With pension funds hitting a lull due to the economic crisis that we as a world find ourselves in, more and more people look to equity release as a bona fide way to plan their retirement. After paying their mortgage instalments their whole life, home owners are making the most of the equity that they have created. One of the commonly appreciated benefits of equity release mortgages is that you can unlock the equity in your home without having to downsize or move house. This enables a retiree to remain in the house they love yet realise the value of it at the same time.