[Paladin2]

As the gov't taxes you on interest income, it only makes sense to deduct interest paid from your income. Someone else books that money as income for their income taxes.

One should be able to add the property taxes to the basis for the property.

[Alberta's Child]

One should be able to add the property taxes to the basis for the property.

1. As far as I know, the cost basis of the property only comes into play when you're calculating the capital cost for tax purposes. A primary residence is exempt from capital gains taxes for most taxpayers anyway.

2. If you own a home as a rental property, then there is no need to add the property taxes to the cost basis of the property because you are still able to fully deduct the property taxes even above the $10,000 cap for personal residences.