Kristy Osborn - Fairway Mortgage

09/02/2026

The conversation around retirement is changing.

More articles are being written about the financial pressure facing middle-class retirees, and honestly, I'm not surprised.

People are living longer. Costs are higher. Healthcare and caregiving expenses continue to rise. Even households that have saved diligently can find themselves looking for ways to create more flexibility in retirement.

That's why I think we need to broaden the retirement-planning conversation.

Retirement isn't just about investment accounts. It's about understanding all of your assets and how they work together.

For many homeowners, one of those assets is home equity.

Not because home equity is the answer for everyone.

But because it may be one of the largest resources they've spent decades building, and it deserves a place in the conversation.

The more options people understand, the better prepared they are for whatever retirement brings.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Should home equity play a larger role in retirement planning discussions?

Researchers found many Americans expressing positive feelings about life while also grappling with significant financial distress.

08/26/2026

New episode of The Legacy Years Podcast is live!

If your family has a long-term care insurance policy, do you actually know how to use it when care is needed?

That is what we are talking about in this episode with Dr. Douglas Dickson, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and co-owner of SYNERGY HomeCare TX50.

We recently had an episode that covered long-term care insurance more broadly, but this conversation is focused on the moment families are ready to activate benefits. What triggers the policy? What paperwork is needed? What is an elimination period? Why do claims get delayed? And how can families prepare before they are in crisis mode?

This is such helpful information for adult children, spouses, caregivers, and anyone trying to help a loved one receive care at home.

Watch the episode here:
https://youtu.be/FvZ9BV5DJ6c?si=mK6sGXW2uLjJ7Fbe

Thank you again to Dr. Dickson for joining me and sharing such practical guidance for families.

Many families have long-term care insurance but do not know how to ...

08/18/2026

“Should I get a reverse mortgage?”

I get asked that a lot, and there really is not one answer that fits everyone.

There are usually a whole bunch of questions hiding underneath that one question.

What happens to my equity?
What if I sell later?
What if I wait?
What happens to my kids?
Can I still make payments?
What other options do I have?

Those are good questions.

And I think people should be able to ask all of them without feeling like someone is trying to convince them to do something.

Sometimes a reverse mortgage makes a lot of sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the answer is just “not yet.”

The important part is understanding enough about your options to make the decision that works for you.

Should you get a reverse mortgage? If you are considering a reverse...

08/04/2026

Most people hear “reverse mortgage” and immediately think it is only for someone who is struggling financially.

That is one of the biggest misconceptions out there.

For some homeowners age 62 and older, especially those with significant home equity, a reverse mortgage may be less about need and more about strategy.

It may help create more cash-flow flexibility, provide access to home equity without selling the home, or give investments time to recover during a down market instead of forcing a sale at the wrong time.

It can also be used as a standby line of credit, for home improvements, retirement income planning, or other future needs.

Now, let me be very clear: it is not right for everyone.

There are costs. The home still has to be maintained. Property taxes and insurance still have to be paid. And the full picture matters...age, equity, goals, heirs, and long-term plans.

But it is worth learning about before assuming it is only a last-resort option.

Home equity is part of your financial picture. Sometimes the smartest move is simply understanding all of your options!

Reverse mortgages for high-net-worth homeowners are often misunders...

07/29/2026

Grief is one of those things that eventually touches every family.

This episode of the Legacy Years: Finding Fun, Wisdom & Purpose, I had a very real and heartfelt conversation about grief, widowhood, and what life looks like after losing a spouse.

My guest shared from her own personal experience! Not as a professional expert, but as someone who has walked through deep loss and has used her story to encourage others.

We talked about what grief really feels like, what people sometimes get wrong, what actually helps, and how we can better show up for people we love when they are grieving.

I hope it brings comfort to someone who needs it!

Grief and widowhood change life in ways many people do not fully un...

07/28/2026

I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say, "Well, my credit isn't good enough for a reverse mortgage."

Sometimes they're right...but many times they aren't.

There are a lot of misconceptions around how reverse mortgages are underwritten, so I spent a couple of minutes breaking down what lenders are actually looking at. Hopefully it'll help clear up some of the confusion.

🎥

Many homeowners wonder if bad credit or a low credit score will sto...

07/15/2026

Scammers are getting smarter, and sadly, older adults are often the ones being targeted.

Fairway recently launched Fairway SAFE, (Senior Advocacy & Financial Education) a nonprofit arm of Fairway Home Mortgage focused on education, awareness, and protection for older adults and their families.

This mission lines up so closely with the heart behind our reverse mortgage team. We work with older homeowners and their families every day, and the goal is never just about home equity. It is about helping people understand their options, protect their financial well-being, and feel more confident in the decisions they are making.

Fairway SAFE is sponsoring a free educational webinar:

Stay Safe: Protecting Yourself from Scams & Financial Abuse
Wednesday, July 29
1:00 p.m. CT
Free 1-Hour Webinar

The featured speaker, Steven J. J. Weisman, is a nationally recognized fraud and cybersecurity expert, lawyer, Bentley University professor of white-collar crime, author, and founder/editor of Scamicide.com.

He will be sharing practical information on current scams, common tactics scammers use, who may be most vulnerable, and steps families can take to help protect themselves and the people they love.

This is a great webinar for seniors, adult children, caregivers, and honestly, anyone with parents, grandparents, neighbors, or loved ones they care about.

Register here: https://fairwaymc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ONgZK_z7ScqeilKJIY9sdQ

Please share this with anyone who may benefit. A little awareness can go a long way.

07/08/2026

Life after a reverse mortgage can come with a few surprises. Some helpful, some important, and some that should go straight to the trash pile.

Borrowers still receive monthly statements, may have options when it comes to making payments, and will need to complete an annual occupancy form.

And then there’s the mail… the official-looking, urgent-sounding, “you better call us now” mail that often has nothing to do with your actual loan.

The most important thing is knowing what to expect, asking questions when something feels off, and using your home equity as part of a thoughtful retirement plan.

What happens after you get a reverse mortgage? In this video, we ex...

07/07/2026

What if one of the biggest financial risks in retirement isn't the stock market?

It's the possibility of needing long-term care.

About 70% of adults over age 65 will need some form of long-term care during their lifetime, yet it's a conversation many families avoid until they're in the middle of a crisis.

As a mortgage professional who works with retirees, I see this more often than I'd like. Families are trying to make difficult financial decisions while also caring for someone they love. It's emotional, stressful, and often preventable with a little planning.

That's why I invited Brian Beavers, Long-Term Care Planning Specialist and Founder of Beavers Retirement Solutions, to join me on the latest episode of the Legacy Years podcast.

We talk about:
• What custodial long-term care really is
• Why Medicare doesn't cover most long-term care expenses
• What care costs today—and why those costs continue to rise
• Funding options, including insurance, home equity, and other strategies
• How to start the conversation before it becomes a crisis

Whether you're planning for yourself, helping your parents, or simply thinking ahead, I hope this episode gives you valuable information and peace of mind.

🎧 Listen here: https://youtu.be/3b2iZy55Jl8

And I'd love to hear from you: Have you or someone you love had to navigate long-term care? What do you wish you had known sooner?

06/08/2026

Financial advisors and insurance professionals; this is a class worth putting on your calendar.

I’m excited to be one of the instructors for the Certified Home Equity Advisor (CHEA) Credential course, developed in collaboration with NAIFA. This is an 8-hour CE program focused on the ethical integration of housing wealth into retirement strategies for clients age 55+.

The Texas virtual class dates are July 28 and July 30, from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM CT each day.

What I love about this course is that it helps professionals look at retirement planning through a wider lens. For many older clients, home equity is one of their largest assets, but it is often left out of the planning conversation.

And a little NAIFA plug while I’m here: if you work in the financial or insurance industry and you’re not a NAIFA member, you may want to seriously consider it. Access to education, CE opportunities, industry connections, and resources like this class is a huge benefit.

Hope to see some familiar faces online!