Core Viewpoint - The choice between full payment and mortgage for home buying significantly impacts long-term financial trajectories, reflecting deeper considerations of wealth management, risk tolerance, and lifestyle choices [1][12]. Group 1: Full Payment Home Buying - Full payment home buyers accounted for only 22.3% of new home transactions in 2024, with the remaining 77.7% opting for mortgage loans [1]. - The average age of full payment home buyers is 43.7 years, typically indicating stable high income or substantial family wealth [2]. - Full payment saves significant interest costs; for a 30-year loan of 4.35% on 4.5 million yuan, total interest could reach 3.492 million yuan, effectively allowing buyers to acquire more property value [2]. - Full payment properties appreciate at an annual rate of 5.7%, providing a stable channel for asset preservation and growth [4]. - However, 62% of families who pay in full experience a dangerous drop in liquidity, making them vulnerable to unexpected expenses [4]. - Opportunity costs are significant; investing the funds elsewhere could yield a total asset value 37.8% higher than full payment after 30 years, given the average A-share return of 8.2% [4][7]. Group 2: Mortgage Home Buying - Mortgage buying is more common, with an average down payment of 32.6% and a median loan term of 28 years as of 2025 [5]. - This method lowers the barrier to home ownership, allowing younger individuals to own homes 5-8 years earlier than they could with full payment [5]. - Mortgage buyers can leverage inflation; a 100,000 yuan debt today would only be worth 33,400 yuan in 30 years due to an average inflation rate of 3.8% [5]. - Tax benefits are available, with monthly mortgage interest deductions potentially totaling 360,000 yuan over 30 years for high-income earners [5]. - Mortgage buyers maintain liquidity, allowing for emergency funds and investments, leading to a higher financial health index compared to full payment buyers [6]. - However, total costs are higher; for a 90 square meter property in Beijing, total payments over 30 years could reach 9.886 million yuan, 63.9% more than full payment [6]. - Psychological stress from long-term loans is significant, with 44.6% of mortgage buyers reporting moderate to severe anxiety due to mortgage payments [6]. Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Different home buying methods suit different demographics; high-net-worth individuals and retirees may prefer full payment, while younger professionals and high-income earners may lean towards mortgages [7]. - A financial model suggests that after 30 years, a full payment buyer and a mortgage buyer could see asset differences exceeding 45%, with mortgage buyers often having higher total assets due to investment opportunities [7]. - The time value of money is crucial; 100,000 yuan today has a purchasing power of only 33,400 yuan in 30 years, emphasizing the cost of locking funds in real estate [9]. - Full payment buyers report higher happiness scores, but mortgage buyers enjoy richer spending in other life areas, averaging 38.2% more on leisure [9]. - Asset concentration is a risk for full payment buyers, with over 65% having more than 80% of their wealth in real estate, while mortgage buyers typically maintain a healthier asset distribution [11]. Group 4: Decision-Making Trends - The maturity of the real estate market has led to more rational decision-making among buyers; 85.3% now compare long-term financial impacts of payment methods before deciding [12]. - The choice between full payment and mortgage is not merely a binary decision but involves a deep analysis of financial efficiency and personal circumstances [12].