FIRE... by 2018

Going on this year's big trip today. Won't be back for 2 and a half weeks. The trip is costly, but preparing for it isn't cheap either. I've spent over $400 bucks in the past week just getting the necessary items for the trip, including some recommended shots not covered by my health insurance. Heading to Beijing and other cities in China. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. It is my first time into China.

Some thoughts before I go:

1. Brooklyn real estate bubble? Yes, I agree that prices have come down a bit, but not drastically and sellers are not really having that hard a time selling. If it's in a good location and of good quality like this $499k 800 sq ft 1br 1.5ba I saw in April, it will not have problems selling. That apartment had 1 open house on a rainy day and is now in contract. Wow. I never even got a chance to view it.

2. I tried using Google Adsense Preview on the real estate website I built and saw too many "competing" brokers on the preview. There will be too many sites to block. So for now, that project is still on hold. Not sure if I'll ever capitalize on it.

3. Tenant confirmed ending the lease in June. I will try to rent it out again. If I can't get good tenants, I'll sell it and maybe move the gains to another property that's closer to where I live. To be honest, I'd rather sell than rent it out.

4. Still taking a beating on the stock market. Still clueless why a stock behaves the way it does. Purchased LQDT at $12.xx. It trades today at $19.xx, up over 50%. Why? I don't understand. What are people seeing that I am not??? Too bad the gain doesn't cover the losses on the ETFs I bought. Put a stop order GTC for $18 to cash in on the gain while I'm away.

5. Prosper.com - Did not look too much into it, but was wondering if someone can be both lender and borrower. With good credit, can this not be a money making idea?

That's it for now. Happy pf-blogging.