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Yes, but do you own your home free and clear? Any mortgage interest that you paid can ALSO be deducted, and generally speaking, if you paid property taxes and mortgage interest, its often enough to get you above the standard deduction.

And don't forget the other things, like charitable contributions, educational expenses, etc.

Yes, its either the standard deduction OR the itemized deductions but not both.

If $6000 is your only deduction then you are better off taking the standard deduction. However, I would run through schedule A to itemize before you settle for the standard deduction. Remember that any interest you paid on your mortgage is deductible, including points paid during 2008, which are essentially prepaid interest. Plus if you are paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) the premiums are deductible. Plus state taxes are deductible. Plus any contributions to charity, including your church, are deductions. Also, if you volunteer your time for a charity, the value of your time or donations can be deducted, and in most cases you can take mileage deductions for driving to and from volunteer work. Medical and child care expenses can be deductible.

I would make sure you aren't missing any deductions before you take the standard deduction.

There's a new tax break this year where even if you take the standard deduction, you can add up to $1000 on a joint return, otherwise $500, of property taxes for your home to the std deduction. There's a worksheet in the instructions. So sounds like your std deduction on your joint return will be $11,900.

Unless your total allowable deductions is over that, it wouldn't make any sense to try to itemize.