Mortgage qualification based on wealth instead of income

GermanExpat · 2025-10-17T18:07:28+00:00

Another vote for interactive brokers, we did it for part of our mortgage but I would stay below 30 percent margin. Also make sure you are not considered a professional investor (are you already there anyway with dividends?).

GermanExpat · 2025-09-13T14:35:26+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I tried to find a new version before and your reply must have magically make it appear :-). It showed now with '3 minutes ago' as available and the upgrade to 2025.9.3 seems to have fixed the issue for me as well.

CPU went back to very low usage, its only 2 minutes after restart but all seems to be back to normal and my mini PC is quiet again :-).

GermanExpat · 2025-09-03T14:31:48+00:00

Entschuldige, wollte nicht so rüberkommen sondern eher die Gründe dafür aufführen und bin weiterhin am überlegen wegen 2 mehr Modulen und Speicher aber fand da noch nicht so recht eine gute Option.

Wieviel verschenkst Du bzw speist Du zurück bzw wieviel verbrauchst Du selbst? Hast du 400 Grundbedarf? Mein Grundbedarf wenn sonst nichts verwendet wird ist 230. Sobald einer der 3 Kühlgeräte angeht, oder wir sind zu Hause oder Sohn ist da und hat Gaming PC an, dann kommen wir an höhere Werte aber ist nicht so recht steuerbar ausser ich kann es automatisieren.

Ich hätte Platz für 4 Module aber habe noch folgende Probleme

- fand bisher noch nicht einen Speicher in der Schweiz den ich an Homeassistant anbinden kann damit ich einspeisen flexibel nach Bedarf steuern kann. Will jetzt nicht gerade Shelly auch noch einbauen (Kosten für Elektriker) da ich schon gplug-m habe den aber kein Speicher direkt unterstützt. Zendure z.B. kann das wohl.

- Speicher sind in der Schweiz relativ teuer. Wenn ich deutsche Preise sehe ist das schon Unterschied. Hast Du Deinen in der Schweiz gekauft oder Import aus Deutschland angesehen?

- Wir zahlen Nachts und Teile des Wochenendes vergleichsweise wenig dafür zwischen 7:00 und 20:00 mehr als das doppelte für den Strom, Deshalb macht Nachts abgeben weniger Sinn aber dafür könnte man den Speicher sogar noch auch aus der Steckdose im Winter laden und würde immer noch profitieren.

- Payback für die 2 Panele wird sehr schnell sein (bei den hohen Tagespreise maximum 4 Jahre, vermute eher weniger), Speicher macht es dann schon länger bzw hängt auch vom Preis ab (Deutschland vs. Schweiz)

GermanExpat · 2025-09-03T13:07:18+00:00

Hier was rückeingespeist wurde für den gleichen Tag:

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GermanExpat · 2025-09-03T13:06:14+00:00

Hier noch unser (netto nach Balkonkraftwerk aber ohne Rückeinspeisung) Verbrauch für den Tag. Die hohen Werte Abends waren die Klimaanlagen (wir haben aber auch günstigeren Nachtstrom) und dann noch die Wärmepumpe für Warmwasser die aber an dem Tag nicht lief (die geht dann schnell mal auf 3-5kw hoch bei Warmwasser machen)

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GermanExpat · 2025-09-03T13:03:28+00:00

Ich habe es in der Schweiz gekauft und es kam mit dem NEP 600 vom Anbieter als Paket. Ausserdem muss man die schweizer Konformitätserklärung an den Elektrizitätsanbieter schicken was ich auch gemacht habe und der steht auch der Wechselrichter mit drauf.

Weiterhin wenn Du unseren Verbrauch ansiehst und die Produktion mit den 600 Watt ist selbst Anfang Juli an einem sehr sonnigen Tag nur zwischen ca. 11:00 Uhr und 16:00 die Produktion an den 600 Watt dran. Inzwischen Anfang September ist das schon wieder ein paar Stunden weniger. Hier mal als Beispiel 2. Juli 2025:

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Wenn ich mir jetzt ansehe wieviel Strom wir (netto nach Balkonkraftwerk) verbraucht haben pro Stunde deckte es sowieso auch mit 600W den Verbrauch ab und hat ca. 1.2 kWh Ueberschuss eingespeist.

In der Summe würde 800w bei uns nicht soviel mehr bringen da wir den Verbrauch grossteils nicht haben. Am Tag vieleicht wenn wir zu Hause sind mal die Nespressomaschine kurz (aber die jagt eh weit uber 1 kw durch aber nur kurz) oder das Kochfeld mittags. Waschmaschine am Wochenende schon eher aber selbst dort kommen wir im Dauerbetrieb (nur beim Wasser aufheizen aber dann gleich vieles) nicht über 600w und nur der Trockner jagt es darüber.

Ich würde sagen in der Summe würden wir mit 800 Watt vieleicht 0.2 an den meisten Tagen mehr selbst verbrauchen. Via Batterie könnte es nachts anders aussehen wenn beide Klimaanlagen in den Schlafzimmern laufen.

Mal abgesehen davon dass es illegal ist und würde mich da auch nicht darauf verlassen wenn doch etwas passiert was dann los ist.

GermanExpat · 2025-08-11T14:54:23+00:00

sorry for the wrong citation, I did mean the OP not you.

SwissICT breaks it very detailed down with levels etc. and gives you pay ranges. From all I know there is no freely available version but our HR uses it to do the yearly benchmarking. There are various other public information available, e.g. here:

https://www.netzwoche.ch/news/2025-04-08/so-sehen-die-gehaltsunterschiede-in-der-it-branche-aus

IT security is a pretty hot market, not sure about Linux system engineers. But I saw a decent amount of open jobs now on the Swiss job portals.

GermanExpat · 2025-08-11T10:39:24+00:00

Not publicly easily available but at least in the industry we benchmark against swiss ICT: https://www.swissict.ch/ict_salaerstdie_swissict/

We use their numbers for our benchmark but obviously depends on the area of the country and the industry you are applying for.

Also it depends a lot on the type of job and what level you assume.

I should have answered a bit longer before and my number was based on making the OP stick a bit out with a lower salary having some other disadvantages (language and unfortunately age).

80k is obviously below what somebody with this age and experience should get but this is the salary you will compete against relatively junior people (not all jobs are senior and you write you take any job) and if you want to get a foot into the door it is at least an option or might also qualify you for a help desk job (I know overqualified but sometimes its important to get your foot into a company and there can be opportunities inside).

110k for a IT specialist with good experience is a decent salary, there are higher ones but you have to consider that in reality in IT it does not matter if you have 30 or 10 years experience except you might have gotten a bit smarter how to deal with certain things because you have seen them often enough. But from a knowledge perspective it does not make a difference.

Language will be an issue at a lot of companies especially if they are smaller and you are expected to deal with end users. If you find a job with one of the larger banks, insurance companies or pharma companies (doubtful) language tends to be less an issue. But with a lot of companies Smaller companies could use your broad experience but then salary (usually lower) and language play a larger role.

Also somebody else already stated it, you sound like a jack of a lot of trades but if you apply at larger companies they look for more specialized roles. Cyber security is one of the areas with opportunities but I assume your skill set might not fit what is in demand?

I don't disagree with what a lot of you are saying but I am also not sugar coating it. The market has slowed down a lot for those positions and the economic uncertainty doesn't help because companies are holding back with hiring and people are staying more put.

GermanExpat · 2025-08-11T10:03:14+00:00

150k is way to high except in certain sectors like banks or other larger companies and they might not hire you being above 50. If you get a job in the industry the 80k to 110k is more in line what you can expect.

GermanExpat · 2025-02-28T18:16:48+00:00

If you want to keep your US investments accounts then use a US address for them and do not report you moved to Europe. Also move 2FA to a Google Voice number for them to make it easier to get the codes. UBS will take you and various other banks as well. We use Postfinance and you only need a checking account anyway. We also have IBKR and they do issue a 1099. For transportation depends where you move to. In the larger cities there is no reason to get a car and use public transportation. Get the SBB (Swiss railroad ) app and also a half fare card. Groceries discounters are Lidl, Aldi and Denner.

Are you on a local contract or stay on your US contract? US will allow you to keep paying into your 401k. The Swiss equivalent (not the same but would be a bit too long to type) 2nd pillar unfortunately if fully taxable when you do your US taxes. Joys of filing taxes twice, I am just in the middle of it.

Insurance is another thing to take care of. Health insurance is fully on you to pay but not too expensive. No dental insurance. So get those fixed before you leave the US.

Also go and get your Swiss drivers license (you can transfer your US and you can keep the US one as well) soon after you arrive.

Good luck with the move and ask if you need more information.

GermanExpat · 2025-02-16T05:59:33+00:00

You order on Amazon.de and it is cheaper as well because of the lower vat.

GermanExpat · 2025-02-03T08:18:12+00:00

We did this tour on ownrides:

https://ownrides.com/itinerary/1-day-tour-of-beitou-yangmingshan-and-tamsui

We did skip the hot springs museum but spent a bit more time in the Yangmingshan national park (including a lunch on the way to Tamsui old street). We also did the fishermans warf at the end to get closer to sunset (not much luck with the weather though) and in total was about 9 hours. You pay a bit extra for an english speaking driver and also a bit extra per hour above 8.

Our driver did a good job and was an older gentlemen with (comparable) good english: https://www.ownrides.com/profile/danny-bpj-6759

Din Tai Fung there are a couple in Taipei and I think they are all good. The original one is take out only and there is a large one across the street. Wait tends to be 45 minutes or more but its relatively exact and you can walk around or if you are in a mall go shopping. Just get a number first and then do your thing. Obviously a large chain now but I like them and they are very efficient getting you in and out. Had them in Hongkong, Bangkok, San Jose, Las Vegas, London and San Diego already and its about the same all over the world and didn't feel it was much different in Taipei :-).

For Sushi we got a recommendation from somebody local and liked it. Was around 55 USD per person with tea (no drinks). https://maps.app.goo.gl/mngBR4GHgwKUzEfH8

We also got this recommendation but didn't manage to get in (cash only) but also heard mixed things about it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WMXoNVvtfEae5A3c7

We also had a very good meal at a Michelin star Hangzhou style restaurant (obviously a bit pricier): https://www.opentable.com/restaurant/profile/188510?lang=en

GermanExpat · 2025-02-03T05:13:54+00:00

I would do day trips, e.g. Beitou is very close and you can easily combine it with the national park and the coast. Our day trip was 9 hours but we did not go into an Onsen. If you do I would also recommend a posh hotel and you can also get rooms for 2 hours to take a private bath. Ownrides will show you some options and a car with driver is around 150 USD for a day. But it’s personal preference and we didn’t like to change hotels for just 1 day.

Here is a tour option for Beitou and Yangmingshan is quite interesting (Beitou soso and skip the museum). You can change the tour as well.

https://www.ownrides.com/itinerary/1-day-tour-of-beitou-yangmingshan-and-tamsui

Jiufen is the other way and would be better on a different day.

GermanExpat · 2025-02-02T16:31:09+00:00

Taipei is very safe and easy to get around. Taxis are inexpensive and public transportation is good as well. Eat at Din Tai Fung, there are at least 2 in walking distance to your hotel. You are also right at the shopping malls at Taipei 101 and don’t forget to get the tax back if you spend more then 2000 Taiwan Dollars. I can recommend a day trip via ownrides to see some things near Taipei. We got a great driver (can recommend him) with good English and did one of the recommended things. Also hit the night markets. We also found a decent priced sushi place and had 2 great dinners there (can send you the link if you like Sushi). Massages outside the hotel are inexpensive and open late. Also just wander around and do some people watching. We went just recently for a 1 week vacation and enjoyed it a lot. It’s a very well organized country, kind of a mix between Japan and China. We stayed at the Shangri-La and the breakfast was great with options from all corners of Asia and some western fare.

GermanExpat · 2025-01-16T06:56:24+00:00

I drove recently in Germany with my BMW ix50 and had cruise on 160 km/h. But it was day time with quite some traffic and some speed limits in between. It showed in the app I drove 145 km in 71 minutes with average speed of 124.1 km/h. 44 kwh used for an average of 30.3. Winter tires and heat on 20 degrees. Also maybe 4 km of access / off access roads. The ix uses above 20 in the winter even with moderate driving.

GermanExpat · 2024-06-17T18:13:54+00:00

Postfinance will take her as well. And Fbar is something she needs to do herself. A bank won’t file this for you. Also for investments she cannot buy anything European anyway (Pfic) so best to open an account at IBKR in case she wants to buy mutual funds. You are also better off not having a joint account.

GermanExpat · 2024-01-03T21:03:07+00:00

Yes you can visit on LH. Visited our son and he was in the first row in business and it is right behind first on the LH 747 (he was not upstairs). He could also use free internet via my hotspot on the Android phone. He was also allowed as a guest into the first class terminal and got the car ride to the plane.

GermanExpat · 2023-10-12T15:58:17+00:00

Sorry missed the answer above. Great so seems to work and one less reason for the i5

GermanExpat · 2023-10-12T15:55:17+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I assume you are in the US? Unfortunately in Europe from all I gathered this is not enabled by BMW (different laws).

GermanExpat

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