I’m a landlord. I’m also a renter. Interesting, right? Why would someone who owns a home rent an apartment? I’ll answer that and more, but it has to do with money, life circumstances, and peace of mind. I’ve previously written about, “Is it Better to Rent or Buy a House?” Most people are very passionate … Read more
Who doesn’t love to read about big, juicy mistakes? You know the ones. The ones where you can’t stop reading, enticed by needing to know what happens next. Every. Detail. Brings. It. To. Life. Unfortunately, this isn’t that article. But, it is an article about regret, hindsight bias, and changes I wish I would have … Read more
Deciding to buy a house is a big decision. It’s the largest purchase most people will make. On top of that, it’s also the most debt many people will take on in their life. Unfortunately, there are very few classes about how to responsibly choose which type of mortgage to apply for. This type of … Read more
I’m always fascinated by the question, “Should I pay off my mortgage early?” People usually fall into three camps: YES! Pay it off. Debt is bad. You’ll never regret paying it off. No, you should invest the money. You’ll earn more in the market. I’m asking the question because I don’t know. I’m fascinated because … Read more
Rental properties are not passive income. Despite what financial pornography websites may say, rental properties and real estate investing are not easy paths to riches. People make it look easy. They may sell courses on real estate investing. You may hear it from a friend who got rich in real estate. They may tell you … Read more
With mortgage rates at or near record lows, many homeowners with mortgages should analyze whether refinancing makes sense. If you have a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage above 3.5%, you should run a break-even analysis to determine if it makes sense to refinance. While you can refinance and save money on a monthly basis, sometimes the monthly … Read more
If you’ve never bought a home, buying a home can be a daunting process. At least it was for me. How expensive of a house should I buy? What are my “must haves”? Do I need a real estate agent? Who should I hire as my real estate agent? What’s the process? How long is … Read more
Is it better to rent or buy a house? There are very few questions in personal finance that will elicit people from both sides who adamantly insist they are right. From the “rent crowd”, you’ll hear how they have flexibility and freedom to do anything. If they want to move, they can. If something breaks, … Read more