CNBC: Should I pay off my credit card debt with a home equity loan? Should I pay off my credit card debt with a home equity loan? Barron's on MSN: Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest extra money in markets?

Understanding the Context

It depends. Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest extra money in markets? It depends. MSN: Should you pay off your mortgage early?

Key Insights

Arguments for both sides Home equity loans and HELOCs have lower interest rates than credit cards, encouraging some homeowners to use them to pay off their bills. AOL: I'm a Financial Planner: Loans You Should Always Pay off Early The Motley Fool: Should You Use Retirement Funds to Pay Off Your Mortgage? The Motley Fool: Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retirement? Not Necessarily. You'll often hear that it's best to enter retirement totally debt-free.

Final Thoughts

If you have an affordable mortgage, you shouldn't automatically feel pressured to pay it off. There can be benefits to carrying ...