Real estate is a wonderful investment for many reasons. One of the best reasons is leverage and the ability to buy with no money down. You can buy as asset with other people’s money and have other people’s money pay for the loan. When I was first learning in the late 1990s I stumbled across…
Should you max out your 401k? It’s an intimidating idea. Before jumping into why you should max out your 401k, let’s step back. If you are under 50, you are allowed to contribute up to $22,500 to your 401k. This does not include employer contributions. It is also the 2023 limit. There are other nuances…
Ice Casino is a popular online gambling platform that attracts players with a wide selection of games, generous bonuses, and a user-friendly interface. Whether you like slots, table games, or live dealer games, ice casino offers an exciting gaming environment that keeps users engaged. However, just like in online gambling, making informed decisions is crucial…
This was originally published 10/12/2021, a few weeks before I retired at 42. Last month, I wrote that we were almost ready to retire. In the next week, I plan to formally announce my retirement to my employer. I have started to tell a few close people at work. The reactions are consistent. Let’s just…
Every business, no matter how large or small, can be compared to a lemonade stand. This simple concept has been the foundation for teaching my son, who is now 7 years old, about money. Ever since he was 4, he has been setting up his lemonade stand, and over the years, it has grown more…
We love to read to our kids and teach them to read. (Admittedly, my wife does a much better job of it than I do, she’s great actually). There are several go-to books that I love to read them. Dr. Seuss’ “Oh The Places You’ll Go” is actually the first book I read to my…
There is a big fear that keeps people from being landlords. People are afraid that a tenant will destroy rental property. Yes. It happens. Every landlord has horror stories. The stories aren’t myths. Landlords exchange horror stories. You think you’ve done a great job screening tenants. But don’t worry about whether or not tenants will…
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…
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…
Should you hire a rental property management company to manage your rental house? No, in most cases you did not need to. When I started buying houses in my early 20s, I was adamant that my real estate business did not interfere with my day job or my social life. It sounds like a property…
You’re a new landlord, or thinking about becoming one. How do you maintain a rental property? Look, I am not handy. Even if I was handy, fixing things was not part of my business model. I was comfortable paying someone to do it right so I could worry about other things. But there were times…
You’ve decided you want to be a landlord. Great! Now, how do you decide what rent to charge? Determine market value The easiest way to determine what rent to charge is to observe the market. Look at sites like zillow. Also, compare your house to other comparable houses on sites like Facebook, or calling landlords…
Please teach your kid personal finance. The school system barely does. I have not dissected anything since high school. I have not used calculus. Trigonometry and Geometry have added no value to anything in my life. But I have borrowed money, saved money, made money, spent money, and invested money. We all do these things…
Deciding when to evict a tenant is tough. Let’s get a disclaimer out of the way. I am not an attorney. Nothing said in this post should be interpreted as legal advice. Speak to an attorney. Do not take anything said in this post as legal guidance, at all. To any renters/tenants that stumbled across…
A few week’s back I mentioned that I was just about to announce my retirement. I have since given my notice at work. After 22 years in Financial Services, one year as a mortgage broker, and one year as a technical writer the end is in sight. This upcoming Friday is my last day. I’ve…
What mortgage term should I have for my rental house? Seek out a mortgage length that you can afford the monthly payment when the house is vacant, but not so long that it takes a half of a lifetime to pay off. If you can’t do that, than you are buying too expensive of a…
