Spouse Not on Board?

[Logan J.]

I'm new to BP and am venturing into buying and holding with a skeptical spouse. We're considering moving to Austin, Tx and that's where I'd most likely buy a rental. Given my partner isn't on board for any sort of RE investment (live-in / house hack / duplex), I've considered my first property to be 20% down on a non-line-in investment (not ideal, I know). 

One of my partners' concerns is I'll be over-leveraged, for when we try and buy a home for ourselves, ideally our dream home. I have no sense of what my dream home would be and just view RE as an investment and don't need somewhere I buy to be a permanent home. That being said, they want reassurance that it's financially the right choice either jointly or for me before they get on board.

What sort of emotional logic can I bring to the table to convince them? They are very financially risk-averse, so not only does it need to make financial sense, but I also need to convince them that it's the best emotional decision as well. 

Has anyone on BP ever faced similar challenges with your spouse? If so, how did you handle it?

Sure would appreciate some advice here. Thanks!

[Jonathan Greene]

They sound smart. Listen to your partner. Tie down your own personal residence in your minds first and be on the same page about it before trying to invest. Even if you invest first, know what the plan is so you don't do exactly what your partner's fear is and compromise your life by needing to invest too early. Can you invest on your own, with your own money? And if you are new to BP and to the idea of investing, again, I would listen to your partner. They often know better because they aren't in the emotional excitement phase of wanting to invest.