Search found 211 matches

by raisinsaregrapes
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 163
Views: 15061

Re: Great news! No more agent commission

It was already going this way. I sold about a year ago. Our realtor listed with a 4.5% commission. She was a friend and took 2, buyer’s got 2.5. A step towards separate commissions. The new changes will just accelerate the changes that were coming anyways, and force some that would hold on to the old ways to the bitter end.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Calif Really That Expensive - Or Am I Missing Something?
Replies: 133
Views: 15484

Re: Is Calif Really That Expensive - Or Am I Missing Something?

I agree with the above being a bit absurd. Yes, California is expensive. But there are plenty of people who can move, and won't because they like where they live.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Calif Really That Expensive - Or Am I Missing Something?
Replies: 133
Views: 15484

Re: Is Calif Really That Expensive - Or Am I Missing Something?

NV has access to mountains. Lake Tahoe straddles the border, and the Sierra Nevadas are closer to say Reno than coastal CA cities. There also is the Great Basin Nat'l Park that includes the Wheeler Peak area, and Zion NP is about a 3 hour drive from LV. Lone Pine near the east side of Mt Whitney in the Sierras is about a 4 hr drive from LV, going through Death Valley. Pet peeve - it’s the sierra but is often misspelled as sierras. The sierra is Spanish for the sky. The Sierras is common usage for the mountains (plural). It may be wrong, but what can we do with the two of us against everyone else? Bigger pet peeve. It is not the "sierra" it is the "Sierra Nevada". True. But for people who spend time there or spend a lot ...
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Feel like I won the "game" at 41---Thoughts on Future Asset Allocation
Replies: 21
Views: 3924

Re: Feel like I won the "game" at 41---Thoughts on Future Asset Allocation

Before i got to the punch line I was thinking “in his shoes i would put future contributions into equities to get closer to 50/50.” So….yes. But really with 50x you can save wherever helps you sleep best.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get the best rate and closing costs on a mortgage?
Replies: 15
Views: 1342

Re: How to get the best rate and closing costs on a mortgage?

Don’t use a bank. Find a few local mortgage lenders and get more than one quote. Relators tend to know which ones are responsive and which lenders have poor service. One of my friends who was a realtor hated working with Rocket Mortgage.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to be a first-time home buyer if I intend to move in three years?
Replies: 54
Views: 6575

Re: Best way to be a first-time home buyer if I intend to move in three years?

"Best way to be a first-time home buyer if I intend to move in three years?"

Wait three years, then buy a home. That's the best way.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Decision] Leave my job or wait to be let go?
Replies: 75
Views: 7040

Re: [Decision] Leave my job or wait to be let go?

Did you have improvements when you were on short term disability away from work? Could that be an example of what life would be like retired, and if so did you enjoy that time?
by raisinsaregrapes
Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you are able to accomplish these, please tell me how
Replies: 112
Views: 24874

Re: If you are able to accomplish these, please tell me how

OP is getting lit up for sure. I remember the first year with a kid, you realize how much time you had before kids. Things have to be cut out. You get to choose what those things are. I do about 1/3 of the things you list, and my wife is a SAHM. But I’m in this for the long haul and have found a good balance (as of today haha). Best of luck.

Edit. It does get better as they get older, mine are all in elementary now and I don’t feel the time issues of that first year.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Jan 09, 2024 10:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Customs in Atlanta airport and a few questions
Replies: 11
Views: 1760

Re: Customs in Atlanta airport and a few questions

ATL is very good. I would like to have 2 hrs between flights when coming back to the US and doing immigration.

I don't think you would need to take luggage to the international terminal when departing the US. You may have to recheck it when coming back. And as others have said, ATL is one giant terminal with a train connecting all of it. International on one side domestic on the other.

In the end if you book it all together they will get you where you need to go, even if you miss a connection. There is always another plane.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu Dec 21, 2023 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?
Replies: 297
Views: 144141

Re: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?

Yes. Exactly one more utility, right in the middle.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I pay cash for a house or keep funds in the market?
Replies: 30
Views: 4153

Re: Should I pay cash for a house or keep funds in the market?

carminered2019 wrote: Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:37 pm Pay cash for the house, go 100% stocks rebuild emergency fund.
This is what i would do. Simplicity.
by raisinsaregrapes
Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Frustrating Experience with Capital One (Bonus)
Replies: 18
Views: 2263

Re: Frustrating Experience with Capital One (Bonus)

Yes. That’s a dumb rule. I would be frustrated by that rule too.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can we afford this house? (VA loan)
Replies: 14
Views: 1957

Re: Can we afford this house? (VA loan)

I know it sucks, but that is just how it is. I got extorted for $5000 at the closing table in a VA situation many years ago (the guy was in the Air Force, the inspector forced me to fix like 10 things in the house, leading to thousands in repair costs, and then the buyer said at the closing 'yeah, I want you to fix some other stuff too, and clean the leaves out of the yard and mow the grass today' --and I couldn't say "no" because the VA purchase contract would send the whole thing to arbitration, and I would have to pay for it. I vowed never again to accept buyers with VA financing. It was "you get a real loan and we talk, otherwise forget it" Yea. I’ve used VAs before and that’s not how it works. The VA appraisal work...
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Nov 19, 2023 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I Buy A House?
Replies: 79
Views: 8324

Re: Should I Buy A House?

7-8k mortgage? Does that include property taxes and insurance? Seems a bit too risky at that income level. Maybe you could make it work if you had a bigger down payment. We recently bought in CA and had to put down a lot to make it feel doable.

There will be unexpected expenses too. Cali insurance is also harder to get these days. I called around to a ton of places, it was all expensive and most weren’t even underwriting their own policies. We found some insurance bought the house and got a letter a month later saying our insurance was going to be cancelled due to fire risk. Pretty annoying, but found a better company after those shenanigans.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sat Nov 18, 2023 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I Buy A House?
Replies: 79
Views: 8324

Re: Should I Buy A House?

If everyone is waiting till they are cash flush then the prices won’t ever come down. The people that are a bit more cash flush will find a way to make it work. Lots of high income people on the sidelines right now. Who knows what will happen. Prices will crash at some point, but will they go up 100 percent before they crash 40 percent? Or will prices just stagnate for years? Or will it drop 30 percent tomorrow? No one knows. I think owning is really a lifestyle choice over a financial choice, but finances play a huge part. Best of luck to the OP.
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri Nov 17, 2023 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which SUV to get?
Replies: 62
Views: 8406

Re: Which SUV to get?

beardsicles wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:26 pm
raisinsaregrapes wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:31 pm If snow is a possibility I recommend the Subaru. The thing has snow shoes.
In order of importance, AWD is a distant second to snow tires.
Well even without snow tires my subaru cruised thru 1ft powder in a parking lot last winter on a snow day. Other AWD vehicles getting stuck. If i had some snow tires it would be awesome.
by raisinsaregrapes
Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need a car...what to do
Replies: 83
Views: 8333

Re: Need a car...what to do

I tried the 5k car once. Didn’t work out, car had hidden electrical issues, and ended up buying a nice used low mileage car in the end. There is risk involved.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which SUV to get?
Replies: 62
Views: 8406

Re: Which SUV to get?

If snow is a possibility I recommend the Subaru. The thing has snow shoes.
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to deal with the mental part of being invested in this market
Replies: 104
Views: 17262

Re: How to deal with the mental part of being invested in this market

My thoughts. I saw the topic and wondered “is this market really all that stress inducing? Not to me, but everyone is different…”
Clicks on thread and sees “leverage”
Ahh. I get it.

I am 3 fund and spend my mental energy not thinking about the market.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New bull around the corner?
Replies: 23
Views: 2649

Re: New bull around the corner?

Did we ever enter a bear market? I don’t know. I try my best to ignore the noise. We live in a very noisy world. I heard the markets went down a while back and came back up then were down, but overall up. I expect that they will go down then up and maybe down and up again. They should end up going up if all is on the up and up.
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri Oct 06, 2023 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Smart Home Buying Decision?
Replies: 60
Views: 5619

Re: Smart Home Buying Decision?

The numbers look like they work. Klangfool is not wrong, but he has seen life throw rocks at glass houses, and is giving you advise on how to help guarantee financial success. He would for sure say I can not afford my house, and he would be correct, but we took a calculated risk.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Oct 01, 2023 5:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: With rising yields, owning a home looks less attractive
Replies: 183
Views: 17224

Re: With rising yields, owning a home looks less attractive

All this yet people still buy houses in areas where renting is cheaper. It goes to show that buying a house is much more than a financial choice.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu Sep 28, 2023 1:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: With rising yields, owning a home looks less attractive
Replies: 183
Views: 17224

Re: With rising yields, owning a home looks less attractive

I find it hard to believe a 2.5 million dollar house will rent for 4.5k. But I guess that is the price of stability in San Fran. Owning your house means you move only when you want to move. Moving sucks.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage broker says to not pay a larger downpayment?
Replies: 134
Views: 13170

Re: Mortgage broker says to not pay a larger downpayment?

I'm in the similar boat and just bought in CA, used a mortgage broker. Difference is my mortgage broker is a friend. She was telling me about sketchy brokers out there that shop around for the highest commission rather than the highest rates. First, I would ditch the broker that wants you to become a realestate investor. Second, I would get in touch with 2 or 3 other lending options and let them know you are shopping around for rates and see who can beat who. Make them work for their commission. That's what I did, and got a rate you won't find on any bank advertisement.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experience with Aeromexico to South America?
Replies: 20
Views: 1580

Re: Experience with Aeromexico to South America?

One hr in ATL is plenty. Flexibility is the key to air travel. Even even if you miss a connection, if you book with a big enough airline they will get you to your destination. The bigger the hub the more backup flights you will have.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Aug 29, 2023 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is My Car Battery Really Shot? **UPDATED**
Replies: 68
Views: 4852

Re: Is My Car Battery Really Shot?

Do you see any bullet holes?
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri Aug 25, 2023 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Edward Jones Financial Advisor whom I fully trust?
Replies: 79
Views: 7836

Re: Edward Jones Financial Advisor whom I fully trust?

Edward Jones has high fees. Even if the Pope were your advisor they would put you in the best EJ had to offer and you will still pay too high of fees.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Aug 23, 2023 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
Replies: 37
Views: 3594

Re: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics

I would swap the fuel injectors. Happened twice on my 97 chevy truck. 2nd time i swapped all the injectors. My codes were specific enough that i knew what cylinder.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Aug 20, 2023 7:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?
Replies: 120
Views: 10856

Re: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?

Sandtrap wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:19 am
raisinsaregrapes wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 7:27 am Travel Aeropress, fresh beans, any burr hand grinder. Takes up some space but good coffee. For the hot water i just use the hotel coffee maker. I always run a full cup of water thru it to clean it out.
is there any difference in the taste, etc, between the "Travel Aeropress" and the "Regular Aeropress"??

thanks for the input.
j :D
Same coffee, more travel friendly form factor.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sun Aug 20, 2023 7:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?
Replies: 120
Views: 10856

Re: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?

Travel Aeropress, fresh beans, any burr hand grinder. Takes up some space but good coffee. For the hot water i just use the hotel coffee maker. I always run a full cup of water thru it to clean it out.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Legal to defer salary to next year?
Replies: 7
Views: 982

Re: Legal to defer salary to next year?

I don't think it is illegal to request that. As in, I don't think you'll go to jail for asking.
by raisinsaregrapes
Sat Aug 12, 2023 11:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Regrets
Replies: 114
Views: 15444

Re: Career Regrets

I did a career change in my early 20s before I got too established. Joined the Air Force to fly. Only advice i have is follow what you want to do, but read the fine print. If you want special ops make sure you have a pretty sure fire way to get to mission complete. The military will dangle a cool job in front of you that will no longer be available once you sign the dotted line.

When i did my officer training rated board i said i wanted a pilot slot. If i wasn’t selected i could walk away and move on with my life.

You’re not happy with your job now, it would really suck to be not happy with your job and also be stuck with a 4 year commitment.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Elderly Person Scammed into Wire Transfer
Replies: 78
Views: 7633

Re: Elderly Person Scammed into Wire Transfer

TomatoTomahto wrote: Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:38 am
I woudl tell them that my wire is none of their business.
Well, I would think that a wire is precisely their business.
Comical version of how this played out in my head.

Me: Walks into bank.
Teller: “How can I help you today?”
Me: “I would like to wire some money.”
Teller: “Where would you like this money to go?”
Me: “That’s none of your business!” Walks out.
by raisinsaregrapes
Mon Jun 05, 2023 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to find out if your airplane carry-on are allowed
Replies: 51
Views: 3891

Re: Transporting a UPS on an airplane

I would check with the airline and check it.
by raisinsaregrapes
Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: safety issues with load-bearing wall
Replies: 18
Views: 1589

Re: safety issues with load-bearing wall

Did he get permits and inspections? The selling agent will tell you anything to sell the house and get their commission.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu May 18, 2023 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Realtors unwilling to negotiate lease with military personnel]
Replies: 40
Views: 3659

Re: [Realtors unwilling to negotiate lease with military personnel]

Prior military here and don't see a problem. Move on base, or deal with the market. That is kind of how it works.
by raisinsaregrapes
Thu May 18, 2023 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do with my House?
Replies: 29
Views: 3531

Re: What to do with my House?

If you can rent out both units and make some money I would probably do that. Find a good property manager (not an easy task), and let them deal with the stuff for a cut of the profits. I had a cross country rental once and found a good property manager on a recommendation, he made life so easy and I still made good money. Not everyone has good rental stories, but I did.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed May 17, 2023 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Significant Hail Damage (Auto)
Replies: 11
Views: 1287

Re: Significant Hail Damage (Auto)

They might not be trying to low ball as a previous poster suggested. If you have a good insurance company they may be trying to meet your needs in a quickly. When there is wide spread damage claims they sometimes throw caution to the wind and just cut checks to process all the claims quickly. That being said, sounds like you are doing your research; don’t let them low ball you. 😉
by raisinsaregrapes
Mon May 15, 2023 9:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiring Overseas/Out-of-State and Escaping Californian Income Taxes?
Replies: 209
Views: 14173

Re: Retiring Overseas/Out-of-State and Escaping Californian Income Taxes?

California is tracking you. Be sure of that. I was a “California resident” my entire time in the military. Never filed taxes because was stationed out of state. My wife moved back to CA to live with her parents for about 6 months when I was deployed. That year California sent a letter asking me to prove I was still stationed out of state. Deployment orders were sufficient, but be sure big brother is watching.
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri May 12, 2023 7:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Need few sentence rationale for why people should avoid financial advisors
Replies: 187
Views: 15815

Re: Need few sentence rationale for why people should avoid financial advisors

Some people just associate having an investment guy with success. So if you tell them you don’t have a guy, they immediately tune you out feeling superior. Sounds like that happened at the conference, in a potentially condescending way. Let it go. Let them pay their fees.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed May 10, 2023 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spouse on home loan or not?
Replies: 30
Views: 2809

Re: Spouse on home loan or not?

stan1 wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 9:29 am This seems like an attempt to protect assets in the event of a divorce.
Her attorneys and the courts would see it exactly that way. It won't work in my state.
Suspicious much? Not sure it would work in my favor to own half a house and all the mortgage….

Anyways it’s already been decided. See post above.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed May 10, 2023 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spouse on home loan or not?
Replies: 30
Views: 2809

Re: Spouse on home loan or not?

She will be on both. Good points about potentially needing to service the loan in some way. She was always going to be on the title. Last time we bought a house I was working and she had a POA to take care of everything. She was (jokingly) complaining about how many things she had to sign, was hoping to spare her this go around. Guess not, haha.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue May 09, 2023 10:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spouse on home loan or not?
Replies: 30
Views: 2809

Spouse on home loan or not?

We are working with a mortgage broker and wanted the group's thoughts. Is there any negative to me (husband) not putting my wife on a home loan? My wife is a SAHM (no income) with no debts and good credit, so she should not affect the loan paperwork numerically. Should I just get the loan in my name, or are there gotchas and we should do both?
by raisinsaregrapes
Fri May 05, 2023 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Strange buzzing coming from inside my wall
Replies: 59
Views: 8658

Re: Strange buzzing coming from inside my wall

Electrical buzzing will probably be at a frequency of 60 hz. You can listen to that tone and compare to the sound when you hear it.
by raisinsaregrapes
Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dying is Expensive!
Replies: 147
Views: 13637

Re: Dying is Expensive!

How i want to go.

Image
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there such a thing as saving too much?
Replies: 95
Views: 11967

Re: Is there such a thing as saving too much?

My wife used to roll her eyes a bit about how high our savings rates were. We still enjoyed life, but could have splurged more. Now we are looking at moving to HCOL area to be closer to her family. Our high savings rates of the past is making this move possible and we are both glad we had saved in the past. What may feel like saving too much may open options down the road currently unimagined. Others may just save too much and be miserable.
by raisinsaregrapes
Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boston for a day
Replies: 25
Views: 1854

Boston for a day

Bogleheads,

Work is taking me to Boston and I'll have one day off. Staying near Boston Common, what you would do with a day off?