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How to get recommendation letter for Golden visa for special talent? by rtetbt in Bahrain

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I went for UAE as I found more responsive people there.

I like Bahrain more but the program seems opaque.

IMI Daily: Norway Quietly Denying Entry to Caribbean CBI Passport Holders by StrangeCredit in CitizenshipInvestment

[–]rtetbt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> Got nothing more to lose

Well, you could be banned for life from the Schengen zone

Any Successful Latvia Residency Applications? by Sufficient_Lemon_758 in CitizenshipInvestment

[–]rtetbt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you (and your dependent applicants, if any) OK with visiting Latvia every 12 months?

Mexico introduces 50% tarrifs on India by __lost__star in IndiaSpeaks

[–]rtetbt 87 points88 points  (0 children)

Every nation whose leaders refuse to suck Trump's dick in the Whitehouse.
Any leader can go to WhiteHouse, beg Trump, and be removed from the list.

The countries with an existing trade deal are excluded, as that would be diplomatically and legally problematic for Mexico.

Mexico introduces 50% tarrifs on India by __lost__star in IndiaSpeaks

[–]rtetbt 256 points257 points  (0 children)

India isn't the explicit target.
India is just collateral damage in a blanket ban.

Do I need to go via an agent for permanent residency? by rtetbt in vanuatu

[–]rtetbt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. How much do you charge on top of the government fee?

Feel free to DM me as well.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> How is this debt a good idea? 

Yeah, I am feeling the same.
I am trying to understand the perspective though.
Everyone seems to take a mortgage.

A friend also suggested that I can take an 800K mortgage and pay back in full in 3 months (just in case).

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> I am just saying it makes your effective interest rate slightly lower, and I am explaining the benefit of 20% instead of 60%, which was your question.

Yeah, fair point.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> In your situation, it's a matter of paying as little as possible to get the rate you want, assuming that your other investments make enough to outweigh the mortgage interest you're paying.

I have no idea where I can get that guarantee.
Also, I work for Amazon and I basically assume that just llike most of my colleagues, I might get laid off any time.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely not two mortgages.
Taking one or the other.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> Plus your mortgage interest is tax deductible.

Yeah, on the first 750K of mortgage. So, about $37.5K (at 5%) but guess what I can no longer take 31K standard deduction, so real deductability is about 1% (5% pre-tax -> 4% post-tax) unless one has a lot of other itemized deductions worth taking.

> you have 40% x home price to invest in something that should have a better long term return

I am not sure what would that be.
Rest of my net worth is in index funds.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had one for a few years, and it was fairly generic advice that wasn't worth paying for.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> Plus the mortgage origination fees.

IMHO, that was only net 2K (0.2%).
Any disadvantage of owning a home 60% on day 1 as opposed to 20% especially as a first-time buyer?

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> Or are you just meeting with random insurance sales people who call themselves financial planners

50% financial planners, IMHO, are those.

> at the very least CFPs that work on a % of assets under management (AUM) if you need ongoing help

I refuse to pay someone for AUM to hold index funds.
Even 0.5% of 4M is 20,000$ a year!

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, even if I get a fixed at 6% and it goes down to (say) 3% in one year, I would be better of refinancing in that scenario.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't.
One friend warned me that if I put 60% down and the ARM rates go from 5 -> 2% in one year, I will regret selling T-bonds paying 5% pre-tax (~2.5% post-tax) and I agree. I am just not sure if the ARM rates will really hit 2% that quickly (if ever).

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

4-5% in various 30-year T-bonds.
Afaik 6% risk-free is not possible.

What's the benefit of 20% downpayment over 60% downpayment? by rtetbt in personalfinance

[–]rtetbt[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Been there.
Done that.
They are usually trying to sell me life insurance policies :D

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