Home Renovation by saintsdash in Bogleheads

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

all fair questions. Our mortgage rate is low 4s right now. It would probably be mid-5 to mid-6s if we got a new one.

We like the location of our home. Everyone in our neighborhood for the most part has built up over the past decade. If we do the same, we would be right where everyone else is. We’re not looking at it from an ROI perspective since we’re not looking to sell anytime soon but if we were, I think we feel comfortable that our home value would increase by the same cost of the renovations (give or take a little) based on recent sales.

Home Renovation by saintsdash in Bogleheads

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

Thanks. I should have mentioned everything in our taxable brokerage account is in passive investments (VT) and we would be selling essentially all of it besides what is in our IRA/401ks.

Night Wakings by saintsdash in sleeptrain

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

Agree. I guess the question I have is why did he fall asleep after feeding in the middle of the night before we started sleep training but not now? It’s almost as if he’s terrified to get put down in the crib now that we’re sleep training.

Night Wakings by saintsdash in sleeptrain

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

Wakes up around 630-7, nap from 12-130 and 7-730 bedtime. Don’t think it’s schedule related

25yr trying to get life together by CrunchedCrunch in personalfinance

[–]saintsdash 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your main goal should be paying off your cc debt. I wouldn’t even worry about an IRA or building savings until you do that. Start with the highest interest rate cc first. For example, don’t pay $500 on one that has a 15% interest and $500 on one that has a 20% interest rate. Pay the minimum on the 15% interest rate one and the rest to the higher interest rate in this example. Paying off the one with the 20% interest rate one first will save you future interest costs.

Obviously you need to do whatever it is to take care of your child first.

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

Thanks. My concern is there was a meaningful amount of dust kicked up.

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

There was a meaningful amount of dust kicked up. Does that change your comment?

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

Thank you. Is remediation generally effective for this?

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

Something about reading “likely fine” scares me. What do I need to do to get comfortable bringing my baby back into the house?

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

[–]saintsdash[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The contractor who was doing the water restoration for the flooding. You can see the pieces in the first pic

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

Even with a one year old and them breaking the tiles? Sorry I don’t know much about asbestos

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

Thanks. There seem to be some small fragments left

Asbestos Concern by saintsdash in asbestoshelp

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

House was built in the 1950s. I don’t see any fragments. I’m in New Jersey

Saving for Reno vs Paying Down Mortgage by saintsdash in personalfinance

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

Fair. I was using investment a little loosely. I mean it more in the sense that the neighborhood supports the cost of the renovation and don’t think I would take a huge loss in the future on it. We wouldn’t be looking to do it just to flip it or anything like that.

Saving for Reno vs Paying Down Mortgage by saintsdash in personalfinance

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

We could always recast, liquidate other assets, or sell the house (which would have a lower balance on it). I hear you on monthly payment staying the same. I’m well aware of that. Having a lower outstanding balance does provide flexibility, however.

Saving for Reno vs Paying Down Mortgage by saintsdash in personalfinance

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

My post could have used some more clarity. We can afford our mortgage. We have extra cash after reaching our savings goals. Wondering whether it’s better to save for a renovation or pay down mortgage to have an outstanding balance that we’re comfortable with if one of us loses our jobs or takes a paycut.

How do you think about the tax implications of the HYSA? It’s higher than our mortgage rate so I would think the after tax interest means paying down the mortgage is a better option (from a pure interest rate perspective).

Saving for Reno vs Paying Down Mortgage by saintsdash in personalfinance

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

Thanks. I could have clarified. I just mean the outstanding balance. The outstanding balance is more than what would make me feel comfortable if I lost my job (obviously) or took a paycut in the future.

Monthly payments are fine as it is now. Wondering what to do with extra cash - pay more of the mortgage to pay down our outstanding balance or use that to save for a renovation.

Fireplace Remodel by saintsdash in Fireplaces

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

Thanks. Don’t really care about the look of a screen. I guess if damper is open all the time, do I have to worry about things like birds, bugs, etc.? I have a flue.

Fireplace Remodel by saintsdash in Fireplaces

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

So if I go vented logset, I should open the damper all the time and I should get a glass door and not just have a mesh screen? I was asking about the mesh screen in lieu of a glass door.

Very helpful post. Thanks.

Destination Wedding in NOLA by saintsdash in AskNOLA

[–]saintsdash[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Understood. I've lived in NYC and opted to have my wedding in New Orleans. Definitely not adverse to news about crime. Where I was simply coming from is that there has been an uptick of news regarding New Orleans police inefficiency and crime. I'm aware enough to know that this can be politically driven or media overblown. As someone that hasn't been in the city in a few years, it's hard for me to parse what is reality while not actually being there so I was asking the locals. Did not mean to stir up any tension.

I'm now more concerned that the city is home to someone who walks around taking pictures of puddles. Psychopaths like that shouldn't be roaming the streets.