Dilemma: Save up to buy 1 more or begin paying down properties more aggressively

[Kuriakos Mellos]

HI everyone:  I keep on going back and forth on this but want to ask others who have made moves in either direction this year (or gone down the route of paying off properties early in general).  The higher interest rates and more challenging (but not impossible!) landscape this year has given me the opportunity to really pause and look at my portfolios performance.   I cut costs,  maximized efficiencies, raised rents accordingly (that alone will increase my cash flow this year by about $1,000 per month); and streamlined landscaping/pest control/rehab work and on.  That being said,  I started calculating the interest paid per month and was a bit astonished. Yes, I am fortunate that a lot of the properties are 3.75% or lower, but I do have 4 above that, and all with mortgages under $140 K.  (One is $61K, one is $124 K, one is $133 K and one is $134K).     

I got into this journey to provide a easier retirement for my parents, and provide cash flow for them. I do enjoy my day job and hope to stay there as long as possible, with the hope of peeling off by 45 (just turned 40 this month) and after that would consider maybe using the cash flow to benefit me a bit.  Beginning to pay down properties more aggressively will help get to not only having more income coming thru each month; but also help me when I am ready to maybe buy more down the line with less mortgages tied to my name?   Yes, I know I will lose some of the tax benefits by doing so; but owning something out right sounds appealing to me.  Has anyone done this?  I do intend to keep saving a little on the side for another future purchase but realistically don't see that happening till maybe January? 

Help! Perplexed, confused and banging my head against the wall.

K-Man