I will try to give an opinion on part of your question. I would consider it to be foolish to increase your salary and paying tax at the higher rate to reduce a very good tracker rate that you will never get again. In relation to your Apartment does it suit your medium term needs or have you and your partner other plans that would necessitate a move. If you rent out your apartment and buy a house to live in you have to examine a good few things. If you are buying a house the bank will look at the negative equity in your Apartment, what would the Apt rent for taking account of 10% for vacant periods, management co fees, letting fees,repairs and renewals, the two property taxes which will increase, Insurance charges, Prtb fees, 75% of your interest will be allowed against income, tax advisor's fees. Have you a budget for a house in mind. It would appear to me that given that you have negative equity of €50,000.00 in your Apt the bank would probably need this covered in your new mortgage plus 20% of the value of the house. You have 30k in personal savings and if you take out the 150k out of the company on top of your salary you would end up with something around 72k after taxes and levies giving personal savings of 102k. If the bank want the 50k negative equity in the Apt covered this would reduce your potential deposit to around 50k. Remember you will have about 2k legal fees and costs. Take into account furnishing and decorating the new house. You will be paying a SVR mortgage of a least 3.5% plus water charges and household charges on the house. Food for thought? Unless you really need it I would stay where I am. Someone else may have an alternative view. I do not know enough about pensions but you have very knowledgeable people on that subject who contribute to the forum.