For real. This is why we’ve never taken out a big mortgage. We’ve used our big income to drive out mortgage down. We could take career risks due to easily being able to live and save on one income when needed. It’s a really nice feeling sitting here at age 45 getting a bit sick of working. I’m not trapped in a guilded cage. As a matter of fact my employer is trying to force be back into the office 3xs a week and I’m dug in refusing more than 1 day. I’m thinking they are welcome to fire me. We are in a Mexican stand off and I’m not backing down. Could never do this if I needed this job to pay my bills. |
Unless you have a ton of regular out of town guests, leave a couple of the bedrooms empty to use as playrooms. You will thank me later. |
| OP, it'd be a stupid idea to sell your house as some idiots suggested, especially if it's in a good area (such as McLean). You equity in the house will appreciate faster than if you put the money in 401K (the leverage effect). Your HHI will get higher and there is also some probability to refinance in the future. |
Guess you’ve never met two doctoral students. |
$2M in McLean these days won't get you a 6k sqft with a movie theater. News builds start at $2.8M now (nothing high end) and a better quality build with a movie theater likely starts at $4M. |
Sure it would be nice to have an Instagram Worthy house now, but why do you need everything furnished so quickly? We did it slowly and often it meant hand me downs, Facebook marketplace and paper blinds for a few years while we saved. Buying a crib and car seat and childcare was way more important. |
Well god forbid OP not live in McLean. |
OP has a seven (!!!!!) bedroom house. |
This is what OP needs to do.. At $2.5M, you likely have a large enough house that can easily accommodate 2 more people (parents). Cut out daycare, halve your Costco and furniture expenses and you are golden. <tongue in cheek comment> If your parents are not interested, change your ethnicity to Chinese or Indian and adopt an old chinese or indian couple. They would be thrilled to take care of their grandkids and the grandkids will know to take care of you in your old age. |
It’s not middle class. Grow up. |
And when did you buy and at what rate? A 3500 mortgage lands you in Manassas these days. |
I understand this approach but not sure it’s best. The large mortgage can be a ball and chain, but it’s in OP’s best interest to keep working in a high paying job. Back in the day we bought a starter home we could afford one one salary. Except both spouses continued working and earnings increased. We made less equity than if we’d bought at the top of our budget. Then we had to spend thousands selling the starter home and buying another house. We thought we were being smart financially but really it limited us. OP is likely going to continue working and so will his or her spouse. They even have grandparents to pay for the nanny. They probably locked in a low rate and we’ll likely have confined inflation for quite some time. OP need to buckle down the next few years and keep at it. |
I don’t see how someone is furnishing a home for $12k. 12k IS Facebook marketplace and paper blinds for a 7 bedroom house. |
some people don't understand estate planning. |
Why in gods name would your parents (or in laws) have to quit their jobs and become your full time babysitters? Also why are they in charge of helping pay for anything? I am so confused - you live in a $1.9 million dollar house and make $400K. I live in a $900,000 house and our HHI is $650K. If you can't afford childcare you cannot afford a $1.9 million dollar house. |