My greatest asset at the moment is my income. A paid for house means $640.00 of monthly income that I can do with as I please, or as I need.
If I invest it at a measly 10% (I saw 6 months savings bonds at 4.65 today) and save 6.25% in interest, that's a 16.25% turnaround.
With no house payment and no debts, I need a yearly income of only $40,000/year to fully fund 2 roth IRA accounts, two ESA's for the children and all of our monthly expenses.
Couple that with the emotional security that provides to a young stay at home mother who has no desire to re-enter the work force, and it is absolutely the right thing for me to do for my family at this point in time.