Senior citizens' equity in their homes rose by about $147 billion to $5.76 trillion, from the second quarter to the third quarter, according to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.
Mortgage debt held by seniors rose from $1.45 trillion to $1.46 trillion over the same period.
"Senior housing values outperformed the general population," Peter Bell, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association's chief executive, said in a news release. "It's great news for seniors who are considering tapping their housing wealth to support their retirement planning."
Third-quarter figures are based on a revised methodology that includes data from the 2013 American Community Survey and the Federal Reserve's Z.1 Release to estimate the value of aggregate senior home equity.
