"like me never getting a job, him losing his, the stock market crashing and taking out our other investments, and the housing market tanking, all simultaneously"

Perfectly stated

If you have a $1m mortgage, your deduction is probably phasing out as well.

I like your thinking. It is a great way to look the situation. I just think when discussion risk, you also have to have a plan if it goes the other way. So, why you speak a lot of truth, it isn't complete without a plan for the other way.

Gains are free up to a cap.

Right, but when renting the maintenance comes free and the insurance is much cheaper.

Well, it is the things like utilities - $200, car payment - $450, groceries - $250, furniture - $400, home, auto, umbrella, etc insurance - $400, cable, phone, internet $140, cell phone - $100, work clothing maintenance - $100, yard and home maintenance - $200, property taxes $500, school supplies $100.

But seriously, your advice sounds fantastic because it begins with statements like "let's suppose the housing market also averages 5%". And you just don't get take property taxes and mortgage interest and "knock them off your income tax". They are deductions, not credits.

Possibly, if the cost of borrowing the money, taxes, and cost of maintaining the property leaves you with less profit than investing the money made available by just renting.

Cool. Sounds like you have thought it out. Check back in in a few years. Especially if you have children or have to change jobs or the housing market takes a dive right when you have to sell.

First thing that came to my mind. I live in Texas and $137k can get about a $300k loan.

That is not what you said. You started right off with a missive comment without even engaging in some discussion first.

Yeah, carpentry, sailing, and horseback riding are no fun at all. These kind of activities are just for slow adopters.

What about Natty Boh???

Not in the least. It takes much more than misplaced capitalization to upset me. At the very least, I would notify the author privately and certainly would not cut-and-paste from style guides.

Well, I would have to say the lowercase "m" really didn't spoil any of it for me.

Lol - I asked a one sentence question asking your motivations. Now, you launch the obligatory pedantic tirade. I am not offended, albeit, just a bit amused. I literally am trying to understand your motivation and choice of verbosity.

So, you think this multi-paragraph grammar nazi-ing is adding to the discussion?

It may be the overall decline over the last few decades that have people worried. Of course, it may just be an adjustment after Europe and Asia recovered from WWII. In the first part of the latter century, it would seem culture and discovery was centered more towards Europe while America was still digesting its…