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It allows for better cash flow

Someone who’s a billionaire a couple or several times over may not have to worry so much about cash flow. But borrowing for a home allows them to hang onto their cash for other purposes.

Remember, unlike stocks, which can be bought and sold in an instant, homes are a highly illiquid investment. So rather than tying up hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in a home, the wealthy might instead keep their money readily available and simply make payments they can easily afford on a loan.

Since mortgage interest is tax deductible on the first $750,000 of a loan, there’s still a nice tax write-off to be had on itemized tax returns while seizing the opportunity to make your money work harder for you in the meantime.

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Home insurance is an essential expense – one that can often be pricey. You can lower your monthly recurring expenses by finding a more economical alternative for home insurance.

Officialhomeinsurance can help you do just that. Their online marketplace of vetted home insurance providers allows you to quickly shop around for rates from the country’s top insurance companies, and ensure you’re paying the lowest price possible for your home insurance.

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It frees up more money to invest

The average fixed mortgage rate as of September 13, 2024 is 6.20% for a 30-year loan. But during periods when borrowing rates are lower, it can make a lot of financial sense to finance a home, pay interest on a mortgage, and invest the money that mortgage frees up in stocks and other assets.

The stock market’s historical average annual return, for example, is about 10%. But that return isn’t guaranteed, and for investors with average stock-related knowledge, it may be more realistic to plan on a 7% or 8% annual return over time.

Right now, there’s not such a big gap between the average 30-year mortgage rate and a reasonable investment return in the stock market. But when mortgage rates are averaging 4% or 5%, it can be more beneficial to put a minimal amount of money into a home and invest the rest. For example, it’s better to pay 5% interest on a $500,000 mortgage if that $500,000 is able to earn 8% or more in a stock portfolio while you pay the loan off slowly.

It’s easy to see why people who can afford to pay cash for homes sign mortgages instead. But even if you’re not raking in seven or eight figures, you can enjoy the same benefits of taking out a mortgage — increased cash flow, a tax deduction on interest, and the ability to put the rest of your money to work in the stock market.

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Maurie Backman Freelance Writer

Maurie Backman is a freelance contributor to Moneywise, who has more than a decade of experience writing about financial topics, including retirement, investing, Social Security, and real estate.

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