Pay Off House by Tapping Reserves?
by Dave Says

We’re debt-free except for our house. We also have $25,000 in our emergency fund. The mortgage payment is $940 a month, plus a remaining balance of $124,000. We also have $125,000 in a mutual fund and other stocks outside our IRAs, and a combined income of about $90,000. Are we in good enough shape to pay off the house by cashing out our non-retirement investments?

Dear Dave,

We’re debt-free except for our house. We also have $25,000 in our emergency fund. The mortgage payment is $940 a month, plus a remaining balance of $124,000. We also have $125,000 in a mutual fund and other stocks outside our IRAs, and a combined income of about $90,000. Are we in good enough shape to pay off the house by cashing out our non-retirement investments?

Will

Dear Will,

Saving $1,500 a month would be a piece of cake if you didn’t have a house payment. And in about five years you could save up everything you cashed out of your investments and re-fund them …

Write a check today and pay off the house, Will. With no house payment and your emergency fund and IRAs still in place, you’ll be sitting pretty!

Dave