If you pay cash for a house and put 60% more in an annuity, you cover the total costs. Not cheap though.

The point is that, however you finance it, owning a paid-for place will often have significant ongoing costs. Some more, some less.

Why would you forgo the mortgage interest tax deduction?

2025 standard deduction is $30k for MFJ. Ain’t many people passing that mark these days in itemized deductions so the mortgage interest deduction is moot.

For modestly-priced houses at least may not hit deductions these days.