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Don’t Pay Off Your Mortgage!
February 26, 2016 /At least, don’t pay it off quite yet. If you’re an average, hard-working adult with a family and a home to call your own, then chances are you’re probably trying to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible. This strategy seems pretty sound at first; after all, won’t you save money in the long run by paying off your mortgage ASAP? Surprisingly, in many cases paying off your mortgage quickly won’t save you money at all; indeed, rushing through a mortgage could actually be costing you money in the long run. While you’ll want to pay your mortgage off eventually, it is generally more beneficial to take your time and invest your hard-earned money in other ventures. If this idea seems counterintuitive to you, never fear! Below, you’ll find a few of the main arguments for taking your mortgage payments nice and slow. Your mortgage's interest is tax-deductible. While many people regard paying interest with dread, remember that paying interest on a mortgage will actually reduce the amount of money you need to pay for taxes each year. For instance, say you’re in the 35% tax bracket. Since your interest payments on your mortgage are tax deductible, you’re actually saving…Read more
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Let Me Tell You About the Time I Didn’t Have a House- Part 2
February 19, 2016 /“I think I can see our house from here,” I said. “Where?” Ellie said. “There.” “That’s a medieval tower. Also: we don’t have a house.” “Oh,” I said, squinting. “Yes. I suppose you’re right.” Oliver, Ellie, and I were sitting up in the hills above Glendalough, looking down at the ruins of the medieval monastery in the valley below. Crowds of tourists wandered among the buildings, clustering together like ants, pausing every now and again to take selfies in front of the stone buildings. “I mean, I guess we could live in a medieval tower,” I said. “I don’t think there are any rules against it. Medieval towers were good enough for folks once upon a time, and it’s not like we have too many options at this point.” “There are definitely rules against it,” Ellie said. “Are you sure?” “Pretty sure.” Our decision to bus to Glendalough was a result of our mounting frustration with our housing search. We’d grown tired of our routine, tired of filling out applications and receiving no response, tired of sharing a hostel with strangers. In particular, I’d developed a supreme distaste for watching our eccentric, suit-wearing, Tesco-loving friend gurgle his way through breakfast…Read more
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Let Me Tell You About the Time I Didn’t have a House – Part I
February 12, 2016 /It began in Grand Central Station, beneath the constellation of Orion. It was one o’clock in the morning, and I was sitting in a corner with suitcases piled around me, watching a man in a disheveled suit engage in an animated discussion with a vending machine. After a few moments, I got up and called Oliver on a nearby payphone. “Hey there buddy,” Oliver said when he answered, “you on the train yet?” “Um,” I said. Silence on the other end. Then, after a while: “Did you miss the train?” “Um.” “You missed the last train to New Haven.” “Yes. Yes, I did.” “Are you sure you missed it?” “Just kidding. I’m actually on the train right now, laughing and eating bonbons and watching the five boroughs whizz by.” “Really?” “No, of course not. I’m stuck in New York.” “I’m sorry buddy. You’ll have to wait until the next train. We’ll pick you up when you get here. Also: are you calling me on a payphone?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I thought it would be more dramatic this way.” A heavy silence on the other end. “You know,” I continued,…Read more
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Neighborhood Profile: Juanita
February 5, 2016 /How would you like to live in one of the top five neighborhoods in the country? Like most people, your answer is probably a resounding “Yes!” (give or take a few enthusiastic exclamation points). In 2014, Money Magazine named Kirkland the fifth best place to live, calling it a bustling “hotspot” full of good jobs, schools, and neighbors. Rest assured that nothing has changed since 2014. As such, Kirkland’s many neighborhoods are prime real estate, and you deserve to know all the wonderful facts about living in each and every one of them. That’s where the neighborhood of Juanita comes in. The neighborhood of Juanita is situated in northern Kirkland. Bordered by Lake Washington, I-405, Finn Hill, Bothell, and Forbes Creek, Juanita serves as a bedroom community for Seattle and other cities on the eastern shore of the Puget Sound, such as Bellevue and Redmond. Juanita is a small neighborhood with a population of about 13,000 people, most of whom enjoy a commute time of about 25 minutes each way. While most commuters drive their own vehicles on I-405, many others take advantage of the area’s ride-sharing culture by utilizing its many park-n-rides. Juanita’s prime location and amenities make it…Read more
