As I sadly watch my stock portfolio go down the tubes due to reciprocal tariffs and retaliation from China, I find serenity in my paid-off home. No matter how much the stock market tanks, it’s comforting to know I’ll always have shelter to take care of my family.
It’s funny, but only active investors, finance professionals, people in charge of their family’s investments, or personal finance enthusiasts may feel a heightened sense of stress during stock market corrections. If you practice buying the dip, as I always do, it can feel like repeated mental warfare as the stock market keeps dipping, making you feel like a fool.
Imagine betting on red 15 times in a row in roulette, only for black to show up every time. That’s exactly what this latest correction feels like. Eventually, a win will come—but by then, the losses may already be too steep. Plenty of hedge funds and individual investors on margin will lose everything in this latest bear market.
For my wife, who doesn’t regularly follow the stock market, this latest correction has had little effect on her mood. Meanwhile, my young kids are blissfully unaware of the rising risks of a stagflation and the looming mass layoffs. They just want to play and have fun.
For me, I’ve had to work hard to not let weeks of non-stop stock market declines negatively affect my mood with my family. It hasn’t been easy, as I’ve found myself being less patient than usual. This latest discomfort is a good reminder of why I prefer real estate over stocks to build wealth. At this age, I’m all about slow and steady returns.
If you are responsible for your household’s finances and don’t enjoy losing a lot of money quickly in the stock market, consider paying off your house. I’ve paid off several houses over the past 10 years, and I’ve never regretted any of them.
The Value Of A Paid-Off Home Is Greater Than Just Money
When mortgage rates are low, some people like to make fun of those with paid-off houses. Even though ~40% of homeowners have no mortgage, these critics somehow think those without one are foolish. “You could make a lot more money in stocks and other investments by having a mortgage and not paying it off!” is their most common criticism.
While it’s certainly true that leveraging a mortgage can lead to greater potential returns, critics fail to recognize the value a paid-off house provides: reduced stress and greater peace of mind. The older I get, the less I want to owe financial institutions money. Instead, I want to simplify my life with fewer bills and less debt.
To me, the feeling of financial security is worth far more than potentially earning an extra 4-8% a year in stocks. And that’s assuming things go well. Sometimes, investments underperform cash, Treasury bonds, and real estate. Sometimes, you can even lose a lot of money instead, as the government is OK with tanking the stock market to help homeowners.
With a paid-off home, no one can force you to leave if you don’t want to. Meanwhile, each month without a mortgage payment improves your cash flow, giving you more flexibility and peace of mind. What a wonderful situation to be in, especially with the specter of recession looming.
Those Who Criticize Homeowners Without A Mortgage
What I’ve also realized about people who mock those with paid-off homes is this: How many of them could afford to pay off their homes themselves? I doubt it’s more than 50%. After all, one of the main reasons people invest is to eventually buy and pay off a home.
So maybe those who criticize homeowners without mortgages secretly want to be mortgage-free too but don’t have the means. And because they can’t pay off their own homes, the only thing left to do is criticize those who have. Such is human nature – trying to bring others down to inflate their own status.
As the percentage of your home equity rises, your feeling of financial uncertainty declines. In fact, the more certainty you feel, the more confidence you will have in buying the dip when uncertainty is highest. When that final mortgage payment is made, the feeling of financial achievement is priceless.
A Paid-Off Home Can Appreciate as Well
Here’s the thing about your paid-off home, it can make you money or save you from losing a lot of money as well.
In normal times, real estate tends to appreciate by 3-5% annually. Sure, that’s lower than the S&P 500’s historical 10% return. But 3-5% appreciation on a large investment can generate a far greater absolute return than what your stock portfolio delivers. And if you take on mortgage debt, the cash-on-cash return is higher.
During downturns, real estate tends to hold its value well as investors seek the safety of bonds and tangible assets that generate income. Instead of appreciating 3-5%, real estate might only rise 0-3%, while stocks could easily decline 5-20%. However, since you’re not paying rent, your effective return is actually higher by the market net rental yield.
Finally, in severe downturns, both real estate and stocks decline. But while residential real estate might drop 20% over several years in a realistic worst-case scenario, stocks can crash 50% within months. And yet, since homeowners aren’t checking a daily ticker symbol, the experience feels far less stressful. Further, homeowners get to enjoy their homes.
When you own a paid-off house, appreciation rates—whether up or down—don’t affect you nearly as much. Instead, your focus is on living your best life while pushing money into the background. Conversely, the end game for investing in stocks is to make a profit to buy something enjoyable. Hence, all the volatility can be distracting.
Paying all cash for a house comes with a psychological hurdle, but in my experience, the peace of mind is well worth it. Just imagine losing 20% of your net worth in a week if you were 100% long stocks in 2025.
A Paid-Off Home Gives You Confidence To Live Better
We all need food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. If we can lock in our shelter costs, everything else becomes much more affordable. And if you take it a step further by fully paying off your home, you’ll find yourself living with greater confidence and freedom. This confidence you gain from being mortgage-free is one of the best reasons to pay off a low-interest rate mortgage.
Want to take a sabbatical? Go for it! Dying to leave your job for one that fits your passions but pays less? No problem. Want to aggressively buy the S&P 500 dip? You bet. Thinking of finally starting a family? Just make sure they are the one. The tappable equity in your home is an incredible source of wealth.
Yes, over the long run, investing in stocks will likely generate greater returns. That’s why the vast majority of homeowners invest in stocks as well. But during downturns and recessions, a paid-off house shines the brightest. If you have one, embrace it. If you don’t, recognize its value.
Sometimes I forget I have a paid-off house—it’s human nature to take what you have for granted. It’s good to remind yourself what your mortgage or rent payment would be. But I’m quickly reminded that even without a mortgage, the bills never stop, especially when maintenance costs and property taxes come due. Fortunately, they’re manageable.
I certainly don’t want our economy to collapse. Financially, I’d love nothing more than for stocks to rebound and outperform my real estate portfolio. But now that the trade wars have intensified, we must keep some liquidity and our jobs, if we need one. For those with paid-off houses, make sure you enjoy it as everything crumbles around you.
Reader Questions
Do any of you have a paid-off house? If so, how do you feel about being mortgage-free during stock market corrections and economic slowdowns? As you’ve gotten older and wealthier, have you found yourself less focused on always maximizing profits? Why do some people with mortgages criticize homeowners without one?
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