Financed home ownership is not as financially beneficial as it used to be due to changes in tax laws. Factors like lower federal income tax rates and increased standard deductions have reduced the economic advantages of having a mortgage. This means that fewer people benefit from itemizing deductions on their taxes, and some may even be better off paying off their mortgages early. The tax benefits of borrowing money to buy a home have decreased over the years, especially for high-income individuals.