by Financial Samurai | Nov 29, 2023 | Uncategorized
Just like how the purchase price of a car is not the entire cost, the purchase price of a house is not the entire cost either. In this post, I’d like to discuss all the surprising costs that come after you close escrow. First of all, these are the unsurprising...
by Financial Samurai | Nov 27, 2023 | Uncategorized
Empower surveyed 2,304 U.S. adults about financial happiness. And one of the most fascinating data points from the survey was that Millennials need to earn $525,000 a year to feel happy! Although $525,000 isn’t a top 1% income ($650,000+ is in 2023), it’s...
by Financial Samurai | Nov 24, 2023 | Uncategorized
Partially thanks to high mortgage rates, the percentage of homebuyers who pay cash has risen. As of September 2023, according to Redfin, 34.1% of U.S. home purchases were made in cash. This is up from 29.5% in September 2022, when mortgage rates were lower. Redfin...
by Financial Samurai | Nov 22, 2023 | Uncategorized
Instead of sharing the usual things I’m thankful for (health, family, being Asian, etc.), I thought I’d share some unusual things I’m thankful for this year! 2023 was supposed to be a return to easy living. Alas, I don’t feel very relaxed. The...
by Financial Samurai | Nov 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
I’ve been trying to leave San Francisco since 2014. After fake retiring in 2012, I thought it was only logical to move to a lower-cost area of the country, like Honolulu, to save money and be closer to my folks. Yes, Honolulu isn’t cheap, but it’s...
