All Forum Posts by: Viola Enfield

This an informative forum thread.  Thank you to everyone who contributed.  @Taylor Nunn thanks for getting the conversation started. 

Congratulations Kathy!  I encourage you to keep a close eye on your priorities with you being in one city and your husband in another.  I have been married over 30 years myself, and I know it is easier to pull this arrangement off at this stage.  Just be careful, and think outside the box in terms of ways to get the two of you back together asap.  Best wishes!

I have deliberated this issue myself lately.  There is a large variance in 401k plans.  Some things to consider are: -What stage of RE investing are you at? -What other return could you get on those dollars? -How much diversification do you have/want? -Does your plan have a long vesting period? -How good is your plan's match? -If the company were to fold, or you changed to a different employer; how would that impact your 401k?

There is an interesting discussion on this subject at

https://20somethingfinance.com/401k-match/

I like to include the full 10% for property management in the analysis even if I plan to manage myself.  Eventually, you may want a property manager, and the numbers will need to work.

@Mike Bernardo  You're welcome.  It has been two years since we lived in Hutto.  At that time, it took 45 minutes to commute from 685 in Hutto to the northern most boundary of Austin.  It took me an hour to get from I-35 and Braker Lane to 5th Street near Loop 1 this morning.  The commute was getting more congested even using the toll130 which saves a small amount of time depending on traffic.

Thanks for sharing this information.  I have been considering a house with septic for a rental, and I will keep these points in mind.

@David Ivy Thanks for the information on the Austin area.  @Mike Bernardo  We used to live in Hutto before moving into Austin.  We had propane instead of natural gas which was considerably more expensive.  Hutto is a suburb to the northeast of Austin.

Travis, you remind me of my son, and that is a compliment.  I will tell you what I would tell him.  Celebrate the differences.  Focus on building trust and positive synergy.  Help your wife to see your strengths and respect them.  If you have not given her any reason to doubt you; then she needs to give you some latitude by supporting your efforts.  That being said, she needs reassurances that you will listen to her women's intuition, and that you understand that she has a stronger need for financial safety.  Wise men listen to their wives intuitive intelligence.  Build her tolerance to risk one small win at a time.  Much of her resistance could be fear of the unknown.

I agree with those who replied safety first then compassion.  You don't want to be overly compassionate in this type of situation because you could encourage the man to return.  You probably don't want him to think he's found a softy who will make his problems your problems.  I would have handled the situation in a similar way.  After reading this conversation, I hope I would call the police.  What a frightening and stressful situation!  I'm sorry that you had to have your night start on this note!

Everyone has a unique combination of skills and circumstances.  There are some people who may be better investors than landlords, and a good PM can be a valuable partner.  I agree that it is best to manage local properties yourself in the beginning if you have the time.  However, it is good to know your own limitations.  You probably need a PM if you don't like to say "no" or set boundaries face to face.  You may find it less stressful to deliver a "no" indirectly through a PM.  My point is that it comes down to a personal decision that is based on your own situation.