Finance Xpress

Housing is one of life’s fundamental needs, right up there with food, water, and safety. For decades, though, housing affordability has become increasingly out of reach for the average American. With the median U.S. home price hovering around $440,000 and the median household income roughly $80,000, it’s easy to see why homeownership has become more of a dream […]

The post A 50-Year Mortgage Is Fantastic For Homeowners And Investors appeared first on Financial Samurai.

I wasn’t always a personal finance nerd, but I gradually became one out of survival. This is my story — and my observation — of why being an “American nerd” has become more important than ever if you want to rise in your career or achieve financial freedom sooner. For context, I no longer view […]

The post Be an American Nerd, Not the Cool Kid, If You Want to Survive appeared first on Financial Samurai.

During my free financial review of my rollover IRA, I was feeling pretty good about how far it had come. Back when I retired from finance in April 2012, I had about $300,000 in my 401(k). After leaving, I rolled it into an IRA and invested in index ETFs and individual stocks. Since then, it […]

The post You Might Not Be as Good an Investor as You Think appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Housing security is something I hope everyone will one day obtain. Once you are house secure, you can more easily focus on your career, family formation, and other things you care about. However, if you rent for life, you may face housing insecurity, which can feel especially uncomfortable when you’re older or no longer willing […]

The post Please Don’t Rent Your Entire Life: Housing Security Is Vital appeared first on Financial Samurai.

As a buyer and seller of real estate since 2003, I’ve learned that getting a home inspection before each purchase is one of the most important steps in protecting yourself. You want a professional — someone who’s inspected hundreds of homes — to review your potential property for at least an hour before you submit […]

The post Paying For A Home Inspection Is Worth The Cost, Don’t Skip Out appeared first on Financial Samurai.

It’s a raging bull market, and I’ll admit, I’m a little annoyed I don’t have a large paycheck anymore to take advantage of more investment opportunities. Every day, I see people with steady W-2 income are funneling thousands into stocks, real estate, and private deals. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here, asset rich but cash flow constrained. […]

The post FIRE Confessional: No Big Paycheck During a Bull Market Stinks appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Halloween isn’t just about ghosts, ghouls, and overpriced costumes that disintegrate after one use. For financially aware adults, the real chills come from spreadsheets, surprise bills, and market meltdowns that turn your net worth chart into a horror movie graph. After over three decades of studying, working through, and writing about financial ups and downs, […]

The post The 8 Scariest Financial Situations You Can Find Yourself In appeared first on Financial Samurai.