Ken Seal, a reverse mortgage specialist with Bellingham-based Neighborhood Mortgage, recently became the first Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in Washington State.

The certification was awarded by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. Seal has been a reverse mortgage specialist for 11 years and has more than 25 years of experience in the financial-services industry.

Reverse mortgages allow homeowners age 62 or older to take out a loan against their home’s equity.