PS: Paying off properties at retirement is a good move if you just don't feel like dealing with administrative tasks anymore or want to leave paid-for assets for your inheritors.

Tax time was a pain since I had to extract the info from Quickbooks, often using Excel to add items up...  

Venky, check with your plan administrator if your employer allows for "in-service distribution".

We had very little money because we had spent hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to find a cure for a horrific disease youngest son suffered constant excruciating pain from.

No, that's not a pain.

I see more pain for the Houston market in the near future.

I'm Christina Coleman, born and raised in Philly but currently residing in the Baltimore, MD area where I am a senior at MSU majoring in Business Administration.

It's painful making 20% but losing maybe 30% on the CDN dollar drop.

Just deal with the pain now and do what you must for each unit to have separate utilities. 

So, in two years you really need that college fund, that's not a problem really, part of your note can be paid in a lump sum when it's needed.Much of risks and headaches have changed today, loans are set over to loan servicers who send you your money, you don't do collections or any administration of the loan anymore.You know your property better than any lender ever could, it's still your collateral and there are investors who can buy your note so you never have to be concerned about the property.Chad is right, it's about solving their problem.