JohnH wrote:
Given - CD maturing. Amount sufficient to pay off mortgage. Mortgage
rate is 5.25%. New CD rates - 3% for five years, 4% for seven years.

What would you do?

Stock market exposure is high enough.

Will be at the golf course pondering the situation. Back later.

No, I don't want to buy a red barn.

Do you have taxable income? Do you itemize? The 5.25% mortgage is not
really 5.25%, it could be as low as 3.5% when taxes are taken into account.

It is easier to cash in a CD for unexpected expenses than it is to get a
mortgage on a house to raise the money that your CD currently has.

Just some thoughts.