Many of those nearing retirement hope that they’ll be able to have their mortgage paid off by the time they retire. Yet nearly one in three of those who are age 65 or older have mortgage debt outstanding, according to figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Moreover, the average outstanding mortgage debt among older Americans has risen to nearly half of the value of the underlying home, showing the financial pressure that many retirees are under. If you own your home, there are key mortgage facts you need to know in order to protect yourself financially.