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Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Money contributor September 20, 2025 — 5.01am

I read your article in the SMH recently and kept it for future reference. I am a typical, older self-funded retiree living in a valuable home – should I consider a reverse mortgage? Where do I start? What are the considerations, and what could it ultimately cost? We intend to continue to live here but are keen to free up some of the equity. Peter

Peter, the Latin roots of the word mortgage are “mort” meaning death and “gage” meaning pledge. Yes, it’s a death pledge.

Except that a regular home loan is not. A reverse mortgage , however, is indeed a pledge to pay on death – and that’s not as bad as it may sound.

Backing up for other readers, a reverse mortgage is li

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