Started By
Message

Need financial advice

Posted on 9/22/25 at 7:55 pm
Posted by tigereye1988
Member since Jul 2012
274 posts
Posted on 9/22/25 at 7:55 pm
I’m about to come into 200k+ selling a piece of property. I’m pretty good with money, but far from a financial guru. I’m weighing some options:
Paying off mortgage (130k)
Building some apartments. Already have the land.
Investing
Moving to Mexico lol
Any advice?
Posted by horsesandbulls
Destin, FL
Member since Jun 2008
5132 posts
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:03 pm to
Is the 200k the net cash after closing costs and taxes?
Do you already have an emergency fund?
What do your retirement accounts look like?
How long until you plan on retiring?
What is the rate on your mortgage and how many payments do you have left on it?
Do you have other high interest debt like personal loans, vehicle loans, credit card balances?
Do you have kids that you want to help fund college accounts for?

I’m sure I’m missing a lot but asking for investment advice needs a lot more than what you’ve given
Posted by tigereye1988
Member since Jul 2012
274 posts
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:33 pm to
Good on emergency fund

Retirement accounts are in good shape. Wife and I have been contributing for 15 years. Still young. Mid-late 30s

4.5% interest rate. 25 years left. We are using this as a rental house. Note is 1000 per month. Renting for 1500

No loans other than house note. Which is a new house. 6.5 percent rate

2 kids under 3. Which makes time for financial research tough to come by lol

Posted by WhiskeyThrottle
Weatherford Tx
Member since Nov 2017
6867 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 7:09 am to
How old are you? Are you opposed to the boring, old, but effective strategy of DCA into broad index funds?
Posted by Popths
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2016
4379 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 7:43 am to
I’d pay off the mortgage. Crazy how much money you can save after becoming debt free. For me personally, I saved more money in my 50’s than all my years before combined. I contribute it to becoming debt free. Just sharing my experience. You do you.
Posted by MekaWarriors
Member since Aug 2025
214 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 8:34 am to
I would second the paying off the mortgage. There is something psychological about being completely debt free, not to mention that life likes to throw wrenches at you non-stop and being completely and utterly debt-free relieves so much pressure when this happens. Once this happens, I would begin pouring your mortgage into either your children's college accounts or investments. Do not get accustomed to living on this extra income. It would be great if you could structure it so that you never really see this income hit your accounts. I will also make it moderately difficult to access it.
Posted by TorchtheFlyingTiger
1st coast
Member since Jan 2008
2885 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 10:23 am to
quote:

boring, old, but effective strategy of DCA into broad index funds?

DCA isnt applicable here. It would be better to lump sum. DCA is best for investing as you have $ available instead of waiting to accumulate a big lump sum. But DCA isnt meant to be used to gradually invest if you already have the large sum accumulated.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
24413 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:13 am to
I can answer this easily

I have an account that I funded with $198,231.86. The account is about 2.5 years old now and my annualized return is sitting at 20.19%

I had a mortgage at that time around $100,000 @ 2.5%. I still have that mortgage.

Paying off a mortgage is a great mental decision, not a great financial decision.

As far as apartments go, $200,000 just going to offset the much higher cost to build and that is a long term investment option. You are going to need to recoup building loan and then make enough to offset maintenance. Not a bad idea, but you are looking at several years to profitability, unless there is a chance to flip it for profit within a few years.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
24413 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:17 am to
Adding to that, since you are in mid 30s

$200,000 in SPY following historical trends
Age 55 - $750,000ish
Age 65 - $1,500,000ish

Unless you are all in on property management, invest it and forget it. Do not pay off mortgage.
Posted by whodatigahbait
Uptown
Member since Oct 2007
1833 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:37 pm to
quote:

4.5% interest rate. 25 years left. We are using this as a rental house. Note is 1000 per month. Renting for 1500


DONT Pay this off. I'm all for sleeping at night but this is financial leverage on an asset not, personal debt.
Posted by MekaWarriors
Member since Aug 2025
214 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:48 pm to
My father did this very thing that you and DarthRebel are suggesting and then the Dot Com bubble burst. He could not liquidate fast enough and lost his investment and eventually his home to foreclosure when he was laid off several months later. I know it makes no financial sense at all, but I always advocate for financial freedom.
Posted by Flightnclouds
Member since Sep 2018
1378 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 6:42 pm to
Agree. Debt free house paid off mid 30’s is the route I would go.
Posted by T-Jon
Member since Jan 2012
89 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 7:30 pm to
I would use $200k for the pre-construction costs on building apartments, if that is your plan for that land (and you somewhat know what you’re doing).

It’s hard to hit a Homerun when you’re trying to bunt. You have plenty more at bats if you strike out.
Posted by tigereye1988
Member since Jul 2012
274 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 8:11 pm to
My first time posting on this board. Pleasantly surprised at the amount of thoughtful comments. Much different from to OT lol.
I know I’m in a good spot financially. Some of that is attributed to good decisions, some of it is luck. I’m leaning towards to safe play and paying off the mortgage. But part of me wants to take a big swing in construction. Thanks again for the comments.
Posted by horsesandbulls
Destin, FL
Member since Jun 2008
5132 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 9:06 pm to
You still never answered if the 200k was net of tax or if you’ll need to hold some of it for taxes.

Figure that out before you do anything else. Last thing you want is to make this decision then have to come up with 25-40k to cover the tax bill.

The numbers say put it back in the market and don’t pay the mortgage down but speaking as someone who doesn’t have a mortgage it’s pretty freeing.

If you do decide to go the market route, look up 3 fund portfolio and do that. Will be solid in 20 years.

Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
24413 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 9:19 pm to
quote:

My father did this very thing that you and DarthRebel are suggesting and then the Dot Com bubble burst. He could not liquidate fast enough and lost his investment and eventually his home to foreclosure when he was laid off several months later. I know it makes no financial sense at all, but I always advocate for financial freedom.


I get where you are coming from, and you have to be able to weather the storm. There is going to be another recession in all our lifetimes, plan accordingly.

In the OPs scenario, paying off the mortgage would be financially stupid, unless he takes the ~$700/month saved from no mortgage and invests it every month. After 25 years @ 7% annual returns, paying the mortgage off will come ahead of just investing by $100,000. If returns average 10% annually (historical average) investing all will come out ahead $200,000 vs. paying off mortgage.

At 10 years, investing is ahead roughly $200,000 over paying mortgage. This is because investing all is lump some and paying off mortgage requires you to keep contributing mortgage to investing and does not catch up till you get close to that 25 year mark.

He still has a $70,000 buffer between mortgage and $200,000. He would need to lose 35% of investment to not be able to pay off mortgage if needed.

Going back to 70s, it looks like there were just 3 times it dropped more than 35%. It appears COVID crash was just 34%





This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 9:32 pm
Posted by SquatchDawg
Cohutta Wilderness
Member since Sep 2012
18835 posts
Posted on 9/23/25 at 9:37 pm to
I had something similar with an inheritance. I wanted it for future opportunities or costs money so didn’t want to put too much at risk. Have it split 65% Fidelity MM at @ 4% and 35% split between value and growth Vanguard ETFs. It’s up 7% YTD and there if I need it.
Posted by SlidellCajun
Slidell la
Member since May 2019
15450 posts
Posted on 9/24/25 at 8:11 am to
Remember

Having money allows opportunity for more sin. It also offers the opportunity to do more good.

Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46064 posts
Posted on 9/24/25 at 8:30 am to
quote:

No loans other than house note. Which is a new house. 6.5 percent rate
pay off your mortgage
Posted by KTiger85
Member since Oct 2018
898 posts
Posted on 9/24/25 at 9:38 am to
More facts needed to get more detailed advice. Your financial discipline is a factor. If you pay off mortgage, then allow the extra funds to whisper away by spending it frivolously, then you would be better off keeping the mortgage and investing the rest.

A consideration could be to pay your mortgage down partially to save on long term interest. You could also turn it into a 15 year mortgage vs a 30 year. These approaches lower your long term cost of the mortgage, yet keep some of the lump sum money available to you.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram