I'm actually surprised by the wide range of answers from the forum, thought it was a fairly standard financial question about the magic 50% savings rate number that the blogs here refer to. I'm really just curious if those who claim to save 50% of their yearly income, are counting the principal portion of their mortgage in that formula. I'm really just trying to gauge how far off I am in my own savings rate to this board's "gold standard" of savings.
In my own case, while this is my principal residence, I also consider it an investment. If I someday move elsewhere (downsize), I'll probably keep it as a rental. It will be paid off in 9 more years (sooner if I decide to pay down the principal faster). It is in a great part of Seattle, with terrific bus service to downtown, Microsoft, Amazon, and the University of Washington, and only a 3/4 mile walk to the most popular park in the city (Green Lake).