With a 6.8% loan, I'd recommend paying the rest of that off before you make any investments.
Mortgage rates are likely to be a lot lower than investment returns, so take out a mortgage. You will probably find that you can get a lower rate if it's for a house you are going to live in, rather than rent out, but if you're going to have to rent somewhere to stay, it might as well be your own property for a few years.