I paid off my current house in 4 (months). The house I was living was paid off, but I needed a house with a ground floor master bedroom, we found and bought. Did not have to wait until my old house sold. It sold in 2 months using Zillow, and I used the proceeds to pay off my new house.
I was empowered because my house was paid off.
I paid cash and have never had a mortgage. So grateful I was able to do this.
“I was empowered because my house was paid off.”
That’s a great way to put it. We paid off our home around 2000 by making extra (sometimes double) on the principal every month. That involved long stretches of years of “doing without”, living below our means, and other sacrifices, but it was so worth it.
Since then, always cash. It’s a great feeling. Not that you’re entirely free considering all the costs involved in actually living in the house.