One Third of American Homeowners Are Mortgage Free

In a study published by Zillow, which can be found here, some 29.1 percent of homeowners own their home outright, with no debt or mortgage remaining. So who isn’t underwater? The study found that areas with lower overall home values primarily housed those who don’t have mortgage debt.

Mortgage debt is accrued when home values rise, so it makes sense that areas with rising values see more underwater homeowners. Additionally, older homeowners (primarily seniors over the age of 75) tended to be free and clear of mortgage payments– these homeowners have had years to pay off their homes, unlike younger owners. Still, some 35% of 20 to 24 year olds were free of mortgage payments.

Check out the article for an interactive map of the US, which features county-by-county percentages of free and clear homes.