Would you get a 35-year home loan? The real cost of marathon mortgages

The days of paying off a 20-year mortgage in your 40s are over, for most of us longer loans mean paying more – but there are benefits

There are costs to putting your mortgage on the long finger. Graphic: Getty

Gabrielle Monaghan

Back in the year 2000, the typical mortgage taken out by Irish first-time buyers lasted just 25 years.

Most first-timers were in their 20s and looked ­forward to being done and dusted with mortgage payments by their 50s, when they’d have more income for travel, home improvements and pension top-ups.