We are 61 & 62 so are looking at maybe using some of the funds in the near future - so about 5 years ago I started moving towards only dividend paying stocks and some ETF indexed funds... so far I have rolled dividends back into the investments, but will probably start allowing about 4% of the portfolio value to accumulate as cash each year - assuming I make at least 4% :)  I have read over and over that withdrawals of 4% is the right number to make the money last for your lifetime... 

I checked the livability index and other than scoring an F in education, other factors like amenities, cost of living, crime, employment and housing were ahead of the afore mentioned areas.

Rates moved substantially lower in the week with the average 30-year loan for conforming balances ($417,000 or less) down a very steep 9 basis points to 3.90 percent.DefinitionThe Mortgage Bankers' Association compiles various mortgage loan indexes.

Original strategy was passive index investing but I now see I can throw some gasoline on the 🔥 by investing in real estate.

Owning a real estate business is riskier than buying and holding portfolio of 1,000 of stocks around the globe via low cost index funds. 

Why would anyone lend you money at 4% when they can dump it in a Wall Street index fund and get 6% with less risk?

Regarding the condo, I've been debating whether or not I should pay off the mortgage entirely or use those liquid funds to invest into other assets (stocks, Index funds, IRAs, etc).

For those with a high risk tolerance who can tolerate a potential loss of money, then I wonder about temporarily parking assets in a bond, REIT or stock market index tracked ETF.

Just stick to the vanguard 500 index fund 

When I compare this strategy against an index that someone I'm learning from uses and we end up with a lot of similarities.