If you don't have a 15 year mortgage, you're living beyond your means?

[Anonymous]

Home many in DMV actually have a 30 year mortgage?!? DH and I have a 15 year at 2.25%. Of course, we could have gone with a 30 year and invested the savings in the stock market, but how many people actually do this? Most of my friends have homes worth twice ours, but they have an HHI that is maybe 1/2. Most of our neighbors with similar home values are sporting used Toyotas, unkempt yards, IKEA furniture, and vacations to Rehoboth. Meanwhile, we have BMWs, several millions in savings, well manicured gardens and maintained home, heirloom Stickley furniture, and multiple int'l vacations per year in first class. One of our neighbor's trees fell down 2 years ago near the edge of our property line and they still haven't removed it. They want to split the $800 cost for removal. For real?!? Are we way off base, here?

[Anonymous]

I think it is dumb to tie yourself to a 15-year mortgage. Get a 30-year mortgage and make double payments. This gives you flexibility if, for example, one or both of you lose your jobs and you have cash flow problems for a month or two. Apparently your idiotic plan worked out for you and your husband, OP, but it isn't the best choice.

[Anonymous]

we have a 15 year and Ikea furniture - what does that make us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is dumb to tie yourself to a 15-year mortgage. Get a 30-year mortgage and make double payments. This gives you flexibility if, for example, one or both of you lose your jobs and you have cash flow problems for a month or two. Apparently your idiotic plan worked out for you and your husband, OP, but it isn't the best choice.

OP, here. Why would either of us lose our jobs? We're both highly sought after and star workers? Besides, we have a 12-month+ safety net in liquid savings outside retirement. Just feels like people in DMV are way too invested in their homes, many house poor, and not diversified enough across a balance of assets, amenities, and experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Home many in DMV actually have a 30 year mortgage?!? DH and I have a 15 year at 2.25%. Of course, we could have gone with a 30 year and invested the savings in the stock market, but how many people actually do this? Most of my friends have homes worth twice ours, but they have an HHI that is maybe 1/2. Most of our neighbors with similar home values are sporting used Toyotas, unkempt yards, IKEA furniture, and vacations to Rehoboth. Meanwhile, we have BMWs, several millions in savings, well manicured gardens and maintained home, heirloom Stickley furniture, and multiple int'l vacations per year in first class. One of our neighbor's trees fell down 2 years ago near the edge of our property line and they still haven't removed it. They want to split the $800 cost for removal. For real?!? Are we way off base, here?

You sound like a complete and total jerk.

[Anonymous]

you sound truly insufferable, OP. It's strange all the judgmental comparison you seem to do on the daily with your so-called friends. I sense you are secretly miserable, frankly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we have a 15 year and Ikea furniture - what does that make us?

We do too. And to blow OP’s mind even further, in addition to our 15-year mortgage and IKEA furniture, we drive a BMW and fly in first class.

[Anonymous]

This is pretty good trolling, I like it and keep it up!

[Anonymous]

I prefer a lower payment in case we have an emergency or just other things to do with the money. I also like deducting the interest.

I've no interest in a BMW or international vacations. If your neighbor's tree bothers you, you clearly have the $800 to remove it if you want to. Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is dumb to tie yourself to a 15-year mortgage. Get a 30-year mortgage and make double payments. This gives you flexibility if, for example, one or both of you lose your jobs and you have cash flow problems for a month or two. Apparently your idiotic plan worked out for you and your husband, OP, but it isn't the best choice.

This. We had several 30 year mortgages, then paid for our current house cash. There are many ways to live intelligently depending on specific circumstances like job security, how long you plan to live in a given house, etc.

[Anonymous]

Troll

You care way too much about other people's choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do too. And to blow OP’s mind even further, in addition to our 15-year mortgage and IKEA furniture, we drive a BMW and fly in first class.

IKEA furniture is very low quality. A BMW is not. Why not elevate all aspects of your lifestyle to the same level? I just don't get the people that own $3M homes and then have a dining room set that only costs $5K made of veneer furniture sitting on a machine-made oriental rug from COSTCO. Or the people that live in suburban McMansions and then fly coach for vacation. Or the people that drive Range Rovers but can't afford a long weekend at the Inn at Little Washington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do too. And to blow OP’s mind even further, in addition to our 15-year mortgage and IKEA furniture, we drive a BMW and fly in first class.

IKEA furniture is very low quality. A BMW is not. Why not elevate all aspects of your lifestyle to the same level? I just don't get the people that own $3M homes and then have a dining room set that only costs $5K made of veneer furniture sitting on a machine-made oriental rug from COSTCO. Or the people that live in suburban McMansions and then fly coach for vacation. Or the people that drive Range Rovers but can't afford a long weekend at the Inn at Little Washington.

Why don’t you mind your own business?

We have high quality furniture in much of our house, but find that IKEA furniture works perfectly well in some contexts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do too. And to blow OP’s mind even further, in addition to our 15-year mortgage and IKEA furniture, we drive a BMW and fly in first class.

IKEA furniture is very low quality. A BMW is not. Why not elevate all aspects of your lifestyle to the same level? I just don't get the people that own $3M homes and then have a dining room set that only costs $5K made of veneer furniture sitting on a machine-made oriental rug from COSTCO. Or the people that live in suburban McMansions and then fly coach for vacation. Or the people that drive Range Rovers but can't afford a long weekend at the Inn at Little Washington.

You have no understanding of what is overrated and what is real value. I have a bridge to sell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home many in DMV actually have a 30 year mortgage?!? DH and I have a 15 year at 2.25%. Of course, we could have gone with a 30 year and invested the savings in the stock market, but how many people actually do this? Most of my friends have homes worth twice ours, but they have an HHI that is maybe 1/2. Most of our neighbors with similar home values are sporting used Toyotas, unkempt yards, IKEA furniture, and vacations to Rehoboth. Meanwhile, we have BMWs, several millions in savings, well manicured gardens and maintained home, heirloom Stickley furniture, and multiple int'l vacations per year in first class. One of our neighbor's trees fell down 2 years ago near the edge of our property line and they still haven't removed it. They want to split the $800 cost for removal. For real?!? Are we way off base, here?

You sound like a complete and total jerk.

Absolutely either a troll or Jerky McJerkface.

We paid cash for our house, our newest car is a 9 year old Subaru, and our furniture is mostly from Craigslist. What are we? 🤪