I'm guessing they are in demand mainly because for a lot of people ANY way to save some money and stretch it as far as it can go is an appealing consideration right now.

As far as debt consolidation loans, we know they do serve the purpose of lowering the amount a person puts out monthly and so for anyone that has high interest loans from past and needs some extra liquid money in their pocket the debt consolidation loan is often a wise option. I worry about people that don't take all the factors into account though, the amount of interest paid over time for a loan that would have been paid off sooner can end up costing more in the long run. All things considered the debt consolidation loans are appealing to many, any possible way to decrease the amount of money going out each month is tempting to those who are stretched to their limit.

The reverse mortgage loans are another a whole different category though, I wonder if people who are tapping into their mortgages for income are doing so because their retirements are not as healthy as they had expected them to be. Many retirement plans took a big dive a few years ago and I think an awful lot of people are now trying to figure all other options to make up the difference and still have the lifestyle of retirement they had hoped and planned for. I just hope the economy, social security, etc. doesn't shake up more to the point that those people then have no where else to tap into if things get worse for them.

I've heard stories of people that are selling things they would never have considered selling before just to put some money in their pocket to pay bills or make ends meet. I believe that there is a possibility that these loans you ask about are simply means for people that are finding themselves in a time of trouble and are trying to stay afloat. Used financially soundly some plans are beneficial but if people are just jumping without considering all aspects they may wind up stretching their troubles out for a longer period of time, I hope people think hard and crunch the numbers and don't just sign on the dotted line.