[bkirkbri]

Exactly. I'm always confused when someone suggests that paying off a mortgage is stupid. Sure, 5% return on mortgage money borrowed at 3% is profitable. But there are many assumptions here: how sure is that spread? Can you pay your mortgage each month if the market tanks? How large is the spread when investment is no longer hypothetical and within some risk tolerance? How much tax are you paying on gains?

To be clear: I do not mean to imply that GP is making such a bold and unconsidered claim. Just that I've been hearing them a lot lately.