shrug They’re your finances, and if you can pay off a house in full you’re doing OK in my book. Still, I think it’s a minor hassle to go through for a substantial tax write-off.
It is a minor hassle, but I really hate (irrationally, I suppose) the idea that someone else has an interest in my home. I’ll talk with my accountant first, and I’d like to ask her about getting a home equity loan, and the tax advantages of that.
A much better idea. At least get professional advice.
Look, they aren’t going to take your house ever unless you stop paying it off. They don’t want it, they can’t just take it from you without legal reasons, etc.
I’ve also heard the interesting idea that we NEVER really own our houses… if we fully pay off a house yet stop paying property tax, the state takes it away. By “owning” land in reality you just have the right to “lease” it from the gov’t on an annual basis.
Sucks, hunh?
This is exactly the right approach. You remain polite, but make enough of a nuisance of yourself that they put priority on resloving your issue.