fareastwarriors

I keep hoping (dreaming) that ML will one day buy out E-trade and use the E-trade platform...

What is your overall allocation? I'm assuming stocks in your IRA and regular account are primarily U.S. based companies. If those assumptions are correct, then you should get some cheap exposure to the fixed income and international stocks. My choice: VBTIX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares 0.07% VTSNX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares 0.12% Your 401k looks really good by comparision to the average plan out there. I worked at a few places before and I would die to see some of those choices available at such a low expense ratio.

http://wealthtrack.com/special-series/great-investors-series/donald-yacktman-great-investor-turns-conservative/ Yacktman on WealthTrack.

I'm looking forward for the drop to continue so I can build a position. ;)

Blogger/MBA grad to investment professional at Yacktman Asset Management http://www.valueuncovered.com/reflections

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-31/buffett-s-40-billion-cash-pile-provides-acquisition-fuel.html

sluggish US demand for gasoline; high demand for diesel abroad. U.S. Becoming 'Refiner to the World' on Strong Diesel Demand http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227733#ixzz2jErV6WJl

Like 5%. I like to be fully invested since I constantly adding cash as my portfolio is small and I'm only 25 and working.

I know we are trying to be stock pickers here but why not choose the best fund available? For my 401k, I avoid the S&P500 index fund and get the MSCI EAFE/MSCI World funds for more exposure to international markets. My holdings in my IRA/regular are primarily U.S. companies. I also get my fixed income allocation from an actively managed mutual fundd. I have access to some great low cost Vanguard index funds and some good value managers with low expense ratio funds. I know "market return" is not as sexy as what we aim for here but I think having funds in my 401k makes sense for my asset allocation. What is the chance of lobbying the 401k admin to add the brokerage link option? In Vanguard, over 29% of the 401k participants added this option already. I definitely see a trend here. After all, this is America, and I should have the freedom to invest my own money! >:( I agree with both of you about having the freedom to invest our own money. But I think I'm fairly lucky with my 401k plan despite not having a brokerage window. My plan doesn't charge fees as my company covers everything, the funds all have low expense ratios, and the variety of index funds available are the lowest cost share classes. This is not the norm for most people. I know many people with crappy, expensive plans with terrible funds. One of my friend's plan had all active funds except for one S&P 500 index fund but that index fund has an expense ratio of 1.6%.... And hat was the cheapest option available...amazing... Depending on your company, you might be able to lobby to get the window added or at least add some some low cost index funds or low cost active funds. For the longest time, my company offered 5 active funds (albeit value/relatively low expense) and 1 money market fund. Then they finally added 5 Vanguard index funds 2 years ago. It's a giant step in the right direction~!

I know we are trying to be stock pickers here but why not choose the best fund available? For my 401k, I avoid the S&P500 index fund and get the MSCI EAFE/MSCI World funds for more exposure to international markets. My holdings in my IRA/regular are primarily U.S. companies. I also get my fixed income allocation from an actively managed mutual fundd. I have access to some great low cost Vanguard index funds and some good value managers with low expense ratio funds. I know "market return" is not as sexy as what we aim for here but I think having funds in my 401k makes sense for my asset allocation.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-28/fairfax-at-14-year-high-shows-blackberry-is-gravy.html Fairfax at 14-Year High Shows BlackBerry Is Gravy

Weitz to Yacktman Hold Cash as Managers Find Few Bargains http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-25/weitz-to-yacktman-hold-cash-as-managers-find-few-bargains.html

Investors pile on record debt to buy stocks at record highs http://www.cnbc.com/id/101136515 Margin levels, or the amount borrowed to purchase securities, hit a record $401 billion in September, according to NYSE Euronext figures released this week. The monthly increase of 4.78 percent was also the largest gain since January.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-24/families-blocked-by-investors-from-buying-u-s-homes.html Home purchases by institutional buyers reached a record high in September and all-cash buyers accounted for almost half of sales as investors responded to rising demand from renters. Institutional purchases accounted for 14 percent of sales, according to a report today from RealtyTrac. That was the highest share since the real estate data firm began in 2011 to track transactions by that group, which it defines as buyers of 10 or more homes a year. All-cash sales rose to 49 percent from 40 percent in August and 30 percent a year earlier, a sign that rising mortgage rates since May have kept some people out of the market and that smaller investors are stepping up purchases.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-24/buffett-says-gains-in-housing-fall-short-of-equilibrium.html Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A), said the U.S. housing market has made progress and still has a way to go in recovering. “It’s coming back,” Buffett, 83, said yesterday during an event at the New York Public Library. “Pricing (SPCS20Y%) is better in almost all markets by a reasonable percentage from a few years ago. Housing starts are up somewhat. They still are not where I would regard as an equilibrium point, where they match household formation.”

+1 on the iBonds.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-17/berkshire-adds-stocks-in-pension-handoff-to-buffett-lieutenants.html Buffett Adds Stocks in Pension Handoff to Lieutenants

I use http://www.dividendyieldhunter.com/

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101112707 Tepper: No taper for 'long time' to push up stocks

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-14/buffett-turns-to-deputies-to-help-find-successors-for-unit-ceos.html Buffett Turns to Deputies to Help Find Successors for Unit CEOs

I'm 25 and definitely way less than 500k... ;D

If you were less experienced or some newbie/first time landlord, then I wouldn't think it would be a good idea. But it seems like you're an experienced landlord with property management and you understand the process and have a system in place. Given all that, I would say go for it. Thanks for pointing out that the sale might take a lot longer than expected. It would be nice to get some cash flow while you wait for the sale. I don't know where your property is but I'm in the SF Bay Area and I'm so used to seeing any decently priced property going pending with a few days (or a week at most)... My family and I brought 2 triplexes last year but this year we couldn't buy any property. The prices in the area went up like crazy and every decent priced property had multiple offers and was way over asking. I'll keep looking and waiting...

For that little a month, personally I wouldn't bother renting it out and save my energy to work towards getting it sold instead...

Hmm They know you are selling the place in a few months but still want to rent and make upgrades... that does sound good...maybe too good.. Since you say it will be a tear down anyways, sounds like there is not much to lose as long as the below is considered. But with that said, I would still do the standard application/credit check/rental agreement/etc. Also what is rent going to be? Few things I would consider: Is your state friendly to landlords? is there rent control in city/county? How is the eviction process (if necessary)? Good luck.

+1