[terry1156]

I would suggest that you make a choice between which business your husband wants. If he wants the state business, then there is no need for a new house since he won't be doing the taxidermy. If he wants to do the taxidermy, he doesn't need to do the state job.

If I were you, I would save every penny I had for a down payment on the new house. Once you had the 20% in cash, I would buy it and expand your husbands taxidermy business. I would rent out the other house if you really can get $800 a month in rent for it. Then you take $700 of the rent to pay off that loan and $100 toward your retirement savings. This gives you $100 for retirement plus all the equity you earn in the house.