I’m a single parent and just paid off my mortgage

[Anonymous]

Whoopee! Congratulations. That's a real accomplishment. 💯🌹

[Anonymous]

I don't know you, but this really made me smile. Well done, you!

[Anonymous]

Congrats! My husband is also about to pay off his home from being single and stationed in Oklahoma. It's only worth 130K lololol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you didn't refinance at 3% and get to invest

OP said she refinanced several times. Some of us prefer not to be in debt. Good for OP!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know you, but this really made me smile. Well done, you!

OP here. I hadn’t realized my thread had resurfaced. Thanks to this and other posters

Now to figure out where the refund of my unused escrow is. The bank said I would get it by today, which hasn’t happened. I need to pay property taxes with it by the end of the year so I’m going to be calling them tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought my small SF house in 2000 when, yes, housing prices were much lower, but interest rates were 8%. I refinanced several times, but finally made the last payment today. I didn’t make $100,000 until just before DD went to college.

I guess I just wanted to share because I’m not DCUM wealthy but managed this milestone. 25 years ago I was pretty apprehensive about this day ever happening, especially because I had a young child on my own. Not having a mortgage payment will really help in being able to retire in a few years.

Fantastic! Great job!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations! I'm right behind you. I bought my home in 2005 and refinanced it once, down to a 3% interest rate. My home is 1100 sq ft, located in DC, and I raised my 2 sons in this very small home with zero regrets. I've got 5 more years on my mortgage!

I'm here with you and OP! Bought in 2002, in DC, 1200 sq ft, and I've got three years left. I can almost taste it.

[Anonymous]

And?
I have 8,000 left to pay off at 2.6 pct and 800,000 in investments making way more than even the highest possible mortgage rates of recent years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And?
I have 8,000 left to pay off at 2.6 pct and 800,000 in investments making way more than even the highest possible mortgage rates of recent years

Good for you. Still shouldn't stop you or anyone else being pleased for OP for paying off their mortgage.

[Anonymous]

This is great OP. Ignore the haters on this board. It is a huge accomplishment that over the years you didn’t borrow against your house, extending your loan. Many people can’t help using it like an atm, not to invest, but to spend on things they can’t afford. Our loan will be gone naturally in about 5 years. We have no plans to take out new loans simply to invest the money - we have plenty of investments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is great OP. Ignore the haters on this board. It is a huge accomplishment that over the years you didn’t borrow against your house, extending your loan. Many people can’t help using it like an atm, not to invest, but to spend on things they can’t afford. Our loan will be gone naturally in about 5 years. We have no plans to take out new loans simply to invest the money - we have plenty of investments.

This is true and I've known a few people who have done this. What makes me wince is that they think they're so clever. What's sad is that 2 of the people that used their their houses as ATM's, lost their homes. One moved back in with her parents and the other is now renting an apartment. It's weird to me that people think that paying off your mortgage is a bad thing.

I always remember this line piece of advice "There is a reason so many people lose their homes. They think they are too smart to pay it off".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know you, but this really made me smile. Well done, you!

OP here. I hadn’t realized my thread had resurfaced. Thanks to this and other posters

Now to figure out where the refund of my unused escrow is. The bank said I would get it by today, which hasn’t happened. I need to pay property taxes with it by the end of the year so I’m going to be calling them tomorrow.

We just paid our mortgage off and it took SOOO long to get back the escrow. But it finally came. I think they just try to keep your mortgage as long as they can.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! That’s huge!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought my small SF house in 2000 when, yes, housing prices were much lower, but interest rates were 8%. I refinanced several times, but finally made the last payment today. I didn’t make $100,000 until just before DD went to college.

I guess I just wanted to share because I’m not DCUM wealthy but managed this milestone. 25 years ago I was pretty apprehensive about this day ever happening, especially because I had a young child on my own. Not having a mortgage payment will really help in being able to retire in a few years.

Great, OP. Why don't you take out an ad in the forking newspaper?

[Anonymous]

Congratulations!
I remember the day my young widowed mom finally paid off the mortgage in a house we weren’t sure we’d be able to keep. To this day we are not sure how she managed it.
Hope your careful management continues so you can live with fewer worries.