Notwithstanding these caveats, though, the fact remains that all else being equal, traditional amortizing
mortgages introduce additional sequence risks to the household leverage
scenario (above and beyond just the risk that the portfolio fails to outperform the loan) that reverse
mortgages alleviate, which should make reverse
mortgages especially appealing for retirees who believe it's worth the risk of maintaining a
mortgage and a portfolio
side by
side in retirement.