Why Is Your Mortgage a ‘Dead Pledge’?

crop businessman giving contract to woman to sign

Did you know that the word ‘mortgage’ comes from the Old French term for ‘dead pledge’? Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Don’t worry – your house isn’t haunted, but there’s a fascinating historical and linguistic journey behind the name. A friend recently celebrated refinancing her mortgage. Amidst the excitement, she asked a question that stopped me … Read more