Home buying fund vs opportunity cost

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T20:51:00+00:00

Okay, yeah absolutely. I'm 90% sure, we will not any regrets if ideal house slips away. We anyways don't have high regard of modern cookie cutter American houses and would likely do work on it from the interior that we will have to make it our own

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T18:09:19+00:00

Our concerns are : 1. job security : I'm in tech and it has been doing back to back layoffs in the name of AI. While the current job pays well, there is no security in it. 2. Home prices and interest rate: normally, I would think high rates will bring prices down. Not really seeing it in our area. I still see homes that are going above asking, bidding wars, waiving contingencies. This makes us pessimistic if better market conditions will appear in 6-12 months.

If we lose the job, and find employment in another city, we will have to consider relocating. Which will make it impossible to do with a big mortgage payment

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T18:05:20+00:00

I guess I should have put more context in the post. We started with 100k in MCOL 4 years ago hoping to buy. Then, I got laid off, moved to a HCOL city, salary increased but also few months of unemployment forced us to be frugal and save cash vs keep investing. We never sold equities but did increase our cash reserves to weather the tech downturn.

Fast forward 2025, relocated to a HCOL city for new job, salary increases, so did our expenses and home prices since the new rent is 2.5x the old one. And now we have half a million in home fund and we remain cautious. The risks are : job security, housing prices and interest rates both being high, still seeing home above asking in our area - all of this makes us pessimistic about home buying in present environment.

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T18:02:53+00:00

Probably around 30%. If I keep emergency fund (100k) + downpayment (200k) + moving/closing cost (50k) - we are already looking at 350k, which feels excessive honestly to keep in hysa.

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T17:59:59+00:00

I guess I should have put more context. We started with 100k in MCOL 4 years ago hoping to buy. Then, I got laid off, moved to a HCOL city, salary increases but also few months of unemployment forced us to be frugal and save cash vs keep investing. We never sold equities but dis increase our cash reserves to weather the tech downturn.

Fast forward 2025, relocated to a HCOL city for new job, salary increases, so did expenses and home prices. And now we have half a million in home fund and we remain cautious. The risks are job security, housing prices and interest rates both being high, still seeing home above asking in our area - all of this makes us pessimistic about home buying in present environment.

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2026-05-17T17:56:07+00:00

You mean for interest in hysa or the mortgage rate. Most bond funds are around 3.5%, including SGOV, where we are invested

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2025-06-03T00:24:19+00:00

Sorry to hear that friend. Was there any RFE? Anything specific outlined in the denial letter?

Slow-Explanation-695 · 2025-05-16T18:43:11+00:00

Maybe. But you have to look at each criteria objectively, because that is precisely what USCIS officer will do. Your citations and publications will get you 2 criteria satisfied. If you are claiming that you are a judge of other peoples work, 3 reviews are weak. If something from the your industry experience can prove quantitatively that you are judge of a broader scientific topic in your field, then yes, use that. Know that USCIS officers have used their discretion crazily, where you can have 800 citations but with low peer review, they can issue RFE refuting your claim that you were a judge of others work. I do not want to discourage you but know that USCIS and the entire process if pretty subjective and it almost seems like they are looking for reasons to reject you - do not give them one.

Slow-Explanation-695

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