My flat was mortgaged for around 50,000 pounds sterling; No deposit needed as I had to re-mortgage when I split with the girl I bought it with
Back then my salary was around 13,000 pounds sterling, so after interest, not much left to live on
Getting to the point; back then when investments were going very well, we had these interest only mortgages and when the policies matured after 25 years, there would be enough to pay off the capital AND have a fortune to retire on
They proved to be a disaster, but luckily I sold in 1990, made a quid and move to Oz