Paper net worth is fun to watch but I agree, doesn't really make a difference in your life unless you convert paper to useable capital by moving far away. If you think markets will continue along the path they have been on, the smart play (although terrifying) is to keep increasing the mortgage to maintain constant leverage (Eg. Something like 60% loan, 40% equity). Take that money and invest it in something else. The other thing should increase at a rate well above mortage interest costs. That lets you convert the paper increase in your house into more real net worth today (you still have the house and it's still going up by xxx a year whether you owe 10% or 80% on it but you could add a lot of other investments also moving up with the equity). Obviously, the house of cards can fall and it's not for everyone. I doubt I will follow my own advice even though it should work out magically well (six figures a year extra increase in net worth). Mortgage would be scary big and no realistic way to pay it off by working a job though.