Millionaires have diverse financial strategies, and while some choose to pay off their homes early, others leverage mortgage debt to build wealth through investments.
It's really common for rich people to take out mortgages for the homes they buy, even though they could easily pay for them outright. The question is, why do they do this? The simple answer is, it's profitable to do so.
By the numbers: The share of mortgage-free U.S. homes has jumped from 34.3% to 39.3% in the past decade, per the census data. Between the lines: There can be a psychological perk to paying off a loan early, but according to some personal finance experts, it could be smarter to invest that money instead.
They stay away from debt.
One of the biggest myths out there is that average millionaires see debt as a tool. Not true. If they want something they can't afford, they save and pay cash for it later. Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary.
With all those dollar signs, what's the deal? You may be surprised to learn however that even rich celebrities and other millionaires take out home loans too. Just because someone can afford to buy a home in cash, doesn't mean they need to.
The US Sun reported that the family has accumulated some $132 million in home loans.
But for rich people with millions of dollars in the bank, covering the costs of a property out of pocket would likely be within reach. Despite the fact that many wealthy people could afford to buy a home outright, they often get mortgage loans anyway.
STUDY SUMMARY
The top five careers for millionaires include engineer, accountant, teacher, management and attorney. 79% of millionaires did not receive any inheritance at all from their parents or other family members.
Many millionaires keep a lot of their money in cash or highly liquid cash equivalents. They establish an emergency account before ever starting to invest. Millionaires bank differently than the rest of us. Any bank accounts they have are handled by a private banker who probably also manages their wealth.
If you are under 45, it's difficult to argue that your dollars would be better served paying off your mortgage unless you are on Step 9, pre-pay low-interest debt. You should aim to be completely debt-free by retirement, and after age 45 you can begin thinking more seriously about pre-paying your mortgage.
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O'Leary has said the ideal age to be debt-free is 45, especially if you want to retire by age 60. Being debt-free — including paying off your mortgage — by your mid-40s puts you on the early path toward success, O'Leary argued.
While paying off your mortgage early can be appealing, there are some potential drawbacks to keep in mind. For example, putting extra funds toward your home loan instead of other high-interest debts (like credit cards or student loans) could mean paying much more in interest over time.
Advantage #1: Protect Assets and Limit Liability
The primary reason one might use an LLC or trust to purchase a residential property is to protect their assets and limit their liability. By forming an LLC, the homeowner separates their personal assets from those associated with the property.
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
RentCafe chalked it up to a matter of “comfort and smart investing.” Owning a home can come with more than its fair share of maintenance and costly repairs and upkeep. Then there's the flexibility renting offers one to move from city to city for career opportunities.
Introduction. Real estate investment has long been a cornerstone of financial success, with approximately 90% of millionaires attributing their wealth in part to real estate holdings.
One awesome thing that you can take advantage of is compound interest. It may sound like an intimidating term, but it really isn't once you know what it means. Here's a little secret: compound interest is a millionaire's best friend. It's really free money.
They use their credit card for most purchases
It turns out many wealthy people use plastic for most of their purchases. A recent survey found 49% of Americans with a net worth over $1 million have a travel rewards credit card, compared to 23% of Americans with a net worth below $1 million.
The 10 things that millionaires typically avoid spending their money on include credit card debt, lottery tickets, expensive cars, impulse purchases, late fees, designer clothes, groceries and household items, luxury housing, entertainment and leisure, and low-interest savings accounts.
Wealthy people aren't afraid of borrowing. But they typically don't borrow money to live beyond their means or because they failed to save for emergencies or make a plan to cover expenses. Instead, rich people tend to use debt as a tool to help them build more wealth.
The Wealthiest Buyers Have Cash to Spend
“But, now, when you look at the actual percentage of our customers and how many lease, finance, or pay cash, it comes down to 20% leasing, 20% financing, and the rest (60%) making a cash purchase.”
Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.