13%. We too have always lived within the lowest wage earner's ability to pay the basic living expenses. Finally after 24 years, one income producer retired to build our rental (read passive income) "business". We could do that in large part because we kept our primary residence debt, low, low, low. It also helps that we had no other debt:) It felt at times like we were limiting ourselves as family and friends upgraded their homes. In the end we were able to utilize our DIY skills to fully remodel our residence and now its AWESOME, for that same low payment. We are on a 30 year mortgage, very low interest and will not be paying it off early, unless we sell it to downsize further, we might could squeeze ourselves into a multi family for the lower interest rate that primary residence mortgage provides.