[USER]

Hello everyone, I am 47, a mom of small kids under 10, owner of my prime residence with 280K to go capped at a variable rate of 2.5% through my employer.

I have 4 rentals, 3 of which are at fixed rate of 2% and cash flow positive. #5 is in the heart of Brussels, Belgium, in a prime location, breaking even with the rent, and at a variable rate of 4.5%-5% whereas I started at 1.7%… it got hot I am telling you.

I have no other debt. I have brokerage accounts with approx 200K and just lost 20K through a bearish investment advisor: I learned my lesson.

I am doing it solo now via ETF, simple path to wealth-style with a standing order.

If I follow the baby steps and my guts, I reimburse my prime residence asap first to own my own place outright.

If I follow the numbers, they tell me to reimburse that Brussels apartment first.

Every month, I put aside money (2K) to go towards my prime residence on top of the mortgage, funnel into the brokerage account (1K) and into my savings account.

What would you do?

Reimburse Brussels because the variable rate is so high?
Not worry about it because I kinda break even?

Reimburse my primary residence first although it is capped?
Never change employer?

Invest more in the stock market because I am kind of late to the party?

I don’t want to sell Brussels, I live in a neighboring country, want to keep it for my kids when they go to uni.

TIA

[Brian]

Each one of those is its own math problem and the answer becomes clear. From a strict numbers perspective Brussels is the greatest crap shoot.

What else comes into play is how much you like each one and whether you plan to hold long term or forever.

Your primary and the other rentals locked in at excellent rates we may never see for a long time.. I’d do absolutely nothing with them but pay the mortgage as it is.

The conservative mind wants them payed off now. But the tax benefits offsetting income are just too strong. This is the get rich slow scheme.

So, either do nothing and dollar cost avg into S&P with that 2k or focus on Brussels.

If it isn’t cash flow positive over there I’d dump it and rent when I need a place.

Probably save a lot of headaches. But.. a lot of this is predicated on American numbers and tax codes and it may be different where you are that cld change everything.

[Russell]

Pay off the higher variable one first. The others are all consistent earners for you.

This one is the wildcard for your finances.

It might be a net positive…might be a loss.

[James]

Don’t pay off the mortgages with how low rates are. Investor for a better return.

[Author]

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