Buying a home is one of the most expensive investments in most peoples’ lives, and therefore selecting the most fitting mortgage type and negotiating a fair purchase price should be paramount decisions. It’s commonly accepted that home buyers can afford mortgages costing up to 30 percent of their monthly incomes, and paying more than that amount may set buyers up for financial hardships.

Buyers who keep their monthly mortgage costs low are typically able to pay their principals down ahead of schedule, saving them interest costs. Some buyers who’ve recently sold a home or have a great deal of savings may opt to purchase a home outright with cash, avoiding mortgage costs altogether. But which approach is the smartest decision for a home buyer?

There is no widely accepted right or wrong answer. The best answer boils down to home buyers’ circumstances and their ultimate goals. Some buyers simply do not want the burden of debt and would prefer to own their homes, sacrificing available cash. Others prefer to invest elsewhere, save for retirement or vacations, while aggressively paying down a mortgage. Each method of purchasing a home has a list of benefits and drawbacks.