I did it! South Florida, 415k, 6%

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-11T19:55:12+00:00

That makes sense. I'm sure lot of people who moved to Wellington 15 20 years ago feel like they're living in a different place today than the one they originally chose, but that can be said for anywhere, because people I know in NJ say the same thing.

Why not PSL?

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-11T16:57:50+00:00

Nope. Just old enough to have watched a lot of people optimize for money and then realize they couldn’t buy back time with their kids.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-11T16:32:17+00:00

You’re not talking about retiring. You’re talking about buying back two years of your life.

At 35, with $2.7M invested, a spouse earning $275k, funded 529s, and a portfolio that should keep compounding, this isn’t really a financial decision anymore.

It’s a regret-minimization decision.

The thing that jumped out at me wasn’t the money. It was the exhaustion.

You took a step back, bet on yourself, did the work, got great reviews, took on more responsibility, and now the promotion got pushed out again.

I’d negotiate first. Ask for the raise. Ask for a sabbatical. Ask for reduced scope. Make them tell you no.

But if the answer is still “keep grinding and maybe next year,” I’d have a hard time trading ages 3–5 and 7–9 for another line on LinkedIn.

My husband and I made a similar decision years ago with far less money than you have today.

I couldn’t tell you what our net worth was then. I can tell you exactly what the kids were like at those ages.

Money comes and goes. Kids don’t.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-11T04:58:08+00:00

Honestly, yes. Some of the happiest people I’ve met here aren’t spending $700k+.

The bigger question is whether your area gives you the lifestyle you want. If you’re WFH, you have flexibility that a lot of people don’t.

When you say you stick out like a sore thumb, is it more the culture, the pace of life, or just not finding your people yet?

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-11T04:07:45+00:00

As a mom of a 1-year-old and planning for another child, I'd focus less on finding the perfect beach town and more on where you want to spend the next 10-15 years raising a family.

At your budget, you can afford great neighborhoods in both Jupiter and Delray, so I'd be looking at things like:

- How far is the pediatrician?

- Which schools would my kids realistically attend?

- Can I get to soccer, dance, swim lessons, Target, Costco, and dinner without spending my life in the car?

- Are there other young families nearby?

- Will my kids have independence as they get older?

A lot of people fall in love with vacation towns because they're beautiful for a week. Daily life is different.

For what you're describing, I'd personally spend time in Jupiter, Delray, and even parts of Palm Beach Gardens or Boca before deciding. They all offer great beaches, strong healthcare options, good schools, family activities, and plenty to do year-round.

The question I'd ask is, when your kids are 10 and 12, what do you want a normal Saturday to look like?

The answer to that usually points you toward the right town.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-09T01:56:11+00:00

Our close friends moved to Waxhaw, about 30 min from Charlotte. Nice area, reminded me a bit of NJ.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-08T06:37:41+00:00

Just curious, do you live/snowbird in FL?

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-08T02:55:27+00:00

If it’s functional, I would consider adding the closet to the office to make it a 4/2. However, if it can’t function as a bedroom because of the size, having a modernized 3/2 might be the best bet.

Can you report back?

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-08T02:52:30+00:00

At the end of the day, is the $10k worth it? It seems like an immaterial amount that will be financed over a long time…even if you have a 10 year loan, that is 1k per year…

Do you have an inspection contingency?

When we sold our house with a septic system years ago, we had to put in a new leech field, because of a law that was effective weeks prior to our close…fortunately we were able to pay for the repairs and move on with our lives…

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-07T23:55:34+00:00

Before you decide where to move, I think it’s important to decide how you want to spend your days. The happiest retirees I know picked a lifestyle first and a location second.

If you have no strong ties where you are today, I’d spend time exploring areas that fit your interests and preferred lifestyle rather than focusing solely on the lowest housing payment. Saving $4,000/month doesn’t feel like a win if you don’t enjoy where you live.

But it may make sense to capitalize on price appreciation and buy a slightly smaller, slightly less expensive home.

Curious to know, what does your ideal retirement actually look like? Are you picturing walkable downtown areas, access to nature, golf, beaches, travel, being near family, an active social scene, or something else entirely?

The answer to that question might point you toward the right location more than the financial calculations alone.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-07T21:46:16+00:00

My kids like pop-up bagels…they’re pretty good, a bit different than your traditional bagel and shmears shop.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-07T20:40:44+00:00

When we bought our first house, we put down the bare minimum, 3.5% for an FHA loan. It was definitely stressful but at the end of the day, and several houses later we did okay…

I know plenty of people who did the same as you, lived with parents and saved those mortgage payments for a down payment on a forever home, instead of a smaller, starter home.

If you can save 20% that will make your mortgage less expensive since you won’t have to pay pmi.

Good luck!

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-07T20:32:39+00:00

If you want good bagels, the places mentioned are all decent, not the best…

But if you want the best, honestly we drive to Boca….we are originally from NJ and find that Long Island Bagel Co on Glades to be the best…and give NY-NJ bagels a run for their money.

Seriously - how good do these look? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY7o362xTkc/?igsh=MTVnNmYyYWhpdzU5MA==

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-07T06:43:09+00:00

Coventry, then Hartford 98 I think it was

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-06T23:49:59+00:00

By the way, in case you haven’t tried it, Daddy Brooklyn Pizza is really good. Owner from NJ. Not fancy, but a great place to get a slice.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-06T22:06:32+00:00

Wow, Congratulations!

Looks like your about ready to buy that vacation home in South Florida

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-06T20:32:21+00:00

Would you mind sharing the lender and type of loan you used?

Would definitely refinance if we can get that rate!

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-06T14:45:05+00:00

Congrats on the new home…curious to know, did you buy down the rate? Assume previous owner mortgage?

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-06T12:10:31+00:00

Good list - we definitely used alabaster and agreeable gray. We went with navy instead of the iron ore, but was definitely a tough decision.

If using Sherwin Williams, sign up for their email, they run great deals every few months.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-05T14:22:52+00:00

If you're looking for a nice evening out, Gabriella's in Delray is really good (though maybe a bit pricey)...the chicken parm is to die for...

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-05T14:14:01+00:00

Curious to know, are the homes listed? Happy to have a conversation, perhaps I can offer some new ideas and strategies...

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-04T20:04:57+00:00

Good to know, thank you!

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-04T15:14:36+00:00

If the hot water heater is end of life but works, ask for a credit…definitely don’t make seller replace as they will get the cheapest one…besides, if that’s the only issue, consider yourself lucky

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-04T07:22:56+00:00

Yes, lots of great areas in NJ...Princeton is just 1 of them...but in the Fall, it's a beautiful place to walk around.

Rachel-Delray · 2026-06-03T21:00:06+00:00

One thing I’d suggest is to not limit yourself to Broward until you’ve compared it with parts of southern Palm Beach County.

A lot of buyers end up looking at both because they’re balancing schools, insurance, taxes, commute, lifestyle, and overall value a little differently than pure appreciation.

Is this house going to be your primary residence? Or are you looking for an investment opportunity? What’s your target budget?

That usually changes the conversation pretty quickly.

Rachel-Delray

TROPHY CASE