The American dream used to include paying off the mortgage before retirement, but that is sometimes no longer the case. Some people are being advised that with low mortgage rates and high stock market returns, they are better off to keep the mortgage, or buy with a mortgage, and keep their funds invested. An additional reason to keep the mortgage is the ability to write off the interest payment, which some clients of mine recently did, even though they could easily have paid cash for their home. Of course, you should always check with your financial adviser before making such a decision.