Wow, thanks for the helpful advice guys. I guess I'm smart enough to make money, just not so smart at investing it. Looks like it's time to dive in and learn!!

I've always been a very conservative investor. I've never had a mortgage, nor even had a single late payment on a credit card, my entire life. I'm totally comfortable living that way. But I'm starting to realize now that perhaps that's not the most clever way to utilize one's available financial resources. I'm totally new to the concepts of mortgage offsets and capitol gains, but I kinda see what you guys are getting at. I will be seeking professional advice before I make any decisions and I'll definitely check into that.