Martha York Clements’ patriotism runs deep. As a member of the color guard of her American Legion Auxiliary chapter, she proudly carries the flag at holiday events and other ceremonies. As a long-time member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she serves as registrar for her local chapter, helping other members establish their ancestries. She did the same for herself, tracing her roots back to the birth of the country. Photos of 10 generations of her family adorn the walls of her home office.

Clements, 77, is able to pursue her interests because she has the comfort of financial security through a Fannie Mae Home Keeper reverse mortgage. But getting it wasn’t easy. "I read an article about reverse mortgages in a local newspaper, but I had difficulty getting more information," she says. "I was calling a lot of 800 numbers and getting a lot of misinformation."

One of her calls reached Alexia Landis, It was the last call Clements had to make. "I finally found somebody who made sense. Alexia has been wonderful," Clements says. Together, however, they still had some work to do.

Clements was living in a new attached house with a garage in a planned unit development. Because it was new, "the developer had not released some of it to the homeowners; he still had his name on it, and we couldn’t do the loan that way," Landis explains. Moreover, "he was busy building other houses and didn’t want to bother doing what we needed him to do."

Clements was persistent. "She really stayed on top of it," says Landis. "She called him, she called his lawyer, she did everything that was needed. She was very involved in assisting us."

Finally the obstacles were cleared and Clements received her loan. "The very first thing I did," she says, "was to take out supplemental Medicare insurance, which I had not been able to afford." She also used some of it to install hurricane shutters, repair her porch, and make other improvements to her house. But mostly it supplements her limited income. "When a big bill comes along, I don’t have to worry about it now," Clements says.

A widow for 17 years, with no children, Clements says her closest relatives are a niece and nephew in the Chicago area. "They told me not to think about them. They don’t want the house. They’re happy about the reverse mortgage because they don’t have to worry about me. And I’m happy with it."

Relieved of financial concerns, Clements spends her time on the activities that are important to her. In addition to her involvement in the DAR and American Legion Auxiliary, she is secretary of the Port St. Lucie Property Owners Association and membership chairman of the Port St. Lucie Republican Club. "I’m interested in what goes on in my community," she says. "I’m too old to be salaried but I’m not too old to be a volunteer."

She's turned the master bedroom of her house into an office. "I need an office for all the things I am doing," she explains. She has an "antique computer" that serves her just fine. "I’m waiting for it to crash before I even think of investing in this new stuff," Clements declares.

 Her reverse mortgage is "working out beautifully," Clements says. "I did the right thing." Notes Landis: "She's a lady who wanted to retain her independence and her lifestyle. This was something that really fit her well."

William McAuliffe
Weirsdale, FL

There aren't many communities in America, like Love's Landing, in Weirsdale, FL.

A planned subdivision situated in the middle of the state near Ocala, Love's Landing has two intersecting grass airstrips - one running east to west, the other north to south - that residents use as often as the paved roads nearby.

"Most people who live here are pilots," says 70-year-old William McAuliffe.

It's not uncommon to see someone leave their home, jump into an airplane, and take off either for a favorite vacation spot, or just to cruise the skies a bit.

"I've flown all over the world," notes McAuliffe, an Air Force and Korean War veteran.

Last year, McAuliffe made the decision to buy a new airplane kit. Not only was McAuliffe buying a plane, he was building it, too.
Lacking sufficient funds to make the purchase, he decided to apply for a reverse mortgage.

However, the appraiser soon discovered that Love's Landing was a non FHA approved Planned Unit Development (PUD). Because of this, McAuliffe was informed he couldn't get the HECM.

"I was told I couldn't get the loan," explains McAuliffe, "so I started
calling the Atlanta Homeownership Center over and over until they finally relented by agreeing to approve my application as a diminimus PUD."

Says McAuliffe: "I kept telling them that their existing policy on PUDs doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I told the people in Atlanta that HUD should be helping seniors get reverse mortgages, not placing these obstacles in our way."

Finally, after weeks of persistent phone calls and letters, McAuliffe got his reverse mortgage, as a line of credit, enabling him to purchase a Glastar single-engine, two-seat airplane kit.

"Persistence does pay," he noted.