@T.Yong Ling, you need to shop for a lower rate.

Some people strongly prefer to pay off their mortgage even though it doesn't make mathematical sense given that the loan rate (probably 2.75-5%) is much lower than what you should get in return on a good investment.

It may be inconvenient to appear to bid in GA, but also might eliminate some competition as places like FL and CA host online auctions where the accessibility is very easy. 

It will lower the loan amount and reduce the Mortgage payment.  

My wife is a Real Estate Agent in Texas and has full access to the MLS in Texas. 

I've even thought about the idea of buying a lower value home and do a live-in flip.

I haven't pulled comps official comps yet, but just doing some self-assessment via Zillow with similarish homes sold in the last 6 months, this house already priced $25k lower than what those sold for (I say "similarish" because they were remodeled, had garages instead of being a duplex, etc.), which makes me think the sinkhole is NOT already fixed (this is a question I have out to my agent). 

I also have access to my 401k which I have basically saved to use as the starting platform for my investing. 

I’m looking at Worcester because Multi-families are cheap compared to the rest of the state and I feel like it is a decent rental market due to the many colleges, universities, hospitals, and commuter access into Boston.

Right i'm usually figuring out 100 ways to try to keep borrowers/homeowners in their properties  and even lowering their payments at the same time.