🎙️Episode #444 – Let’s into the numbers, risks, and realities behind that question, plus YOUR questions on cash flow, 1031 exchanges, and when to prune… The post Can 2 Rentals REALLY Retire You? (Listener Q&A) appeared first on Coach Carson.

At a Glance: The Fed controls the federal funds rate, not mortgage rates Mortgage rates are more based on bond yields, not the federal funds rate The Trump Administration can’t control bond yields – or mortgage rates The Fight Over the Fed President Trump has tried everything from threats to bullying to name-calling to try and force the Fed to lower interest rates since reentering the Oval Office. Last week, he tried to fire Fed board member Lisa Cook. She’s suing, and a big legal fight will ensue, and who knows how that will turn out. But in some ways it doesn’t matter. Sooner or later, Trump will install enough loyalists at the Fed to sway their decisions. Jay Powell’s term as Fed chair expires in May anyway. The Fed will cut interest rates. But that may not move mortgage rates. Disclaimer The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or investment advice.  Always consult a licensed real estate consultant and/or financial advisor about your investment decisions.  Real estate investing involves risks; past performance does not indicate future results. We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or reliability of the information provided.  Our articles may have affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link, the affiliate may compensate our website at no cost to you. You can view our Privacy Policy here for more information.    The Federal Funds Rate vs. Mortgage Rates When the Fed “cuts interest rates,” they change something called the federal funds rate. That’s the short-term interest rate range that banks use to price overnight loans to one another. While mortgage rates do share a historical correlation with the federal funds rate, they’re not based on it. Mortgage rates are priced based on bond yields. And bond yields are based on what bond investors are willing to pay for them. Bond Investors Remain Wary President Trump can bully the Fed and will eventually get his way with cuts to the federal funds rate. But he can’t bully bond investors or control bond yields. And bond investors aren’t thrilled with the tariffs, inflation risk, and soaring government spending. Look no further than the weak performance of recent Treasury bond auctions. In September last year, Treasury yields dipped below 3.59%. Today, they sit around 4.25%. Again, that’s despite the Fed cutting the federal funds rate by 75 basis points over that period. Sure enough, mortgage rates are higher today than they were a year ago. (article continues below) Real estate investments? Awesome. Being a landlord? Less fun. Learn how to earn 15%+ on passive real estate investments in our free video course. Access Free Course Real Estate Markets Bending But Not Breaking After

It’s no secret that college is expensive, and that excessive college debt is creating a lot of hardship for many people in the United States. Heck, there are colleges creeping up on $100,000 – per year! During this college application season, parents and students are working out their college funding plans. For many families, loans… | Read More… The post Parents, Don’t Set Your Kids Up For Failure By Encouraging Too Much College Debt appeared […]

The living room and dining room table is where clutter turns into shame. Paper work, stacks of mail “to sort later,” and sentimental piles that slowly swallow the sofa, the dining table, the tv stands, and so on and so forth. We’ve gotten that we clear off the table bi-weekly when the family comes for dinner. But we just pick the piles up, and pile them on a bed in an extra bedroom. I told dad this week as we were doing that yet again. That I don’t know what I agree to this. Because once I return from my wedding trip to Georgia, I’m going to have to tackle that room. It will be piled high with randomness and the closet is already full of boxes of paperwork, sentimental items, and things they never unpacked when they moved here over a decade ago. The Decision Framework “Honor the story, protect the space.” The goal is to keep visible, curated history-without losing the room to cardboard time capsules. Two Power Stations This is my plan for October, leading up to the holidays and the kids coming. Because we will need all the extra beds/bedrooms for their visits Incoming Paper: Three files by the printer in the back room: “To Pay,” “To File,” “To Call.” One small shredder. Weekly 15-minute “Bills & Banter” appointment on the calendar. Dad wants me to take over the bill pay and financial tracking. But for now, I’m just trying to get it organized and be familiar. And I’ve got to file several years of back taxes. (My sister takes care of my mom’s accounts, etc.) Memory Lane: I’m slowly going room by room and sorting through the “stuff”. My mom has been incapacitated for the bulk of the last 5 years (diagnosed 8 years ago) so the house has long been neglected. I mentioned earlier that all items I question keeping first go through my dad, then my siblings. It’s working for us. My mom has always kept a beautiful home. I have no idea how she did it with all 5 of us kids. But she also became a thrifter in the last couple of decades. It’s all curated well, but us kids don’t have a lot of sentimental value placed on many of the decor or knick knacks collecting dust. Wrapping Paper & Bags Limits I discovered two LARGE boxes of just gift wrapping supplies. And then a hutch full of holiday tins. I’ve put them in away for now. But made it clear to dad that we are going to use that stuff

Lille is a French city without French roots. On the border with Belgium, it’s about as far north as one can go and still be in France. This gives Lille a different feel from other cities in France, especially when it comes to architecture. We found loads of interesting buildings, including government offices, cultural centers, […] The post Lille Is France Through A Different Lens appeared first on Bonus Nachos.

As inflation normalizes, consumers may see lower borrowing rates for buying homes and cars and using credit cards. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it will provide solid relief for those who put their plans on hold. The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised interest rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023 to combat soaring inflation, which peaked at over 9%. It increased its benchmark fed funds from 0.0%- 0.25% in March 2020 to a high […]

Want to pay off debt quickly? Learn how Chelsea Riffe paid off $10,000 in credit card debt fast while traveling the world. Paying off debt and traveling full-time might sound like a contradiction, but with the right mindset and habits, it’s absolutely possible.  Chelsea Riffe, a podcast strategist and host of In My Non-Expert Opinion […] The post 11 Debt Pay Off Tips for Digital Nomads with Chelsea Riffe (These Really Work) – Episode 200 […]

Rental Property Conundrum It’s been far too long since I’ve written an “Ask the Readers” article. Truth is, after almost 20 years of blogging, I feel like I have a very good handle on personal finance. When you combine that with an intimate knowledge of our own finances and goals, it doesn’t make much sense to put a scenario out to the general internet. However, this situation has me flummoxed*. We have a condo in […]