penthouse
Mark Twainâs houses: From his Connecticut mansions to the NY brownstone known as ‘The House of Death’
Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the American writer, humorist, publisher, and lecturer best known by his pen name — Mark Twain — is widely considered one of the greatest American writers of all time. Perhaps youâve read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in your youth, or perhaps youâre just a […]
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An uncertain future
On February 17th â in the middle of nine days without power due to an ice storm â we had the foundation contractor out to re-inspect our house. We experienced some settling last fall, and I was worried that might indicate deeper problems.
For thirty minutes, the contractor explored the crawlspace while I sat in the living room, fretting. When he finished, he came up to tell me what he’d found.
“Look,” he said, “my assessment is the same as when you had me out here three years ago. Your foundation is fine. It’s not failing. The house isn’t falling down.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
“That said,” he continued, “I do think you’d feel better if you were to reinforce one section of the foundation. It looks to me as if you’re seeing some minor expansion and contraction of the soil, which is what’s causing your settling issues. It’d cost about $9000 to remedy that.”
That evening as Kim and I huddled in our powerless living room, bundled in coats and jackets and using flashlights to read, I made a confession.
“I want to move,” I said. “I know we both love this house and this yard, but it’s taking a toll on my mental health.”
“I know,” Kim said. “I know you’ve been struggling. Ever since we moved in, I’ve seen how you’ve grown increasingly depressed and anxious. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy, but I think maybe you should give up on your dream of owning an old house.”
She’s right. I love old houses but my personality isn’t suited for them. They stress me out. (My ex-wife and I owned an old house too â she still lives there â and it caused me endless stress, as well.)
For the next couple of weeks, Kim and I spent many hours discussing our best course of action. Then, one month ago today, we made a decision: We would sell the house as soon as possible (to take advantage of the crazy Portland real-estate market), then rent a place for a while as we made a careful, calculated decision about where to live next.
Manhattan Beach’s priciest listing is a $36M modern mansion with luxury resort vibes
A 6-bedroom home that faces one of the most beautiful coastal shorelines in all of California is looking to set new records for the area. The modern four-story house designed by renowned L.A. studio KAA Design hit the market in June with an ambitious $36 million asking price — a record for Manhattan Beach. It’s […]
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Silver screen icon Greta Garboâs former Los Angeles home lists for $12M
The former Los Angeles home of one of old Hollywoodâs brightest stars has just hit the market. Greta Garbo’s custom estate in the hills of Beverly Crest, which she once shared with then-boyfriend Leopold Stokowski, is now on the market asking $12,000,000. The news comes one month after the starlet’s longtime home — a luxurious […]
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Ken Griffin buys Miami compound for $106.9 million, a new record
Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin recently paid $106.875 million for a waterfront estate in Miami, Fla., shattering the previous price record in the area.
Michael B. Jordan’s house hits the market for $12.995 million
Michael B. Jordan is adding house flipping to his long list of accolades. Best known for his roles as boxer Donnie Creed in Creed and Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, the former Fruitvale Station actor has taken Hollywood by storm in the past few years, with his stellar acting landing him a spot on The […]
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Is the âGlass Onionâ house real?
Who would have thought that Daniel Craig, aka Bond, James Bond, would be able to charm his way into becoming a modern, American version of Hercule Poirot, dazzling us with his unique Southern drawl? Not even Agatha Christie could have seen this coming. Yet here we are, eyes glued to the screen to watch the […]
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Five-star living: Private residences at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles are up for grabs
When it comes to luxurious accommodations, it doesn’t get much more upscale than the Four Seasons. If you’re planning a trip and you don’t know where to stay, finding a local Four Seasons is like getting a guaranteed five-star experience. And if you’re looking for long-term luxurious living in L.A., the Four Seasons has a […]
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Myths and misconceptions about financial independence and early retirement
As the financial independence and early retirement movement (or FIRE movement, for short) has gained popularity, some myths and misconceptions have sprung up about what it entails. Too many people make assumptions about what the FIRE movement is and what it’s made of.
A lot of folks think the FIRE movement is cult-ish. Some think that financial independence and early retirement are only for rich white people. (Or, more specifically, for white men in the tech industry.) Others say that early retirement is only possible with a high income. Or you can only do this if you’re so frugal it hurts. And, of course, there are folks like Suze Orman who “hate hate hate” the FIRE movement because they believe you need millions in order to retire â early or otherwise.
I’ll be honest. Each objection and complaint about financial independence contains a grain of truth. But each objection and complaint misses the point in some important ways.
Today, let’s look at some of these myths and misconceptions about financial independence and early retirement, and explore why these myths and misconceptions are myths and misconceptions.