DH and I are considering buying a small sfh (about $90-100k) or duplex ($180-200k) in a college town 7 hours away where his mother currently rents on a fixed income. The duplexes cash flow better. Due to 25 down requirement, cash at closing for a duplex would be up to $55k and we have about $40k cash on hand. We have $15k in an old troweprice blue chip growth fund we can cash out. Would you do it with the stock market so high?
Early 40s, two kids, income $230k, $160k of that is very secure, the rest secure. We have at least $400k equity in our primary residence in a vhcol area, piti $2500, student loans of $400 a month, and $7k left in a car loan at 1.9 percent. Currently max out one 401k (other job has terrible 403b) and two roths. The $230k is recent -- $25k raise as of Jan 1 -- but we have little income growth potential in our current positions.