Why would you pay down a 4.5% mortgage when you could, theoretically, receive a better return in the markets?

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I’ll preface this with the disclaimer I may be missing something obvious but considering these assumptions:

– a person has a mortgage (at say 4.5% today) and they choose to pay that off monthly (not interest only)

– the opportunity cost of this investment would be a conservative 6%/year in ETFs or REITs (of course this is tentative and an average over the long run)

(See for return references: https://www.fool.com/research/reits-vs-stocks/)

Why would a person choose to pay down their mortgage rather than invest in the markets? The pros of greater liquidity in the markets and greater diversification in REITs seem to make it the preferable choice?

For context, I am a 24M considering the best route to financial independence for myself and future family.

Thanks in advance.

In: Economics

29 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You can’t live in the stock market. 
You need a house for your family, much like food. Only question is will you rent (and let that money evaporate) or pay a mortgage and keep the asset (your house). 

Time will pass, you will for something.  May as well have something to own after 20 years

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