[Bon mots]

Great story - good people - however I would say that no one ever owns property in the USA, even when there is no mortgage. Through never ending assessment of property taxes, and the burden of inheritance taxes, the state holds true ownership over the property now and forevermore.

EXACTLY!
Just don't pay your property taxes, you'll find out just who really does own your property faster than you can say 'forfeiture'.

[mewzilla]

So buy small. We paid off our home last year. No house payments. And our annual taxes on it amount to less money than the monthly mortgage payments many of our friends pay. I really hate rendering unto Caesar :)