OP, you don't know that your DH has made a bad investment on the 2nd condo. You only think he did and you could be wrong. I say this as someone who was/is in a very similar situation. DH bought a property before we were married that we lose money on every year (also can't rent for cost). He also financed it with an interest-only arm! It has been like a lead weight on our finances for the better part of a decade. I hate it and I resented DH for making such a horrible decision. However, we just put it on the market this week and it is looking like we will make a minimum of $100k, possibly as much as $250k, more than he paid. This will absolutely re-pay us for everything we've lost and will set us up with a nice nest egg. I hated bleeding money like that, and it really limited our other choices (which sucked), but it was worth it. That investment is going to pay off big even though it looked like a huge loser for years.

I say that you should find a way to make it work until it really makes sense to sell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion

Also, men tend to make riskier investments and trade more often than women. Therefore, they often make less return in the long run.

Go here napfa.org to find a fee-only financial planner.

I would raise the rent on both if you haven't in a year, and $2800 is the going rate for a new 2bd condo in Clarendon.

But 2 properties, daycare, and a house payment may not be doable all at once. Hence the Financial planner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the fact that you call him an idiot and talk about him in such a negative critical way is a bigger issue. I am sure you can't have great discussions about it seeing as you talk as though you don't respect him put him down and call names.

Would you want him talking about you the way you talk about him?

+1. My thoughts, exactly. What an awful way to talk about your partner. He won't listen to you until you listen to him. There are deeper problems here and you better get them sorted before the stress of 2 kids lands on you.

Also, your subject heading is very telling ... "... and won't admit it". What do you want him to do? Tell you he's wrong and you're right? I'm thinking you're going about this all the wrong way.

Anonymous wrote:I think the fact that you call him an idiot and talk about him in such a negative critical way is a bigger issue. I am sure you can't have great discussions about it seeing as you talk as though you don't respect him put him down and call names.

Would you want him talking about you the way you talk about him?

+1. My thoughts, exactly. What an awful way to talk about your partner. He won't listen to you until you listen to him. There are deeper problems here and you better get them sorted before the stress of 2 kids lands on you.

There are two separate issues here-- one is whether the investment is a good idea. The other is where to find a downpayment for your next house (and how quickly you need to move). I think you should try to separate them.

Agree with seeing a financial advisor.

As for the rest:
Having a baby, especially one with colic or who cannot sleep through the night, can lead to post-partum depression and wreak havoc on your marriage. Now if you're adding another kid into the mix, plus fall-out from real-estate investments... wouf! So be aware that you both have to calm down and focus on priorities. Let go of the small stuff.

A family of 4 in a 2 bedroom is perfectly do-able! My family of 4 lived for a year in a ONE bedroom - all four of us in the bedroom (DC1 in a crib by our bed, DC2 in our bed). Our neighbors were 4 in a 2 bedroom.

We are Europeans, and most French and British kids share rooms with their siblings or family members - this is what many people around the world do! You can sleep with the baby in your room while it still nurses at night, and then put both kids in the second bedroom. It might also promote bonding as a family with your nephew.

So if it helps move the discussion forward, forget moving into a 3 bedroom for now. Your husband will realize soon enough that you will need to move after some years. For the other condo: try increasing the rent first (I agree that in ideal circumstances you should keep your real-estate), and if it becomes too hard to rent, then sell.

I think the fact that you call him an idiot and talk about him in such a negative critical way is a bigger issue. I am sure you can't have great discussions about it seeing as you talk as though you don't respect him put him down and call names.

Would you want him talking about you the way you talk about him?

OP, I agree with others that you should get a financial planner and look at the situation not in an emotional way. agree with you that it is math, but a conversation with a financial planner can help you and you DH flesh out the various options and their costs. do it now because when kids come the situation may be much more stressful. also, consider if you can live in your place a little longer. we moved from our 950 sf 2bd only when our second child was 18 months, and the first 5 year old. the infant was in our room for the first 6 months, and then they shared the other room. no big deal for us.