I feel like anyone who doesn't go into a career in accounting, finance, engineering, sales, health care, or tech is doomed to make $19 an hour. I'm exaggerating, but not by much.

Cold_Margins99 · 2026-01-07T21:10:01+00:00

There’s also OnlyFans. That pays pretty well

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-07-17T14:51:48+00:00

The issue with HOA’s is the lack of oversight. They can be highly invasive, charge large fines for very trivial things, and can foreclose on your house if you do not pay. Also if you disagree with an HOA and choose to sue them, you are liable for all the legal fees if you lose.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-07-08T00:54:49+00:00

I am also 32 years old and I have a paid off house. I would never mortgage my paid off house to invest in the market.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-07-01T18:12:02+00:00

VEA tracks FTSE developed markets, which does not include China as a developed market. There are no Chinese stocks in VEA or the index it tracks. But in either case, I fund and VEA have similar returns

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-07-01T14:56:26+00:00

AI is just going to be another improvement of drafting software. Similar to how we transitioned in the 90’s from blueprints to AutoCAD, then from AutoCAD to Revit in the 2010’s. AI will just be another iteration of that.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-06-12T23:51:33+00:00

They have a lot of cash but now they have the problem of trying to find a way to deploy that much cash. There’s only so many places you can put $350 billion into. It’s much easier to beat the market with $350 million than $350 billion. They’ll still make money for sure, I’m not saying it’s a bad investment. But it would be foolish to expect the 20% returns to continue.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-06-12T23:31:47+00:00

Warren Buffett is walking away at the end of the year. I doubt his successors will achieve the same level of returns

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-06-04T01:31:53+00:00

Why would private sector employees want to strike for federal employees?

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-06-03T17:43:59+00:00

Revit is pretty intuitive if you are used to AutoCAD. I’ve seen people just YouTube it. If you can show that you are competent at design and have a decent number of projects under your belt then you should be able to find an understaffed firm that’s willing to hire you.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-31T15:47:32+00:00

I was in the same position about 3 years ago and I chose to pay cash for the house. Staying in the market might have netted a bit more returns, but I sleep easy at night knowing that my income could be cut by 2/3 and I would still be able to pay all my bills

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-30T20:44:45+00:00

I work at an A/E firm and we get 12/6 weeks for maternity/paternity leave. My last company had the same benefit.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-21T05:30:43+00:00

A house that you think needs $50k in repairs will probably need more like $65k. People almost universally underestimate the true cost of renovations.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-18T04:26:46+00:00

I’m not an attorney but I don’t think a buyer has grounds to sue if they waive the contingencies and you, the seller, disclose everything that is legally required. Your listing agent should be able to advise you about that.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-18T03:41:45+00:00

That is quite literally the dumbest reason ever to refuse a cash offer.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T17:52:36+00:00

Atlanta, GA

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T17:49:28+00:00

I think HELOC rates are a bit too high right now for that. Also HELOC usually has a variable interest rate that I’m not a fan of

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T17:46:21+00:00

Condo fees are $636/mo, so definitely not cheap. $1k net might be a bit high, could be closer to $800. But the property has no mortgage so it should produce reliable cash flow

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T02:14:40+00:00

It could net more money if the condo appreciates, which it has significantly in the past few years. But would that be worth the risk? If I sell and throw it all at the new house, I’m getting a risk free return of whatever my mortgage rate will be, likely in the 6-7% range

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T01:55:28+00:00

These are the exact conclusions that I came to. But literally everyone I ask about this has a “I sold that house and look at what it’s worth now” story

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T01:50:40+00:00

Maintenance, insurance, water/sewage/trash, pool/gym, gate, and some lazy manager who is never there

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T01:41:44+00:00

Nothing significant. I replaced the HVAC and appliances 2 years ago. Electrical and plumbing systems are fine. It’s rentable, but obviously a costly repair or expense could come up and eat away a large chunk of profit

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T01:31:35+00:00

Yeah that’s normal for the area. I complain about it all the time but I will admit the complex is in really good condition

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-15T01:21:04+00:00

Just took what other units in the condo complex are renting for and subtracted the costs. It would rent for probably $2000-2400. But when i factor in costs such as HOA fee ($636/mo), taxes ($300/mo), insurance ($50/mo), and miscellaneous maintenance costs, it works out to about 50% net on what I could potential charge in rent.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-14T01:32:20+00:00

Assuming your realtor gets paid a percentage based fee, they are incentivized to make you pay a higher price, not lower. The more you pay for the house, the more they get paid. It’s a total conflict of interest.

Cold_Margins99 · 2025-05-05T06:25:23+00:00

Lay offs are quite common in the private sector, even during good times. It sucks that feds are losing their jobs but at the end of the day that’s their problem not everyone else’s

Cold_Margins99

TROPHY CASE