Actually, no life insurance is needed to get a mortgage.
There are PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) plans required if you are putting down less than 20% as a down payment on your new home.
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender and pays the lender back on your mortgage loan in case you pass away before your home loan is fully repaid.
To learn more, please read this article "What Type of Life Insurance Do I need for a Mortgage?"