Despite slow jobs growth and lagging market indicators, American economic confidence may actually be at its highest level since 2008, a Gallup poll released this week finds. 

In its weekly polling of American confidence in the economy, Gallup found a confidence index rating of -16—while negative, it is still far above the -54 rating seen in mid-2001. 

“Americans’ economic confidence has been on a long, steady climb out of the doldrums it fell into last summer, and the record-high -16 reached last week is certainly positive on a relative basis,” Gallup wrote in its report. “However, the pace of improvement has slowed in recent months, meaning it could be months before the index is in fact positive.” 

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The hiring landscape has seen a shake up since the exit of MetLife from the business in late April. Since then, the list of lenders on the search has continued to grow from those seeking managers and originators, on the phone and on the ground. Urban Financial, Cherry Creek, Genworth Financial and Reverse Mortgage Solutions are all hiring—and others are too.

Whether you are seeking a position in operations, originating or underwriting, of if you are interested in becoming a branch, check out the following opportunities that are now open across the U.S. Or for a complete list of jobs, visit Reverse Mortgage Jobs Online.

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Communicating with borrowers online and generating Internet leads may be the future of reverse mortgage originations, and some lenders are already starting to target the growing online market.

One day, they say, online will replace television for reverse mortgage leads.

But there are some distinct differences between the online borrower and the kitchen table borrower, one lender on a panel of reverse mortgage executives shared at a May National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association conference held in Irvine, California.

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First Century Bank announced the roll out of a new program that allows financial institutions to offer reverse mortgages and remain compliant with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).

The new Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program allows regulated financial institutions to generate additional fee income without the overhead needed to run a reverse mortgage operation.

“Firms that partner with FCB have the advantage of the 70+ combined years of mortgage banking experience of FCB’s executive management team and of the talents and knowledge of its dedicated mortgage professionals,” said the company in a statement.

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The reverse mortgage market is poised for a boom once people better understand the products, writes syndicated financial columnist Tom Kelly in an article published last week. 

A “significant” percentage of older adults and their children will consider a reverse mortgage, as they enter retirement and find they can stay in their homes cash free. The unwanted alternative—where will they go if not staying in their homes—is a question most simply don’t an answer to, Kelly says. 

The article appeared in Ohio publication Akron.com. Kelly writes: 

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For retired people who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, some are opting to delay Social Security as they instead look to savings or other means as a retirement income source. Essentially, says a recent report from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, that option is like buying an annuity from Social Security.

Some originators have also advocated the use of a reverse mortgage for the same effect, in order to delay Social Security and increase the amount ultimately received, although the report did not discuss this option. The Government Accountability Office published guidance on delaying Social Security last July. 

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