• I'm 30yo 86k/year USD salary with an 11% annual bonus and an Etsy shop average roughly 10K/year profit, wife 29yo SAHM $0 income, two kids in Kindergarten.
• I have about 80K in Student Loans at 6.25% paying around $450/mo on REPAYE.
• ~7K in the bank (checking and emergency fund),
• ~$40K in investments (401K $22K (contributing 6% to get employer match), pension $17K, HSA 1K (maxing every year but use for medical expenses vs investing fully), Robinhood $400.00 (dabbling with some stocks as I read up and learn more)).
• Renting a home for $1800
• QUESTION 1: Many programs available right now in my area to get a 30yr fixed mortgage with rates from 3.9% - 7.9% with no down payment or closing costs (we do qualify). A few online mortgage calculators show the houses in my kid's school district that are selling for 250K-350K would result in a mortgage capping out around $1300. Is it worth buying if it opens up $500+/month to pay off the student loans or max out more retirement savings?
• Question 2: Trying to definitively figure out whether prioritizing paying off the student loans is best. Versus autopay on the minimum (for the interest rate deduction), take interest deduction each year, and using my excess funds to maximize more retirement savings/investing. What if I refinanced with Sofi or another private lender to get an interest rate between 3.5 and 5%? At what breaking point is it worth not paying them off quickly and instead invest/save?

TIA