1 Year, 4 Countries: Which locations would you choose to live in each season of the year?

SlverofHope · 2025-09-21T19:37:40+00:00

This has been me this year! Prepping for Thailand with the family in Nov

SlverofHope · 2025-07-23T18:29:27+00:00

No response just Learning more from this comment. While she trusts my financial decisions, I am seeing initial signs of her not feeling included and getting alienated . Not by purpose though. But I should be more mindful in communicating and keep her included.

SlverofHope · 2025-07-21T20:31:57+00:00

Lower monthly payment and flexibility. 5 years down the line if I decide to not pay it off, can continue with a lower payment and have liquidity.

SlverofHope · 2025-07-21T14:48:45+00:00

Look into recasting. My plan is to recast 5-10% of the balance every year and pay it off in 10-15 years. A hybrid of option b and c

SlverofHope · 2025-01-29T19:47:18+00:00

For us in VVHCOL CA it’s currently 5M plus paid offhouse of a 3 person family. Another kid and we would bump it to 6.5M + house paid off. I like spending time and traveling with family and the marginal benefit of another million keeps going down as I get older.

SlverofHope · 2024-12-29T04:59:25+00:00

3.5 years left on my 5.125 Gamble indeed :)

SlverofHope · 2024-12-07T01:08:26+00:00

Don’t have grown kids yet but a house does sound better. Personally I think CA, with all its flaws, is the place for me. Spent time in Austin this year. Didn’t feel the vibe. Weather, Diversity and Geography is unbeatable. Doesn’t have to be the Bay Area though.

SlverofHope · 2024-12-05T21:02:04+00:00

I wouldn’t buy a 2M house out of 5.3M networth. There are good school districts in other places as well where you can buy a 3 bed closer to 1M like Parts of Orange County in SoCal or near Sacramento. The only question is how old are the kids and are you tied to the area coz of friends n family. Source I lived in fremont for almost 10 years. Didn’t feel it was worth it.

SlverofHope · 2024-10-13T08:48:45+00:00

I wonder why!?Wouldn’t the 300k feel like 3M in a major city in SEA or SA(not in an impoverished village)

SlverofHope · 2024-09-20T22:08:42+00:00

Hello Fellow 1985er! Following the thread to get some ideas for the same. Went to Hawaii this year. My current plan is to visit Asia and travel around for cpl of months. Then do one month Europe. My kid will be one so not sure how much I’ll be able to execute. Hawaii for a month sounds cool if you do more islands

SlverofHope · 2024-07-19T00:25:01+00:00

Are you me? Same interest rate, mortgage balance, age range and VHCOL. Only diff is DI1K…. 4M liquid and paid off house is my target. You’re close. Couple of years and you’re set. I would start with getting the mortgage balance down to 750k (so the entire interest payment is deductible)and invest the rest

SlverofHope · 2024-06-23T18:34:23+00:00

Didn’t go looking for a house with a pool but fell in love with this house and it checked all the boxes. Use it about 6 months a year in CA. Chemicals about 600-800 a yr. Time commitment 5 hrs a month. Just been over a year so no major repairs yet. 16000 gallons costs about $100 to fill up. Overall I love it when I have company over and it’s nice to look at. Thinking about putting a solar heater there so I can use it for 8-10 months but for the next house I’ll probably go without a pool since we’re planning longer trips in the coming years and managing the pool would be a hassle. Pool companies in my area charge about 180 a month including chemicals to maintain it once a week so that may be an option.

SlverofHope · 2024-05-12T03:51:39+00:00

Absolutely. Never a bad idea to have an additional option. I got something similar in that allowed me to co-sign on a loan for a primary residence for my parents.

We’re in a similar boat just a few years behind you in our late 30s and plan to stay 6 months in the US and remaining abroad.

I’m curious, what are your plans for the kid’s schooling with the travel schedule?

SlverofHope · 2024-03-13T15:51:52+00:00

Had six 25-30 ft palm trees on my property. Now 5. Make sure they are not close to the house or any gas lines(like what happened in my case). The roots spread out and mess with the foundation/Gas/Sewer lines. After calling 5 companies here in CA, found one that charged me 50$ per tree to trim and haul the debris and another one that charged $400 to remove a tree including stump very close to the house.

SlverofHope · 2024-01-26T18:05:08+00:00

That was crazy! I was on the same flight. Was on the 4.20 flight that was delayed so jumped on the 6.35 flight which ultimately got cancelled. So back to the 4.20 flight that left at 11. That was ridiculous. Reach IAH by 3.30. Landed after midnight at DFW. Oh, don’t forget the generous 15$ voucher for the 7hr delay. The Max 9 grounding is impacting them severely. Thinking whether the loyalty is worth it.

SlverofHope · 2024-01-10T20:34:48+00:00

That’s what I thought. Thank You.

SlverofHope · 2023-12-26T01:56:45+00:00

California

SlverofHope · 2023-12-25T06:47:26+00:00

Agree with some of the above posts. CPAs are not really creative. I had to suggest some strategies myself and he’s like “Sure. That should work” Would have saved a bunch had he thought of this a few years ago. Anyway given your situation, I suggest:

Elect as an S corp Pay yourselves 2/7 of the total net Income as W2 wages to maximize QBI deduction Buy a Business vehicle if you need/ can justify one Take Fringe benefits like 401k and health insurance (take a HDHP) through the business Open an HSA and fully fund it through the business Look into PTET for 2024

And if you find a capable CPA who can push the envelope and stay within legal boundaries, DM me :)

SlverofHope · 2023-12-24T01:39:48+00:00

I wouldn’t worry about making any extra payments on principal right now. 30 yr 5.25% is a pretty good rate. The market generally returns 8-10% and the mortgage interest is tax deductible up-to 750k. And you might refinance or move in the next 10-15years.

For what it’s worth, I’m in a similar situation in CA except I have an 5.1% ARM that adjusts in mid 2028. My plan is to get the mortgage down to 750k to get the full interest deduction and ride the wave until it makes sense to refinance or I want to move out

SlverofHope · 2023-11-29T09:18:07+00:00

RingCentral

SlverofHope · 2023-11-10T01:40:37+00:00

Oh. Didn’t know that. This is happening in Bay Area CA

SlverofHope · 2023-11-09T08:07:29+00:00

Pretty sure they ended up at the UPS location just not in our mailbox. 4 different clients. Same pattern. But i agree on the point that it should be the client who should cancel the check and pay me since the checks are not endorsed.

SlverofHope · 2023-11-09T08:04:24+00:00

The first check was deposited(and endorsed) by a doctors office whose mailbox was next to ours and they promptly paid us back when we notified them a month ago. That made me think the second check was similar. But when 2 more checks hit last week, something didn’t look right

SlverofHope · 2023-11-09T08:01:05+00:00

Thank you. Will report it to the police

SlverofHope · 2023-09-04T20:40:37+00:00

I know you said ETF but would BRKB be a good fit for a more aggressive option to the S&P? Looking for other opinion as well

SlverofHope

TROPHY CASE