[actually_a_dog]

The word itself suggest as much as well. "Mortgage" is derived from Old French mort ("dead") + gage ("pledge"). In other words, it was a pledge that was supposed to die either when it was paid off, or when the borrower defaulted.

> And it seemeth, that the cause why it is called mortgage is, for that it is doubtful whether the feoffor will pay at the day limited such sum or not: and if he doth not pay, then the land which is put in pledge upon condition for the payment of the money, is taken from him for ever, and so dead to him upon condition, &c. And if he doth pay the money, then the pledge is dead as to the tenant, &c. [Coke upon Littleton, 1664]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/mortgage

[koolba]

If you combine a mortgage with term life insurance matching the remaining principal to be repaid, you can synthetically create that scenario. It’s pretty classic financial advice for a young high single earner starting a family.

[lowkey]

I always thought it was interesting that the English word for a home loan is mortgage (meaning death pledge) but the French use another word, hypotheque. I wonder why the French don't use the same word. Maybe the transparency hits too close to home?