Is it better to pay interest or taxes? Right offs vs payed off

[Jeff Douthart]

So many thoughts on the subject. If you have no loan your cash flow is substantially more so that means more taxes. If you have a loan your paying a small fortune in interest.

[Ron Flatt]

I will give my two cents on this subject, my siblings are split on the subject.  Example: both sisters and one brother, go without financing.  They pay cash and move on.  One brother and myself tend to go with the leverage.  The reasons we use leverage:
1st:  Currently the interest rates are so low, the use of other peoples money lets me expand.  (Note:  I only go with fixed rate 15-20 year notes).  I do not want an adjustable rate, someday the rates will increase.
2nd:  Using other people's money, gives you more money to invest.  The key is not to over leverage, not I try to stay between 60-70% leverage.  Currently at 50%
3rd:  I am not as sweet of a candidate for a lawsuit, because of the leverage.  If you have a property laying out there without a loan, it is easy picking for ambulance chasers.  

The taxes are not the issue, as much as being able to increase my buying power,