Building a real estate business requires a lot of work, and maintaining a building that is over 100 years old is even more complex! Older buildings come with old building problems like, a tenant that faked his own robbery to get out of paying rent. Maybe that part is just my building, but it also has leaky roofs, poor drainage, etc. like the others. OK, my first $17,000 went to taxes, public works, and pest Read more…
I’m guessing you’re not reading this article to buy one house, and then exit. You want to grow a portfolio that’ll eventually support your lifestyle. I get it, same here. Real estate investing is hard, but not impossible. If you are trying to build a real estate empire, I’d say you probably aren’t looking for something easy to do. Real estate investing requires an initial investment of personal effort and time, and things will go Read more…
I’m sorry I wasn’t enough for you freedom, so I logged my forty hours week after week without giving you much thought. I told myself I’d focus on you on the weekends, but by then you weren’t on my mind. I was busy doing what I deserved to escape the long weeks, but I told myself I’m doing this to be closer to you one day. I’m sorry I wasn’t enough for you creativity. I Read more…
Another 8AM Saturday driving to meet a contractor, another talk with the tenants. Why do I hold on to this headache? “Remember the long game, remember the long game, the grind will be worth it in the end”, I tell myself. Why do these thoughts constantly fill my head? Let’s back up a bit. I’m on a path to financial independence and early retirement, with real estate and the stock market being my vehicles. I Read more…
I’ve taken quite the hiatus the past couple of months to relax, rejuvenate, reset and re-organize a few things. Oh, and build my net worth to 380K. I use personal capital to keep track of my net worth which consists of my savings account, retirements accounts, brokerage accounts, and equity available in my homes. During my time away I worked extra to bring in more money to pay off the heaviest but last weight I Read more…
I’m adding this page as a way to entertain yourself while you’re on the road. If you’ve ever taken a road trip it usually starts off without a lot of enthusiasm in the beginning followed by everyone pulling out their devices and then ignoring each other for most of the trip. I love using trips as a way to connect deeper and share with others. Talking is free and fun and can make an ok Read more…
If you are here, then you probably are hoping to improve your personal finance or financial IQ. I receive regular queries for personal finance books recommendations for FIRE. I believe reading and experience are two of the greatest teachers in life. The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. Rene Descartes Top 5 Personal Finance Books Here’s a compiled list of five of the finest minds Read more…
As a property owner, this question or some version of it has come to mind at least once or a few times, “How do you sleep at night with 600K of debt?”. The 600K of debt that I’m referring to are two unpaid mortgages that I still carry. We know it’s not exactly ALL debt because it’s an appreciating asset, etc etc, but I wanted to dive into this a bit further. I have two Read more…
If you have a 403(b) keep reading. A member of my F.I.R.E. group has horrible 403(b) options and for this reason, I’m writing this post. Surprisingly, he is dealing with high fees from his 403(b) accounts which will take away about 20% of his gains over time. Yes, you read that correctly, 20%! Together with this 20% loss, there are employment taxes as he’s contributing them into a Roth 403(b). The Question: Brokerage or 403(b)? Read more…
I hear this so often and it makes me cringe a bit every time, “I want to invest but I’m going to wait until the market dips to buy in”. While purchasing stocks on sale is the goal you can not time the market. There’s no way of knowing when the market will go up or down. Anyone who says they know are guessing or speculating. Instead you should do one of two things. The Read more…