Tag: buying a home

June 28, 2021By Paula Pant

#324: Ask Paula – I Make $50,000; How Can I Buy a House?

Nick is curious: how have my views on wholesalers changed over the years, and why?

Rob and his fiancé are grappling with what to do about her $400,000 of federal student loan debt. Should they pay it off immediately, or bank on a 20-year dismissal?

Daniel recently discovered the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement and got a job earning $50,000 per year. He wants to househack a duplex to get closer to FIRE, but how the heck can he find anything in this seller’s market?

“Nurse Dreaming of FI” isn’t sure what her family’s next financial move should be. She’s torn between investing extra money into index funds, or using it to buy a fix-and-flip. Her goal is to make work optional. Which path will lead her there?

“Phoebe” and her husband have 457s with the City of Chicago. However, they found out that Illinois has a horrible credit rating. How can they – and should they – protect their funds? How much should they rely on their pensions?

My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions today.

Keep reading...

March 5, 2021By Paula Pant

#304: Ask Paula & Joe – Help! I Can Only Save $200 a Month

Paige and her fiancé have two autumn 2021 goals: save for a wedding and an emergency fund. There’s one problem: they only have around $200 per month to save. How can they grow the gap when they’ve run out of things to cut and ways to earn more?

Kat’s investor friend connected her with a wholesaler who only deals in cash. How can she find $130,000 to buy her subject property?

“Jon,” an anonymous caller, is renting his grandparent’s property, which he plans to make his forever home. It’s on the older side and needs renovations, but the repairs don’t need to happen immediately. How can he fund these repairs while also avoiding a mortgage payment in his 60s?

Anonymous caller “Chadwick” is planning for financial independence. Given that his employer covers his housing, when should he and his wife look for a house? Now, or in the last year of his job?

Annalis wants to know whose approach to business I prefer: Gary Vee’s, or Cal Newport’s? She also asks: how do you become a good speaker?

My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these five questions today. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

January 4, 2021By Paula Pant

#294: Ask Paula – If I Were to Interview Suze Orman Again Today, How Would It Go?

Jeffrey is curious: if I were to interview Suze Orman today, would I agree more or less with her thoughts on the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement?

Matt wants to know: if a property cash flows really well, is it worth paying significantly more than the appraised value to purchase that income stream?

Sara and her husband are returning to the states after living abroad for a few years. They’re moving to an expensive area where homes cost $800,000+. They have $150,000 saved for a downpayment, but a $600,000 mortgage isn’t what they had in mind. What should they do?

Eva and her partner are squirreling away money before the birth of their baby. They’d like to pay off their $90,000 mortgage in three years, but they’re afraid to use the money in case of unexpected baby expenses. What’s their best move?

Justin and his wife want to take a gap year with their children in three years. They plan to visit Spain and London for six months each. What are unexpected expenses that they should factor into their budget?

I answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

December 29, 2020By Paula Pant

#292: Ask Paula – I’m an Investor Who Likes Volatility; What Should I Buy?

Three Kids, FI has an all-equities broad stock market index portfolio that he’s held for years. He’s confident he can handle maximum volatility, so what investments can he lean into to that will provide him with great long-term returns?

Sarah is concerned: a financial advisor told her that investing in VTSAX over-indexes her in large cap funds and technology stocks. Is this true, and what should she do about it?

Alex’s wife lost her job due to the pandemic. They live in Washington state and are married filing separately due to his wife’s student loans. Can he use half of his income to qualify her for Roth IRA contributions?

Jordan is a new listener and he has three questions: should he use $100,000 to buy more rental properties or invest in a brokerage account? Should he and his wife upgrade their home and buy a property that’s worth double their current home? And finally, how can self-employed individuals who earn more lower the cost of health insurance?

I answer these four questions on today’s episode. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

December 15, 2020By Paula Pant

#290: Ask Paula – Is Upgrading Our Lifestyle Worth Mortgaging a More Expensive House?

Sharon owns two condos that are worth $1.4M and has a cash cushion of $120,000 plus a $50,000 emergency fund. She’d like to move into a small house while keeping her cash cushion intact. Should she take out a home equity loan on her mortgage to essentially pay for her house in cash, or get a traditional mortgage and use her savings towards the downpayment?

Jury and her partner are torn between two options: buying a condo, which would allow them to live off of one salary and invest the other, or buy a more expensive house – a much more attractive lifestyle option. Which should they purchase?

Daine’s IRA balance is a result of 401k rollovers. He’s concerned that his lack of monthly contributions cause him to miss out on compound interest. What can he do to grow his retirement funds?

Molly and her husband want to reach financial independence (FI) in 15 years, at age 50. They’re unsure of whether their rental property income will sustain their FI lifestyle. How can they plan for this?

I answer these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

December 4, 2020By Paula Pant

#288: Ask Paula – How Should You Invest a $1 Million Lump Sum?

Karen and her wife are in their 50s, financially independent, and partially retired. They need $150,000 to buy a new home, and they aren’t sure which option is best. Should they take advantage of the CARES Act and pull money from their traditional IRAs? Raid their Roths? Or take out a mortgage?

Ingrid’s mom is retiring this year. To fund her retirement, she’ll sell her property for $1 million. How should she invest this money so that she can live off of it in perpetuity?

Elaine has saved $20,000 in a 529 plan for each of her two kids, but she realizes that they may not attend college. Should she keep the 529 plans, or save money elsewhere?

Amanda is afraid to tap the equity in her home and use it to purchase a rental property. How should she think through whether this move is right for her?

Lisa and her family plan to sell their home and move across the country. They might have the option to pay cash for a home, but they also want to buy an investment property. Should they get a mortgage on their new home or pay cash?

My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer your questions on this episode. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

August 13, 2020By Paula Pant

#270: Ask Paula – Buy a Home, Buy Investments, or Pay Off Debt? How Do I Decide?

Briana and her husband want to buy a home, but they don’t have enough saved for a downpayment. They also have student loan debt and a car loan. Which should they prioritize?

Javier is sick of being in debt. What can he do to put himself in a better situation?

Tracie wants to buy her first rental property, but she has student loans and a car loan to pay off. If she receives $20,000 from a cash-out refi, how should she use this money?

Vanitha wants to start a non-profit organization in memory of her uncle. She wants to know: what does this process look like?

Margie went under contract on a primary residence listed as a six-bedroom property. She found out that, legally, it’s a four-bedroom home. Should she re-negotiate the price, or ask for credits at closing?

I answer these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy!

Keep reading...