Not paying off the house - dumb or sensible?

For orientation, the current offers we have received are 1% (probably only Ing now) repayment for about 1.06% or 2% repayment for 0.88%, each with a 15-year fixed interest period. Both interest rates even allow for 2% with a small installment - and if you manage to gradually increase the installment over time, quite a bit of repayment can be made within 15 years. But of course - it then depends on how the ratio of property valuation to the interest rate of the follow-up financing develops. There is a certain risk involved. However, for us to only get such high interest rates after 15 years despite 100% work, that we can no longer afford the 1% repayment on the then low remaining debt, should be relatively unlikely (but yes: of course, there is a risk).

My parents had bought and rented out two houses years before the 2008 crisis. The prices were good and everything was going well. Then changes came and they had to sell both in 2009/2010 because they urgently needed the money at that time, additionally had stress with the tenants, and were simply fed up with it. Well, despite the good location, the prices were rock bottom and they didn't even get back fully what they had paid. Plus prepayment penalty... Nobody had expected that. Today, the houses would easily be worth double or would be sold for double the price even though 10 years older.

I wouldn't rely on any forecasts for 10/20/30 years from now...

Good example, changes can always occur individually or in the overall market.

Build big, don’t pay off until retirement! Put the comma wherever you want, debts are definitely en vogue nowadays...