I bought my first house in April 2012. We paid $185,000. Our loan was for $177k at 3% for 15 years. We hated debt, made decent money, and at some point set a goal to pay this mortgage off in about 5.5 years. It was an FHA loan, which required dreaded Mortgage Insurance (MI) payments, … Continue reading The Mortgage Paydown Dilemma
Early Retirement
Catching Covid
After Rudy Gobert tested positive for covid-19 on March 11th, the world shut down, and we returned home from Las Vegas. The next few months were a bit of a whirlwind for us (and likely many others). There are some financial aspects to this story, but I mainly just want to share my experience testing … Continue reading Catching Covid
Should I buy down my mortgage interest rate?
As a real estate agent I spend a lot of time looking at mortgage quotes. I think I spend more time than most agents, because I'm such a nerd about personal finances. That, and I want to make sure my buyers are getting a good deal. I think it's an important part of my job. … Continue reading Should I buy down my mortgage interest rate?
How much should I contribute to my 401k?
One of the more frequent questions I get from friends is "how much should I contribute to my 401k?" While there is not 1 right answer for everyone, there are a few things everyone should consider. Also consider that 401ks are still relatively new in the investment world. They've only been around since about 1980, … Continue reading How much should I contribute to my 401k?