How we bought our last property
Wednesday, August 09
Everybody's financial situation is different. Not all of us have the 25% cash to put down on an investment property. So, we did a bit of "creative financing" with our last duplex:1. Our down payment consisted of 1/3 our own savings, 1/3 borrowed money (mom), and 1/3 HELOC. We'd basically bee...
Why keeping our housing costs (relatively) low paid off big time
Friday, June 30
Housing is the biggest expense for most people. If you can reasonably lower your housing costs, it can free you up to save for other things in life.Most financial experts, the banks, and even the government suggest that you spend no more than 30% of your gross income on housing.Of course, that's ...
I'm a cop, and my best tenant (and now, friend) is a black activist
Monday, June 12
I call her Ms D. We met about 4 years ago at my open house. She immediately fell in love with apartment 2. It's a unique home spanning the entire second floor and parts of the first floor and basement in our 3 family building. It comes with exclusive access to a landscaped backyard, a real lux...
How we bought our investment properties with lunch money
Friday, May 19
Saving a few dollars here and there may not seem like much. And I would certainly agree that buying lunch every day won't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.However, the same discipline that pushes you to bring your own lunch every day is what's needed to carry your own water bott...
REI is a get rich slow game
Saturday, May 13
Of course, the most important thing to look for is a good location. You want to be in the path of development and gentrification, which will increase the odds of appreciation. Count on appreciation to peg inflation-2 to 3% per year. It's a slow game. Anything above that is icing on the cake....
Why market volatility is just an opportunity for growth
Saturday, May 13
We’re all scared of the unknown. Well then, get to know it so that you no longer have to fear it.“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”-Marie CurieIf you’re afraid of investing in the stock market, let’s consid...