JOSH HUTCHINS.COM

   I just read a great piece on The Mortgage Reports. I'll summarize: first of all, your house is not a bank account, it is not liquid. When you own a house there are two ways to increase equity: pay down the mortgage or increase the value. The former is taxed before you even put it in. The second could be completely tax free. So there's a real question here: the traditional way of thinking is to pay down the mortgage, even make extra payments if you can. But if you focus on increasing the house's value, you could get more back on your investment. Which is better? I can see I'll need to do some more research on this topic. So more to follow.