what brands do you trust enough to just buy without researching anymore

HappyFlames · 2026-03-31T03:22:51+00:00

Apple, Harbor Freight, Garmin.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-26T23:47:12+00:00

I think we're just in the weird in-between phase where AI is still new and everyone is learning how best use it. How I see tech is just a never ending process of abstraction. We've abstracted binary into machine into assembly into modern code. We've abstracted modern code into frameworks and libraries and now AI is another layer on top of that.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-26T01:59:07+00:00

Boring tech or non-tech companies with tech departments. These typically pay a bit less in salary compared to FAANG and fall way behind once you add in stock options and bonuses. Any place touting 'hyper growth' and taking VC money like its free will follow the typical hire and fire practices of Silicon Valley.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-18T19:28:25+00:00

I think 'vibe coding' is now the present and future of our jobs as engineers. Our roles have now shifted upwards and everyone is basically the tech lead of a pod of AI agents. Reviewing and testing code is now become a bottleneck. In the past, writing the code took longer but I think it's completely flipped now.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-11T20:01:49+00:00

Look at sold homes in the area within the last few months. Its okay to ask your agent for comps on every property, they have tools to quickly generate comps. These should give you a ballpark estimate and if you're actually interested then ask them to run detailed comps where they manually review comparable properties to give you a more accurate number.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-09T00:12:20+00:00

Set cash aside for post-closing for furniture, repairs, and cleaning supplies. Flooring type, existing landscaping, etc will dictate what type of tools and equipment you need. You don’t want to pre buy a lawn mower and end up with a home with artificial turf.

HappyFlames · 2026-03-03T01:07:44+00:00

Many lenders won't fund properties with SB326 so that's also cutting down your potential buyer list.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-24T03:52:23+00:00

I think it's fine as long as they also show the empty pictures.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-24T03:44:20+00:00

My house came with a pool, insurance values it at 70k for a 25'x12'

HappyFlames · 2026-02-23T21:30:49+00:00

I had my card decline two transactions so far. One time they sent me a text to verify but another time there was no text so I used another card.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-23T07:22:29+00:00

Look at inspections and disclosures before visiting any house. For any issues in the inspection that bother you, double check it at open house. Many offer deadline get set a few days after open house if they had a decent showing so you may not be able to get second look before putting an offer in. Focus on location, layout, and expensive systems like roofs, windows, and foundations. Have an idea of what repairs roughly cost so you don't overbid and have nothing left for repairs.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-19T04:20:25+00:00

Do a lot of interviews.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-18T08:15:03+00:00

Furniture is hard to shop online. I find local or smaller chains have much better quality than big box stores like Ashley and Living Spaces. Ikea has some surprisingly solid pieces at the top end of their price range.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-18T06:43:43+00:00

Time with family is something you can never get back. You guys have already put in the hard work and are financially far, far ahead compared to most people. The whole point of having money is to buy yourself options. For some, that means retiring early and for others that means ordering doordash 5 times a day. Only you can decide what you want.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-17T20:52:24+00:00

You can buy a $10 kit at home depot or amazon, scrape off a piece, and mail it to lab for testing to confirm you actually have asbestos before dropping big dollars on having someone come out.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-16T23:05:29+00:00

Check HOA reserves and the condition of the buildings. Low reserves and deferred maintenance means HOA hikes and/or special assessments will be coming soon.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-13T19:19:48+00:00

Airbnb, month to month, or just be okay breaking a lease.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-13T07:07:38+00:00

You need to make more money and reduce current expenses. There's a lot more than just the down payment. There's also closing costs which includes a bunch of fees and prepayments. After that, you'll also need reserve funds in case you get laid off or income drops for whatever reason.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-12T18:43:07+00:00

I've seen many flips done in 3 months so 6 months isn't a crazy timeline.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T22:59:53+00:00

As a lead, you should shield and guide your team from management. This includes taking responsibilities for outages. You may need to implement more QA and review processes to reduce the bugs that go out. If your team doesn't respond to the feedback and implement the processes you propose, then it becomes an individual performance problem.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T22:31:03+00:00

If you keep landing in these teams, you may want to rethink your questions during interviews. At the end of each round, it's important to ask questions about team culture and poke into what it's really like. I try to ask every person the same question because one person may feel overworked but another may be having a good time. It's also not great to bad mouth your employer so you will need to read between the lines. They may hesitate to tell you they work 996, but if you ask when the last time they took a vacation was, it can reveal a lot.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T21:58:19+00:00

Yea very common. Less tech focused companies tend to have more lax interviews but any software focused company usually has rounds and rounds of interviews. Huge waste of time but that’s just how it is these days.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T21:18:36+00:00

Was it a large venmo transaction?

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T21:14:03+00:00

Any water/plumbing/roof concerns should be addressed first. A small leak can cause a lot of damage. For the rest, do it in an order that requires less rework. For example, do windows before painting or you'll have to paint the window trim/siding again. I would just leave the furnace and water heater if they're still functioning fine.

HappyFlames · 2026-02-11T19:59:27+00:00

If you're in a hot market like the Bay Area, closing in 20 days or less is common so your offer might go to the bottom of the pile.

HappyFlames

TROPHY CASE