It’s hard to know how much house you can afford. Actually it’s easy to know how much house you can afford. It’s hard to know how much house you should afford. The McDonald’s Principle When I bought my first house, I developed The McDonald’s Principle. It was simple, clever, and powerful. It was my way…
Home prices are still climbing in many areas, and not just in the usual places. Some of the biggest gains are showing up in cities that used to be considered affordable, and it’s catching a lot of buyers off guard. This gallery breaks down the 15 major U.S. cities where home prices have jumped the…
Not every home renovation adds value. Some upgrades actually lower your property’s worth, make it harder to sell, or push buyers away. The worst part? You might not realize the damage until it’s too late. In this gallery, we’re breaking down the home upgrades that can quietly lower your resale price, even if they look…
Buying your first house isn’t about perfect timing, it’s about readiness. The market’s noisy, advice is all over the place, and most people are still guessing. In this gallery, we’ll walk through the signs you’re actually ready to buy a home, financially, mentally, and practically. 👉 Tap or Click through the slides to see if…
Imagine a financial strategy that can lower your monthly mortgage payments, save you thousands in interest, and bring you closer to the dream of early retirement. Mortgage recasting is a powerful tool that can help you achieve financial independence faster. In this article, I’ll explain mortgage recasting, explaining what it is, when and why you…
If you want a house that looks sharp without draining your bank account, you don’t need a full remodel. A few smart updates can make your home feel fresh, modern, and dialed in, without the hassle. In just the first quarter of 2024, homeowners spent $463 billion on renovations. But the real value often comes…
Del Walmsley promises financial freedom through real estate. His company, Lifestyles Unlimited, teaches people how to use leverage, rental income, and mindset to retire early. But does Lifestyles Unlimited work? I’m a CFA who retired young using real estate and traditional investments. I’ve reviewed his program, its methods, and its messaging. Here’s what I found….
Everyone’s talking about it lately. Mortgage rates are high again, but millions of homeowners are still sitting on ultra-low fixed rates locked in during the pandemic, loans in the 2s, 3s, or low 4s. The big question now is what to do with it. Pay it off early? Refinance? Use the savings to build wealth…
Let me tell you a secret, my friends. I’ve been in the real estate game for quite some time now, and I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly. And one thing I can assure you is that having the right real estate agent by your side can spell the difference…
There’s a rule a lot of people grew up hearing: pay off your mortgage before you retire. It sounds clean, simple, responsible. But these days, more retirees are walking into their golden years with a mortgage, and not all of them are losing sleep over it. That said, the costs aren’t small. According to the…
Buying a home is still one of the smartest financial decisions someone can make, if it’s done right. It’s not just about owning property, it’s about protecting your budget now and building wealth long term. This gallery walks through Rachel Cruze’s 10 steps to buy a house, breaking down how to shop smart, stay on…
Real estate income isn’t just for landlords. There are plenty of hands-off ways to make money. Some of these real estate strategies you can even manage from your phone. 👉 Click or scroll through to see 19 real estate strategies that pay, even if you never directly own a single property. Crowdfunding: Passive Real Estate…
“Get out of debt” is one of the most overused lines in personal finance, and it’s not wrong. But it’s also not the full story. Some debt will drain your money. Some can actually help build wealth. Here’s the part no one tells you: over 70% of total U.S. household debt is in mortgages, and…
I’ve been in real estate long enough to see what happens when homeowners ignore routine maintenance. A loose pipe, a foggy window, a slow leak, none of it feels urgent until it wrecks your budget. This gallery pulls together the most common home maintenance issues I’ve actually dealt with over 24 years of being a…
Buying a house can be intimidating, especially if you need more money to make a down payment. But it doesn’t need to be that way. I bought my first house at 21 while unemployed, and I’ve since purchased over a dozen more with under $1,000 out of pocket. For all but one of my home…
When is the best time to buy a house? As a real estate investor for over 20 years, I have bought houses through many cycles. I bought houses when interest rates were in the 7s in the early 2000s. I bought a house with a 2.3% interest rate. I bought houses before the 2008 housing…
