it up so Mom and Dad stay in charge. A living inheritance lets the people who built the equity use some of it, and see the family benefit, while they are still here.

And I am a broker, not a lender, so I can put every option next to the others, including a HELOC, selling, and downsizing.

Without the guide

  • Siblings arguing from three different opinions
  • Parents shutting down every time it comes up
  • Waiting for a crisis to force the decision

With the guide

  • One plain-English guide the whole family can read
  • Every option compared side by side
  • A way to start the talk that keeps your parents in charge
Send me the free guide
How it works

Three steps. Two are optional.

1

Download the guide

Answer a few quick questions. The PDF is yours right away. Then send it to your siblings.

2

Read it together

Plain English. About 20 minutes. Print the family page and put the kettle on.

3

Optional next step

Book a free 20-minute family call with your parents on the line, or get a free BC Home Equity Report. Or do neither.

Send me the free guide

Free · Instant PDF · No obligation

Meet your broker

I am a broker, not a lender.

I'm Matt Blake. Matt Blake, Mortgage Broker (BCFSA Licence MB600487). BRX Mortgage Inc. (BCFSA Licence X301291). I help BC families, including adult kids helping their parents, understand their options in plain English. Because I am a broker, I can compare the options we are appointed to offer, and I will put alternatives like a HELOC, selling, or downsizing on the table too. Your parents are the borrowers and the decision-makers, so I always work with them directly. If a reverse mortgage is the wrong move, I will say so.

Matt Blake Mortgages Questions? Email me at matt@mattblakemortgages.com
Straight answers

Questions families ask first

Can we apply for our parents?

No. Your parents are the borrowers and have to make their own decisions. With their permission, you can sit in on the call.

What if Mom or Dad refuses to talk about it?

Do not push. The guide shows how to raise it gently, one small conversation at a time. If a parent can no longer make decisions for themselves, different legal steps apply and a lawyer should be involved.

Will this use up our inheritance?

It may reduce it. Interest builds on a reverse mortgage and equity shrinks over time, so there may be less left later. Some families decide that helping now, while their parents are here, is worth it. The guide shows how that works. Any figures are illustrative only, not a quote.

Do our parents still own their home?

Yes. They keep title. It is a loan secured against the home, not a sale. They stay responsible for property taxes, insurance, and upkeep.

Do they have to make monthly payments?

Regular monthly principal and interest payments are not required. They can often choose to pay interest. Exact terms depend on the lender and product.

Can this help pay for care or renovations?

Home equity can pay for renovations or help at home, subject to approval. It is not right for everyone, and a HELOC, selling, or downsizing may fit better. The guide compares them.

What does the guide cost, and do we pay the broker?

The guide is free. You do not pay BRX a fee for the guide or the family call. BRX Mortgage Inc. is paid by the lender if a loan funds, and the amount is disclosed to you in writing before you decide. A funded mortgage may involve lender fees, an appraisal, and independent legal advice where required.

Are reverse mortgage rates higher?

Typically, yes. Reverse mortgage rates are usually higher than conventional mortgage rates, and interest builds on the balance over time. The guide shows how that affects the remaining equity. Any figures we show are illustrative only, not a quote.

How is the money taxed?

Money borrowed against a home is generally a loan rather than income, but tax rules depend on the situation. Please ask your tax advisor.

Get the free Living Inheritance Guide

Plain English. About 20 minutes. Read it with your siblings, then decide together.

Send me the free guide

Free · Instant PDF · No obligation

Questions first? Email matt@mattblakemortgages.com.