Why are single women turning to equity release?
For many women, later life finances can look very different to those of men. Career breaks, part-time work, and the gender pay gap mean pensions are often smaller, while living costs remain stubbornly high – especially for those living alone.
Increasingly, equity release is being used by those aged over 60 as a way to create financial breathing space. Some women are refinancing existing mortgages, others are topping up their income, upgrading their homes, or simply building a sense of financial security for the years ahead.
Importantly, this doesn’t mean downsizing or leaving familiar surroundings. Lifetime mortgages allow people to stay in their homes while accessing some of the value they’ve built up over decades.
Spry Finance Director David Brady said: “Women are more likely than men to have insufficient pension provision in retirement. Increasingly, some are using equity release as a way to create financial breathing space – whether that’s for repaying an existing mortgage, topping up retirement income, or upgrading their home. Lifetime Mortgages mean they don’t have to downsize, they can remain in the home they love while taking greater control of their financial needs.”
Dublin leads the way – but demand is nationwide
Unsurprisingly, Dublin continues to drive demand, accounting for 58% of total lending in 2025. Higher property values mean customers in the capital typically release more – with the average loan size reaching €140,000, compared to €112,000 nationally.
But equity release is very much a nationwide story. Spry Finance provided loans in all 26 counties, with particularly strong growth recorded in Wexford (loan volume up 42%), Kildare (up 34%) and Meath (up 31%).
Helping family and planning ahead
Equity release loans are not a single-purpose product, with around two-thirds of customers used their funds for more than one reason in 2025.
Some wanted extra financial security (21%) or help supplementing their pension (15%). Others invested in home improvements (13%) to ensure comfortable living as they age. Increasingly, parents are using equity release to support their family, with 14% of borrowers gifting to adult children up 40% year-on-year, usually to help them get a foot on the housing ladder.
All of this points to one equity release is becoming a more mainstream part of later life financial planning in Ireland – offering flexibility, choice and peace of mind at a time when those things matter most.
Read more later life research from Spry Finance:
Love in Later Life – Why romance has no age limit
