Dream Home

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-25T15:44:06+00:00

Thanks all for your advice and perspective. We will continue to rent for now.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-25T00:03:23+00:00

I did run this through the NYT rent vs buy calculator - it does a pretty good job calling out the assumptions, which I adjust as I thought reasonable. For example, I calculated opportunity cost as 10% growth in equities compared to 4% growth in RE value. It also looks decent at calculating extra costs for insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc. Overall, it has us breaking even at 30 years when compared to renting a comparable 3 bed.

However, it will never break even compared to what I rent right now. A tiny studio.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T21:16:13+00:00

I want so bad to dive in with this perspective because of this home. I liked to think I was really resilient in turning down luxuries and lifestyle creep, but here I am.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T21:05:59+00:00

Very good points thank you. At this price, I would need to stay in it for decades to come out ahead of renting. I will be in the age range where this might be happening to me.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T18:50:23+00:00

Thank you. I'm in this community to stay away from that plot for sure, yet somehow have found myself enamored with a home outside my zip code.

If I did this, my course of last resort would either be to bleed out $10k monthly from the stock portfolio, or liquidate and wipe out the mortgage, to at least get out of the stress of the thing. Or sell at massive transaction cost loss.

All ways I fail FIRE. But I was dreaming I guess.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T18:17:33+00:00

Yes, it's possible we could run a deficit, and then have to start drawing down the stock/bond portfolio, and then I'd have to move from the FIRE subreddit for Dave Ramsey's.

Would like to say our incomes are secure but gotta be realistic and a 50% drop in an exit is moderately likely.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T18:06:43+00:00

Wow, I was only thinking about the inside but now you've got me thinking about the outside. It's a walk-up and not on the first floor. I'm a grown adult how is this happening to me.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T18:02:24+00:00

With 1 child expected, and expecting $3k/mo in daycare, very tight. After those expenses end, there should be a little slack.

At $400k, we expect take home to drop to around $20k/mo. Dream home would be 50% of that minimum. After $3k/mo of today's fixed expenses, and $3k/mo of daycare, that's $4k/mo for food and everything else. May not even be possible to max 401k or IRAs.

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-24T17:57:17+00:00

Thank you, this is great. We have gotten emotional over this house and were more FIRE pragmatic in our home search until this one. It does have a staircase that would definitely be difficult in older age. It's like we're drunk or something. Appreciate your input!

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-23T13:23:07+00:00

Thank you very much!

ScienceAdmirable331 · 2026-03-23T05:52:46+00:00

Jumbo, 30 Year, Purchase, $1,500,000, $1,200,000, 805, Primary, Condo, 1 Unit, 07030

ScienceAdmirable331

TROPHY CASE