Search found 577 matches

by RootSki
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: rider mower club cadet or john deere
Replies: 21
Views: 2154

Re: rider mower club cadet or john deere

Alternative option: Greenworks 60V or 80V mowers. I have the Greenworks 80V Zero Turn and it’s revolutionized the 2 acres I maintain. I got it from Costco, 12 batteries, 3 high capacity dual chargers. The batteries recharge faster than I can deplete them. It’s fast, cuts great and I can use all the same towing attachments I used with the riding mower. Bonus, I don’t even need ear protection to use it.
by RootSki
Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Top Quality Backpack
Replies: 75
Views: 10093

Re: Top Quality Backpack

Osprey backpacks are very well built.
by RootSki
Mon Jan 17, 2022 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Areas in or around NJ which are a good value
Replies: 88
Views: 7021

Re: Areas in or around NJ which are a good value

I think the key is to close your eyes for 7 seconds. Why? So you can ignore the sign that says "Welcome to Pennsylvania". Hard pass on Penn. Driving in penn is a nightmare. I beg to differ, I love driving in PA. First of all there’s less traffic and way less police. Two lane country roads are so much fun and there’s always another way to get somewhere. Everyone speeds on these two lane roads, especially when there’s passing zones. Don’t even get me started about the PA Turnpike. What a fast road that is. With a 70mph speed limit, I’m doing 90 and people are passing me like I’m standing still. My own take is PA taxes are much more reasonable partly because our school taxes stay within the district you live in, whereas in NJ, your ...
by RootSki
Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: MegaBackdoor in 2022
Replies: 10
Views: 1755

Re: MegaBackdoor in 2022

I’ve decided to max out my $10k limit for after tax before my pre-tax contributions, just in case.
by RootSki
Thu Dec 23, 2021 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: can I afford this house? there barely is anything available... Age 31/30 couple
Replies: 64
Views: 6340

Re: can I afford this house? there barely is anything available... Age 31/30 couple

There’s a tremendous amount of new home (townhome/condo) development happening in the Whippany section of Hanover Township. They are building something like 1100 units over the next five years. 400 on Parsippany Road and 700 on Eden Lane. I just moved away from Whippany because of all of the new construction happening. There’s also something weird happening in Whippany at night where there are cars racing each other on Route 10, Whippany Road and even Bee Meadow and Malapardis and the police seem to be blind to it or ignoring it despite numerous complaints. We lived in Whippany for 9 years but I honestly wouldn’t recommend anyone move a family there. Good luck. Yeah I do see all the new construction but where else besides hanover? I have h...
by RootSki
Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: can I afford this house? there barely is anything available... Age 31/30 couple
Replies: 64
Views: 6340

Re: can I afford this house? there barely is anything available... Age 31/30 couple

There’s a tremendous amount of new home (townhome/condo) development happening in the Whippany section of Hanover Township. They are building something like 1100 units over the next five years. 400 on Parsippany Road and 700 on Eden Lane.

I just moved away from Whippany because of all of the new construction happening. There’s also something weird happening in Whippany at night where there are cars racing each other on Route 10, Whippany Road and even Bee Meadow and Malapardis and the police seem to be blind to it or ignoring it despite numerous complaints. We lived in Whippany for 9 years but I honestly wouldn’t recommend anyone move a family there. Good luck.
by RootSki
Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Volvo opinions?
Replies: 41
Views: 4868

Re: Volvo opinions?

I’ve been only driving Volvo’s since I got my first XC60 in 2010. Great cars, built like tanks. Superior seats to anything else. Great ergonomics with controls. I’m currently in a 2019 XC60 T8 with Pilot Assist (amazing cuts down on driving fatigue on long drives) air suspension and Bowers & Wilkins sound system (maybe the best factory sound in a mass produced car). I’m currently averaging over 100mpg. The Hybrid Drive system is very smart and clever. I’ve had zero issues with my 2019 and I’m just over 30,000 miles. The from 2016-2021, the infotainment system was powered by Sensus, a very good albeit sometimes clunky system. 2019 model year is the sweet spot on the XC60 as Sensus got a processor upgrade. I believe there was some deconte...
by RootSki
Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Filling Gasoline Tank To The Brim To Compute MPG
Replies: 104
Views: 8344

Re: Filling Gasoline Tank To The Brim To Compute MPG

My Volvo XC60 T8 (PHEV) has a pressurized fuel tank (in addition to the rails) and the user manual specifically says not to fill it after pump after it initially stops pumping.

I’ve always been a 1 click and done person anyway.
by RootSki
Wed Oct 06, 2021 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a home: cash vs mortgage
Replies: 38
Views: 3290

Re: Buying a home: cash vs mortgage

We live debt and mortgage free. It’s very comforting to us. We’re able to max out IRA in January and front-load our 401k’s by the end of April (yes, they do a true-up). We keep about a years worth of expenses in cash. Combined income is around $200k.
by RootSki
Sun Oct 03, 2021 7:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What’s your favorite web browser…and why?
Replies: 51
Views: 5897

Re: What’s your favorite web browser…and why?

Safari because it keeps my bookmarks sync’d between my 2 iPads, 2 iPhones and my Mac. If I save a link on one device, it’s automatically on all of them.
by RootSki
Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some good boglehead communities for peeps to hang out?
Replies: 75
Views: 8248

Re: What are some good boglehead communities for peeps to hang out?

I found Bogleheads from Early-Retirement.org (https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/). Good discussions there but a lot of people there take on more risk than necessary.
by RootSki
Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone calculate actual cost per mile driven?
Replies: 26
Views: 1996

Re: Anyone calculate actual cost per mile driven?

I only monitor fuel costs per mile through the Fuelly app. Currently it costs me $0.08 per mile using premium fuel (93 octane, 37mpg real).
by RootSki
Mon Aug 30, 2021 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Start-Stop system - new cars
Replies: 106
Views: 8925

Re: Start-Stop system - new cars

Volvo XC90 2020+ lets you turn this off permanently.
by RootSki
Sat Aug 28, 2021 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]
Replies: 2905
Views: 515302

Re: Tales from this insane real estate market

We closed on our NJ townhome yesterday for $100k over our initial purchase price in 2012, netting just over $88k in capital gains. Since we are debt free, all of the sale proceeds will be out towards the new mortgage. Sometime in the next month I will sell off approx $55k of mega corp stock to close out the mortgage. Now the real hard work begins, that is unpacking everything and turning this house into a loving warm home. I’m so excited to finally be done with the stress of looking, putting in offers we knew wouldn’t be accepted, decluttering, selling, packing and moving. It took 2 26’ trucks to get all of our stuff into PA. Movers were outstanding, it only took 14 hours to get the job done. Movers are some of the best money you can spend....
by RootSki
Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Freezer or top freezer fridge in garage?
Replies: 38
Views: 3324

Re: Freezer or top freezer fridge in garage?

Oh gosh….

I have both a chest freezer and an upright freezer and the sellers of the home I bought left us 2 refrigerator/freezers. Things are easier to find in the upright freezer. Food tends to get buried in the chest freezer and it becomes a chore to get things out of the bottom because that requires re-packing the freezer. We like to buy in bulk when things are a good price. Example, yesterday we bought 8 pounds of Wright thick cut bacon for $2.66/lb. The pandemic has really encouraged me to be more prepared with food staples at home.
by RootSki
Fri Aug 20, 2021 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can or should I buy a bigger house in a nicer neighborhood?
Replies: 22
Views: 2477

Re: Can or should I buy a bigger house in a nicer neighborhood?

We are ending our relationship with our HOA in 7 days, and I can’t wait. Quality of services has degraded and they have started to cheap-out on required repairs. The pool hasn’t opened in two years because the board doesn’t want to deal with it despite petitions and no reduction on the $387/HOA. Snow removal in the winter has become a joke. The landscapers constantly wake my son up from his naps.

Moving to a non-HOA home on a acre, I won’t care if the neighbors (who seem awesome so far) are making noise. In fact I might join them.
by RootSki
Thu Aug 19, 2021 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Protective Coating on New Subaru?
Replies: 31
Views: 7514

Re: Protective Coating on New Subaru?

If you live in a area with gravel, rocks or sand on the roads and are prone to chips on the front end, a paint protective film (PPF) will mitigate some of that. Commonly called a clear bra, 3M makes a great product called XPEL. Well worth it. I had the entire front end and hood of my XC60 done when it was new.
by RootSki
Tue Aug 17, 2021 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much to spend on remodel?
Replies: 32
Views: 2899

Re: How much to spend on remodel?

20 acres, private lake, 1.6 saved and home paid off? Congratulations! Dream homes are great. Do it.
by RootSki
Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Small vs large orders
Replies: 11
Views: 1254

Re: Small vs large orders

I would think that since time in the market being the most important factor, a $2000 at the beginning of the month would be better than $500 at the start of each week in the month.
by RootSki
Tue Aug 17, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone buying cars right now?
Replies: 261
Views: 32345

Re: Anyone buying cars right now?

I accidentally joined a “Car dealers only” group on Facebook. Why they approved me for membership is questionable, nonetheless the info I’ve read has been enlightening. Now is a terrible time to buy a car. Chip shortages are not going to subside anytime soon. The days of picking a car off the lot are coming to an end I believe. Pretty soon everything will be a custom order at MSRP.
by RootSki
Fri Aug 13, 2021 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]
Replies: 2905
Views: 515302

Re: Tales from this insane real estate market

henry wrote: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:45 am Recent tale from Philadelphia suburbs. Relative listed their house in June 2021. 4 bedroom colonial style home built in the early 1980s on a 1/3 acre lot. Listed for 500,000. Had over 30 showings in 3 days with several offers. Under contract on day 4 for 550,000. Buyer waived home inspection. Deal went to closing 3 or 4 weeks later.
I see this scenario play out every day in Bucks county. Some <3000 square foot homes are going for 75k over asking
by RootSki
Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aaargh.. retroactive permit for HVAC changes!
Replies: 49
Views: 5349

Re: Aaargh.. retroactive permit for HVAC changes!

I would do nothing. I live in an area with active code inspections upon sale of a home. I had a local licensed electrician put in a 40A EVSE. He didn't pull a permit, but told me when we sell, if the inspector asks about it, to call him and he'd take do the paperwork.

We're under contract. The inspector was scheduled to come tomorrow. He called my wife this afternoon and told her what he will be checking. Once she told him that I already updated all the smoke/CO2 detectors (older than 10 years) and re-hung the fire extinguisher, he said, I guess I don't need to come out then and emailed her our new CO cert 15 minutes later with tomorrow's date on it.
by RootSki
Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Local Lender vs Online Lender for Mortgage
Replies: 7
Views: 827

Re: Local Lender vs Online Lender for Mortgage

Does your real estate agent get some sort of local profit if you use their recommended mortgage?

I've closed several mortgages and re-fi's with Quicken (now Rocket). The live up to their name, they are fast with the paperwork and have the online document thing all figured out for easy uploading.

I would however use a local title/settlement company. They know all the right people to get your new title and deed done right the first time.
by RootSki
Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]
Replies: 2905
Views: 515302

Re: Tales from this insane real estate market

Whew! Phase 1 completed. Closed on our new home yesterday, just 66 days after we went to go see it. I'm very happy about that but I'm not dreading all of the work that turns an empty house into a warm and loving home.
by RootSki
Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help to decide about selling 11 acres & house
Replies: 48
Views: 4281

Re: Help to decide about selling 11 acres & house

Sell it to your nephew keeps ownership within the family. Maybe he rents is out to a family just starting out. You just never know who will move in.
by RootSki
Mon Aug 09, 2021 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wanting to become a stay-at-home mom
Replies: 22
Views: 3684

Re: Wanting to become a stay-at-home mom

Once the kids are in school full day, have a plan what to do with your time outside of daily home responsibilities.
by RootSki
Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Invest in Real Estate Even with No Passion?
Replies: 45
Views: 4885

Re: Invest in Real Estate Even with No Passion?

There is no such thing as “passive income” in real estate investing. Being a landlord is an active job that requires all sorts of pro-active and reactive tasks you may or maybe not are prepared for. If you are not handy with repairs and upgrades (when tenets move out) then you will incur higher expenses to contract those tasks out
by RootSki
Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to live between central NJ and NYC?
Replies: 53
Views: 5911

Re: Where to live between central NJ and NYC?

finite_difference wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:30 pm Maplewood, South Orange.
This.

Millburn/Summit too. Fantastic area to raise family.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs
Replies: 80
Views: 5680

Re: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs

I think owning an EV without a charging solution at home would be similar to going to refuel once a week. As long as there’s fast charging available along your regular habits and commutes. I’d get the biggest capacity available for winter range reductions.

I own a PHEV and I do not think it’s worth getting a PHEV without a home or work charging solution.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 31, 2021 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs
Replies: 80
Views: 5680

Re: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs

Most modern EVs use 220. Not running an extension cord for that. Going under a city street without a permit and inspection is very risky. All modern EVs can charge with 120V (Level 1) or 240V (Level 2). Of course the latter is dramatically faster - a typical EV requires around 50 hours of L1 charging to from empty to full, but less than 10 hours of L2. (I'm not saying OP should run an extension cord for either, just clarifying on 120 vs 240.) 50 hours? My Mach-E barely gets 3 miles per hour on 120. 95 hours for a full charge. You probably have the longer-range version. The standard range one is closer to typical EVs in battery capacity and should charge in 50-60 hours. For me, it varies a lot with temperature and state of charge. My Long R...
by RootSki
Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Homes with elevated radon
Replies: 26
Views: 3199

Re: Homes with elevated radon

I'm buying a home that has a radon mitigation system that was installed by the current owners. I've never encountered such infrastructure in a home I've owned before, but after talking to the homeowners, home inspector, and people who live in the area I'm moving to, they are very common. The basement floor was already concrete. They installed some 4" pvc ducting into the floor on two sides of the home and piped it all the way above the roofline. There's a positive pressure fan mounted outside in an enclosure connected to the pipe to move the radon out. I do plan on installing a "Smart Radon" monitor after we settle in to make sure the whole system is working. There's also a gauge on the pipe in the basement that shows me the ...
by RootSki
Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity "FidSafe" Free online storage of documents - is this safe?
Replies: 63
Views: 18734

Re: Fidelity "FidSafe" Free online storage of documents - is this safe?

MikeG62 wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:38 am I use iCloud Drive. Very easy and from what I've read it's quite secure.
This is how we share sensitive documents. Very secure.
by RootSki
Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Xfinity iPhone SE free
Replies: 15
Views: 1831

Re: Xfinity iPhone SE free

02nz wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:16 pm
David Jay wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:06 pm Xfinity is not a carrier, they use other people's cell towers.

If you have specific locations (home, cottage, etc.) with "iffy" service, I would ask which carrier they use. For instance, Verizon and T-Mobile have good signal at our home but ATT is really marginal.
Xfinity uses Verizon towers.
Verizon towers use Xfinify fiber optic lines to get the calls to where they need to go. Not universally, but there's a lot of optical cell-back-haul going on behind the scenes.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need to buy an Outback before 8/31
Replies: 26
Views: 4381

Re: Need to buy an Outback before 8/31

SC Anteater wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:29 pm
stan1 wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:09 pm
SC Anteater wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:51 pm I've reserved one that is supposed to arrive the first week in August. Only got the Costco $1000 off MSRP due to the market, but I don't think I can do any better in my timeframe. Good news is that demand is so high I didn't need to lay down any cash to reserve because the dealership said they've got plenty of people to sell it to if I don't want it, lol.
Come back and let us know if the dealer follows through or sells it out from under you to someone paying $1000s over MSRP.
Ugh, is that a thing??
100% a thing right now. Call them back and make a $1000 down-payment (not a deposit) to really secure it.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dealership used incorrect oil viscosity for car. Should it be changed to the correct viscosity?
Replies: 34
Views: 5700

Re: Dealership used incorrect oil viscosity for car. Should it be changed to the correct viscosity?

sunny_socal wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:41 am It's a non-issue.

Vehicles can often take a much larger range of oils than suggested. For example in the USA the Toyota Tundra has 0W-20 on the cap. However in Mexico the specified oil is 5W-30. Same vehicle. In the winter I run 0W-20, in the summer I run 5W-30 when we have 90-100F days for two months straight.

On the other hand.... my wife's Volvo XC90 specifies a "Volvo spec" oil that isn't readily available outside the dealer. Used to be 5W-30 for years, later they changed it to 0W-20. Which one is correct? (rhetorical)

Anyway, I'd run the vehicle until the next oil change and then go back to the original spec oil.
IPD, FCP Euro, and Tasca have the right Volvo spec 0W-20 oil.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: any reason NOT to get my catalytic converter etched through my local police dept
Replies: 91
Views: 11063

Re: any reason NOT to get my catalytic converter etched through my local police dept

I would not do this as my cars are garage kept. Also on the current generation (SPA/CMA) Volvo’s the cat is way up by the engine block, not easily accessible without removing a lot of stuff. I wouldn’t trust anyone but Volvo to do such a thing but then again I’ve never heard of a stolen cat from a Volvo either.
by RootSki
Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]
Replies: 2905
Views: 515302

Re: Tales from this insane real estate market

We first started to look for homes in Central to Northern Bucks county PA in February of 2020. We found a realtor, told them what we were looking for... then the pandemic hit. When real estate markets opened back up in Pennsylvania we started to see lots of homes from August to October. Then the inventory of everything nice was gone. When the 2021 spring/summer homes started to show up, we went to see a lot of homes. We narrowed our search to just Central Bucks school district. Every home we looked at was selling for $25K to $85K over asking price, all with in a week of listing. Some went under contract sight unseen. We lowered our expectations and told our realtor to include townhomes and HOA communities (Toll Brothers excluded, no stucco ...
by RootSki
Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling Home With Open Permits
Replies: 29
Views: 2989

Re: Selling Home With Open Permits

Sellers market rules. How many offers did you receive? If you feel your local market is hot, I like the idea of offering a small administrative concession to close out the permits and 48 hours to decide if they want the home or not. It also might be more difficult for a first time home-buyer to find another home they love, and get an offer accepted on it. :wink: We weren't in a rush to sell initially so we initially priced it way above market to see what offers we would get. We then lowered it a little bit and went with this offer. If we priced at market, I would assume multiple offers would come in. From what we've heard through the buyer's realtor, they have been looking for quite some time and have had immense trouble finding a house (p...
by RootSki
Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling Home With Open Permits
Replies: 29
Views: 2989

Re: Selling Home With Open Permits

Sellers market rules. How many offers did you receive? If you feel your local market is hot, I like the idea of offering a small administrative concession to close out the permits and 48 hours to decide if they want the home or not. It also might be more difficult for a first time home-buyer to find another home they love, and get an offer accepted on it. :wink:
by RootSki
Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to spend a day at the beach by Orlando?
Replies: 10
Views: 1278

Re: Where to spend a day at the beach by Orlando?

Lori Wilson park in Cocoa Beach. Easy parking and beach access.
by RootSki
Tue Jul 20, 2021 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Space Flight and Roth conversion
Replies: 76
Views: 7506

Re: Space Flight and Roth conversion

You should just get a job working for SpaceX. Hopefully in a decade, they will offer an employee discount to Mars as a part of their compensation package.
by RootSki
Tue Jul 20, 2021 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FSBO Lockbox - Buyer Agent Verification
Replies: 34
Views: 3134

Re: FSBO Lockbox - Buyer Agent Verification

Pessimist55 wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:01 pm
RootSki wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:09 pm Are you offering a commission to buyers agents?
Of course. 2.5%. am catching up on earlier replies. All very informative. Will reply w my take later this evening
Interesting. I am buying (closing 8/10/21) a FSBO home which does not include any commission for buyers agents. Our buyers agent didn't find us this home, we found it on Zillow contacted the homeowner and made our own arrangements to see the home. As luck would have it, our contract with our buyers agent didn't include any provisions for a FSBO. I did kinda feel a little bad that after showing us dozens of homes this is the route we take, but crazy market will do crazy things. She was cool about it and told us she hope to see us around town.
by RootSki
Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FSBO Lockbox - Buyer Agent Verification
Replies: 34
Views: 3134

Re: FSBO Lockbox - Buyer Agent Verification

Are you offering a commission to buyers agents?
by RootSki
Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do we decide where to live for our retirement?
Replies: 136
Views: 13249

Re: How do we decide where to live for our retirement?

I keep telling my wife, that we should be flexible about our retirement location, to the extent that we probably will want to live near where ever our son decides he wants to plant roots, as I just can't see us ever living hours away. We will be FI no matter what.
by RootSki
Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is title insurance needed for new construction townhome in NJ purchased for cash (no mortgage)
Replies: 74
Views: 6931

Re: Is title insurance needed for new construction townhome in NJ purchased for cash (no mortgage)

Based on what I’ve learned about how Toll Brothers built stucco homes in the 90’s and all the problems those owners had to resolve, I’d never buy into a TB community.
by RootSki
Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 35+ mile EV range in a PHEV SUV?
Replies: 67
Views: 9403

Re: 35+ mile EV range in a PHEV SUV?

We got a Volvo V60 T8 station wagon, a Polestar Engineered hybrid, and it is a delight. Combined, it produces 400 hp and about 500 ft lb of torque, making it rip to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It handily beats my E39 M5 and living on Oahu, we rarely ever have to put gas in it, unlike the 14 MPG that I get with the BMW. The 23 miles of pure electric driving are sufficient for us, and we recharge it via the 21 solar panels on the roof. Big thumbs up for Volvo hybrids. I have the XC60 T8. Slightly heavier than your V60, but essentially the exact same vehicle. I'm currently getting over 50mpg on this 400hp beast. With gentle driving in pure on a cooler day, I've driven 27 miles on battery alone. With lots of coasting and re-gen, I think 30 is possi...
by RootSki
Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My house isn't selling
Replies: 238
Views: 46404

Re: My house isn't selling

How well staged is the home in the MLS listing? Does it look like a showroom or is there clutter in the pictures? There has to be a reason why people are coming to see it. We listed our home a week ago (NJ) and got an all cash offer after the first showing. Our buyer has $840k sitting in a “savings” account. :shock:

City-data forums might be a good place to post your home and ask other people more local to you why you are not getting showings. https://www.city-data.com/forum/texas/
by RootSki
Wed Jul 14, 2021 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Return to Work - How is your company dealing with it?
Replies: 593
Views: 84131

Re: Return to Work - How is your company dealing with it?

I've been hearing unclear guidance that my megacorp will be going back into the office in September, but some teams are going back in August. It doesn't matter much for me, I've been rogue working from home for a decade with an occasional field trip to one of my 18 data centers as projects required. My wife's megacorp has announced her specific return to the office is on Monday, 7/12. We live two miles from her office, but she's not going. We're closing on a house 80 miles away next month and her manager is fully aware. Once she officially changes her address, her manager will submit her status change from office to home-shored. The QOL we have with both of us working from home is huge for our 2 year old. When the next pandemic level event...
by RootSki
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you have a messy portfolio?
Replies: 40
Views: 5555

Re: Do you have a messy portfolio?

I paid some took some losses and paid some taxes on selling sector funds and stocks to clean up my portfolio into all index funds. I didn't bother do to the math if it was financially efficient to do. I wanted to simplify and reduce risk. I'm glad I did it and the portfolio can run on "auto-pilot" for long stretches of time while I'm busy with other things. When life things slow down, and I look at the portfolio, everything is exactly how I expect it.