Risk adjusted I'd much rather have my house paid for.If I can borrow at 2.5% (15 year mortgage in 2012), able to deduct the interest from my income tax @ 39% marginal rate, and get 3% - 8% dividends (e.g., HSBC in June 2016 paid 8.5% dividend rate) and only paid 20% marginal tax rate on dividend income, I love it. It is like free money from the IRS.