All Forum Posts by: Ericka G.

Under contract to buy a really unique property, but the appraisal came back like $40k under the agreed on sales price. We are financing this one, so can’t move forward without the seller coming down. Seller (investor/flipper) refuses to come down on price, even after the bank agreed to challenge the original appraisal. 2nd appraisal came in the same as the first. Question is this: have you ever had/seen an appraisal challenge actually change? If not, how do people resolve situations like this?

Jesse Stein definitely file! The only time I’ve been audited was right after grad school when I didn’t file because I thought my income was too low as a student to need to file. WRONG!!! Err on the side of caution and file. Hopefully you will get some money back.

Cory Harris would it be possible to buy a small property just in your name so she doesn’t feel as much at risk? Use a portion of your savings for a down payment and then she can still have a hefty savings so it doesn’t feel like a huge risk? I was already a rookie landlord when I met my hubby and once he saw the returns he became more open to investing himself. Another way to dip in less scarily is to simply rent out your current home or house hack - find a duplex and live in one side or a SFH with a basement apartment? Send articles and videos as well, eventually she might catch the investor bug too

Matt Millard I hear you! We have similar issues with traffic and congestion in ATL. That’s a big part of the desire to move to another, less trafficky part of town. Good luck with the move to Tulsa!

Mike Dymski you hit on something I’ve been wrestling with in 2018...we’ve accomplished most of the big goals on our vision board and have been trying to figure out what is next. Now that you mention it, the “dream” house is literally the last thing on our shared vision board that hasn’t been ticked off. So I guess after this it will be time to make a new vision board!

Thomas S. Good point about saving for old age...I guess I will up our insurance if we do end up upgrading houses

Michael P. Wow! Good for you for making the jump successfully - sounds like it is working out for you and your family. Are you able to save a similar amount as you’ve upgraded or do you feel you have ample reserves at this point and thus can spend a larger % of your income?

Caleb Heimsoth your timeline sounds about right! Good luck with the journey

Thank you everyone for all of the candid responses. This is very helpful. Lots of good points to consider. Mindy Jensen Thank you for fixing the spacing and sharing your input about your own experience with a dream home in a nightmare area...something to consider. We do like the area it is just so different than anywhere we’ve lived in the past...The housing stock actually reminds me of the area we currently live in but less populated and less walkable. It’s hard to tell if we will miss the convenient chaos of the current area. Personally I’m over the traffic and snobby people in our current hood. I often walk to the grocery store because I can rarely find parking at our local Publix :(

@Russell Brazil and @Greg Scott thanks for you input despite my epic run-on sentence (posted from my phone and all spaces were deleted somehow).  

Lots of wisdom in what you both wrote.  Russell, it's reassuring to hear you've made a lifestyle upgrade/leap and are still financially independent.  That's great.  Greg, you're absolutely right that life is meant to be lived - good reminder.  

It would suck to save for years and then drop dead before fully enjoying the hard work.