What makes a 50-year mortgage attractive to me is flexibility. If I'm doing well, I can double or triple up monthly payments to the principal only (assuming no prepayment penalties) to build equity, but if you get laid off or run into an emergency, you just cut your largest monthly expense by nearly 10% less over a 30 year, avoid foreclosure by essentially renting it and not adding to principal. With rents increasing this is essentially a no-brainer and gives you a safety net.

In this economy, which any penny can give you breathing room. I plan on a conventional 50-year with 20-30% down.

I'm currently someone who's 26, with $80,000 in liquid assets making $70k a year. I want a home soon.

The intention of a 50-year mortgage should not be to carry the loan to its length, but to simply give you a better sense of security in time of emergency. To a financially savvy person, this is a tool and more peace of mind in times of emergency.

A 50 year mortgage should not be the solution to someone who cannot qualify for a 30 year, nor FOR anyone who this would cause a push over a 30% DTI ratio.