There's a ton of middle men making money off of the mortgage....title companies, appraisers, lawyers, loan officers, etc (most of who are not even neceesary). All costs are usually the borrower's responsibility. Even if you pay off the mortgage, then you have to pay ridiculous property taxes. If you can't pay them, someone comes along and pays the lean, and you're out of a house. So you never ever feel like you own your own home. The property taxes are a scam also. The unions have gotten away with murder over the years....with politicians giving away the store to the teachers and police unions, and we the tax payers have to pay for that with the sky high property taxes. There was one superintenent of schools on Long Island making $500,000 plus benefits, pension and a chauffeur. Ridiculous! Who ends up paying that ...the tax payer!!