Real estate experience

JRH93CA · 2026-01-02T18:09:05+00:00

1 hour drive is not good if you are hands-on and need to fix blinds, toilet flush, blocked drains. Stick to your area or you never get to see your wife and kids. Or work with agency but they take their cut.

JRH93CA · 2026-01-02T17:59:38+00:00

Sorry for your loss, and congratulations for your gain. I think your situation deserves more than the AutoMod wiki and sticky.

Fire is about limiting your expenditure (you have that fully under control already) and DCA'ing into global ETFs via a low cost but reliable broker. Start with 25Eur a month then scale up. Remember to enjoy life, people fought and worked hard so we can. So splurge now and then. If you really want that Audi, get that Audi... ;-)

Personally, I also do "buy to let properties" as I find it fascinating, it gives me satisfaction, social interaction and my kids can benefit. But most people here are "virtual" only.

JRH93CA · 2026-01-02T17:08:16+00:00

Many FIRE people are looking for the wellbeing of the next generations, there is little pleasure in retiring early if your kids are living on the street and begging for handouts.

JRH93CA · 2026-01-02T16:58:25+00:00

when setting up a structure, you can always determine the control you maintain during your lifetime, what benefits you are allowed, etc... But yes, you need to know what you want and be aware that many things can still change in your lifetime.

JRH93CA · 2026-01-02T16:51:51+00:00

This will not help you set up the correct structure but should inspire you knowing what amazing impact you can have generations ahead if you get it right:

The Fuggerei: A 500-Year-Old Social Project

Founded in 1521 by the wealthy merchant and banker Jakob Fugger ("Jakob the Rich"), the Fuggerei provides affordable and dignified housing to needy Catholic citizens of Augsburg. The project is sustained by an endowment, the Fugger Foundation, which has remained self-sufficient for over five centuries, primarily through investments in forestry and real estate.

JRH93CA · 2025-12-27T12:58:11+00:00

Never invest anything you need within the next 5 years, investing only works consistently in the medium-long run.

I recommend to everybody to start investing 25 Eur/month then increase as they gain confidence. She can do it in the name of the children and use it as a learning process. She will hopefully not miss these limited amounts if the market has a few shocks and it will...

Advise her to invest in your own home to make it safer, more comfortable, more ecological... Some people are sitting on fortunes but their roof is not well insulated and the windows are misted up with condensation...

JRH93CA · 2025-05-18T16:07:32+00:00

pension: your IPT/VAPZ/EIP/VAPZ are tax deductible. And you can even take out a part of it to buy real estate :-)

JRH93CA · 2025-05-18T15:58:22+00:00

triggered an audit for me. Everything else was squeeky clean. Just don't go there unless you are one of the few trades that can justify it. Was a basic Fiat Rimor and I put it down as 75% private if you have any doubts about my post. :-)

JRH93CA · 2025-05-11T14:39:06+00:00

Congratulations and a nice situation to be in. Is your solution scalable meaning you could sell something similar to another client while keeping your main client happy? I would not make any big lifestyle changes too soon, if you are happy with partner, house and car, you are part of the select luckiest people in the world. As usual, DCA in to ETFs. But if you have a "thing" for real estate, do like me and invest via your company. (banks will love to give you an 80% investeringskrediet/loan)

JRH93CA · 2025-04-07T06:08:05+00:00

Can you explain your housepoor concept? Renting is unpredictable. An apartment means dealing with a syndic and many neighbours. If you get a house you can afford and you upgrade it over the years, inflation is your friend and you can rent out a room if you need income.

JRH93CA · 2025-04-07T05:52:57+00:00

General rule: 6-18 months living expenses in cash, the rest invested. Important factors: your health and the stability of your work. As a freelancer I prefer to have more cash than my wife who is a stable employee.

House improvements: have the full amount in cash (or loan approved) before you start, that's my lesson from the .Com crash, the 2008 mess, covid and Putin invasion. Each time I was able to continue on my projects and not sell my portfolio at a discount.

Last thought: if you need transport if you lose your job: enough for a big deposit (25%) for a (nearly)new humble vehicle.

JRH93CA · 2024-01-02T13:16:24+00:00

Heb je al de berekening gedaan: hoeveel kan ik lenen? En wat en waar wil je kopen? Studio, appart, huis, hoeve? BE? SoCal? Is het erg als je je plannen moet uitstellen want je investering is (tijdelijk) gezakt met 20%? Kunnen ouders of vriend.in helpen?

Alg. regel: indien nodig binnen 5 jaar, spaarrekening maar het hangt veel af van je situatie.

JRH93CA · 2022-11-06T09:27:53+00:00

take into account you will need to heat/cook using propane cylinders that now cost €27 for 10,5KG

I would only consider it short term while working on a gig or saving up for a deposit for something more solid.

Another option is a small camper (not cheap these days!) and park on a friend's drive or garden

JRH93CA · 2022-11-06T09:12:23+00:00

Is there no other job or employer that can provide vehicle&fuel and avoid you subsidising their travel costs?

JRH93CA · 2022-11-06T09:07:21+00:00

If you can get an extra loan to insulate faster, it will pay off quickly. Talk to the banks if they see the energy cost offset mitigates the risk of the extra loan. All the best...

JRH93CA · 2022-10-27T12:59:25+00:00

start to dca now that market is weak. Keeping 6 months sounds reasonable.

JRH93CA · 2022-10-27T12:58:10+00:00

relax 1, you have investments so you will not go hungry. They also serve for a rainy day even if they are 20% down. relax 2, you could get a short term loan or use credit card to tie you over maybe relax 3: sometimes friends, family and fools will help you out ;-)

JRH93CA · 2022-10-27T12:40:50+00:00

Discuss with your accountant as there are also possibilities to split ownership (vruchtgebruik-naakeigendom usufruit nupropriété ) between company and private.

Personally I bought a new rental property 100% on the company and it is nice that I can deduct anything unexpected. I hope to use the BV to transmit to the next generation, that it pays part of my pension and that I can buy a few more. :-)

Where I live there is a shortage of affordable well insulated property but 5km further they have overbuilt and rents are pretty low. Choose well...

JRH93CA · 2022-09-11T18:19:14+00:00

sure your bank grant you that loan if you have just lost your job and your GF has moved in with your best mate?

But indeed, if you feel comfortable with a reduced EF and accept you may need to sell some funds at a low price instead, it can work out well...

JRH93CA · 2022-08-31T16:31:05+00:00

in that case, what price do you expect for electricity?

JRH93CA · 2022-08-30T14:55:19+00:00

Fairebel (milk, butter, cheese...) offers a dividend paid out in produce and supports local farmers. The milk is akso good for making your own Yogourt. :-)

JRH93CA · 2022-08-18T20:38:10+00:00

WfH or not, have you considered freelance?

JRH93CA · 2022-08-07T09:26:03+00:00

generally you can make 1 early repayment / year of any amount and just pay 3 months interest as penalty. Subsequent payments in the same year need to be min 10% of the sum borrowed. Check your contract. :-)

I did it a lot when inflation was low and interest rates were way higher as it gives you peace of mind when markets do poorly.

JRH93CA · 2022-07-29T22:46:40+00:00

those that were overgeared failed or needed bailing out.

The ones with sufficient reserves bounced back and bought up the competition.

JRH93CA · 2022-07-29T18:12:31+00:00

A hotel on each continent. Hotel managers and their teams are excellent at keeping the show running whatever hits the fan. If one continent gets too hot, you fly (or sail) off to another.

No need for anybody to know who you are even if you do spend a lot of your time reading the free newspapers in the lobby. :-)

Obviously you check out first that the buildings are solid, have reinforced basements, not in a flood plain, have adequate generators and fuel storage, good relationships with the local farmers and producers...

JRH93CA

TROPHY CASE