Justis, I see this differently. If you are renting the cost...

Justis, I see this differently. If you are renting the cost compared to a mortgage is a lot lower and if you invest the difference you can buy a property outright in a shorter repayment period (especially given lower expected capital growth in the future than has occurred in the past). You also don't have the extra expenses of water, rates, sewerage and property maintenance and you have the flexibility of moving houses without incurring transaction costs on sale of a house (stamp duty, legals etc.). That's just my view point on it. Personally I think having a mortgage is a big waste of money.