Paying for primary mortgage with paid off rental properties and tax savings strategy

[Matt Wells]

From a tax savings perspective, is this a good idea? If I had three paid-off owned free and clear SFRs generating $3,000 a month in rental income, would it be wise to put down 20% on a primary residence and use my rental income to pay the mortgage? I think the mortgage interest payment I'm writing off on my taxes will offset the rental income I'm taxed heavily for on my rentals. Does it work like that? Can someone give me some insight?

[Randy Rodenhouse]

You get interested deductions on your primary residence as well as on your rental income property. If you itemize your taxes then the interested deductions will show up there for your primary residence and on Sched E for your rent properties.  I don't think it matters overall since both are deductible on your taxes. Hopefully I am understanding your question correctly.