Aptly called the American Dream, home ownership is being enjoyed in ever-increasing numbers. A combination of low interest rates and a long boom in real estate prices has made purchasing a home a great investment, in addition to the psychic benefits. But does it makes sense to pay off a mortgage in the event of an inheritance, bonus, or other liquidity event?
Conventional wisdom suggests that investing a lump sum in the market is a more prudent course of action than paying off one's home. After all, a mortgage is for most folks the cheapest type of loan available. When you consider the tax deduction of mortgage interest, it may seem foolhardy to pay off a mortgage early, or even at all.
Such rules of thumb can be useful, but provide an incomplete view of an issue with ramifications for consumer spending, risk tolerance, and one's outlook on the market. I think going without a mortgage can be a prudently responsible move for many clients.
Let's take the simple example of a professional who receives a $250,000 after-tax inheritance and holds a fixed-rate mortgage of the same amount. The client tells you that he is willing to pay off the mortgage or invest the total proceeds in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.
This scenario represents a series of tradeoffs. In paying off the mortgage, the client is swapping the possibility of earning a higher market return for a dramatic reduction in monthly expenses. If the client invests the lump sum, he is betting the markets will out-earn the after-tax cost of the mortgage loan.
