“Imagine what life would be like if had no housing expenses.”
I think you would need to live outside the US for that, due to property taxes. When the city of San Diego finally goes bankrupt, I imagine that they will reassess/increase rates as an emergency measure rather than lose their annuities.
Even if there were no tax, maintaining and insuring your home is not cheap. The idea of owning a home ‘free and clear’ in the US is not based in reality.