Time was against us. Gina told me she had until January 3rd to reimburse the lender, or her client would lose everything. We both understood the gravity of the situation: the Montreal real estate market slows down during the holidays, and the window for action was rapidly closing. We knew we had to act fast and decisively.

 Despite the challenging timing, I was determined to do everything I could to help. My first step was reaching out to my incredible Business Development Manager, Dan Dilio, of Equitable Bank—his team is known for their flexibility and understanding—asking for an urgent review of the file. I also called in favors with one of my fabulous notaries, who wishes to remain anonymous , was on holiday but happily agreed to come in and finalize the paperwork because he believed in this woman's case and didn’t want to see her lose her home.

 Meanwhile, I explained her situation to Equitable and explored the possibility of a reverse mortgage—a solution often misunderstood but incredibly powerful in situations like this. A reverse mortgage could allow her to access the equity in her home to pay off the high-interest debt, eliminate the looming foreclosure, and buy her time until she could list and sell her property.

 And so, in those frantic days between Christmas and New Year’s, we all collaborated tirelessly. We coordinated efforts, rushed paperwork, and crossed every T and dotted every I. Thanks to the quick responsiveness of the team at  Equitable Bank, Gina  and my notary, we managed to secure the necessary approval just in time.

 The result? The client was able to pay off her debts and, more importantly, kept her home. In the months that followed, she listed her property, sold it with Gina’s expert guidance, and finally moved forward into a new chapter of her life—debt-free and with her home intact.

 This story underscores an important message: a reverse mortgage, when used wisely, can be a lifeline for seniors facing financial distress. It’s not the right choice for everyone, but in cases like this, it provided relief, dignity, and hope at a critical moment. I wish this was the only success story this year, but this was the third senior in financial distress that reached out to me.

 If you have a family member or a loved one struggling financially, don’t hesitate to explore all options—including a reverse mortgage. Sometimes, a little creative thinking and quick action can make all the difference.

 Remember, behind every financial challenge is a person in need of help—and, as mortgage professionals, it’s our privilege to be part of the solution.

 If you want to learn more about how a reverse mortgage could help your loved ones, feel free to reach out. Let’s see if we can write their success story together.