Traveling consultant

[Account Closed]

I'm in a bit of a quandary and reaching out to the experts on this website for help. I'm 4 years out of college and have been a traveling consultant for the last 2 years, living in places like Italy and singapore. Since I don't have a real home (I move every 4 months for my job), I've been keeping my stuff at my parents house in NC. I'm getting married next month, and have been feeling the pressure to buy a condo, that would serve as a home base for me and my wife when I'm in between international assignments (10 days each 4 months) and would hold me and my wife's things (wedding gifts, furniture etc)

My biggest problem is that we would only live in the condo about 20% of year, as we would be traveling abroad as part of my job. I've tried convincing my wife to do Airbnb, to offset the $15-$25k annually that we would be paying for the condo, but she wants this place to be solely our home.

Looking for any creative ideas from this community.. its hard for me to justify paying that much unless we're actually living there for a majority of the year

[Seth Nadreau]

My recommendation is to make it pay for itself. Period.

I would buy a condo and keep your personal items in a locked closet (or even a locked bedroom). You can then rent out your condo on VRBO or AirBNB while you're not home and have the property earn income for you. 

In the long run, look at it as an investment. If you can get others to pay down your mortgage, it might be worth it.

Basically, it's like living in AirBNBs while you're home... but its YOURS.

Of course, run the numbers and see if that makes sense. You might be surprised.

[Account Closed]

Thanks Seth, I think that may be the best play..just need to convince my wife :)

[Percy N.]

James Yates take your fiancé to a couple AirBnB places so that she can get comfortable with the concept.

Another option is to get a 2-4 unit and keep your stuff in the smallest unit and rent out the other units.