Issue #10: April 2025

Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners:
Seon C., Deepak R., Ray S., and Eric W.

Life

It's spring break for the kids right now in Fairfax County. So far, we went to Hersheypark Amusement Park in Pennsylvania with friends. The hotel we were staying at was right next to a Trader Joe's, and they happened to have plenty of the coveted mini tote bags that are supposedly sold out in Virginia. The wives took multiple trips, since there was a limit of 4. I don't understand the craze, but as Dave Ramsey says, "sometimes you don't have to get it, you just have to get it."

Besides that, the kids had a lot of fun. Our almost 2yo went on rides for the first time, and he loved it. The older boys went off on their own, so we didn't see them for most of the day. There were definitely a lot of people. There's a zoo that's connected to the park and is free with Hersheypark admission. I like animals, so I walked the zoo with our sleeping baby in the stroller during his nap because no one else wanted to go with me.

The real estate market and the travel business are keeping me busy. I'm also helping coach my daughter's soccer team, which I don't think I would have taken on if I didn't quit my government job. Getting rid of the "9-5" has given me a little more free time to do things I had previously put off.

We also got a new roof this month, and it was mostly covered by insurance. We just paid the $1,000 deductible. I had always heard stories of people getting free roofs covered by insurance. We used Green Oak Exteriors, and they were nice to work with. If you want a free roof inspection, let me know and I can connect you with my guy. If you don't qualify for the roof replacement, you will get dinged with a claim on your insurance though. The person who comes to inspect will usually have a good idea of whether it's worth it or not to file a claim and call an adjuster out.

Personal Finance

How Much Time Are You Losing Following the Stock Market and Crypto?

It starts innocently enough—just checking how the S&P is doing or seeing if Bitcoin broke through resistance. But before you know it, you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of charts, Reddit threads, price alerts, and hot takes from financial influencers.

And for what?

Unless you're a professional trader or managing a sizable portfolio that truly demands your attention, the return on time for watching the markets day to day is often... negative.

Think about it:

• 10 minutes in the morning to check headlines
• 20 minutes midday “just peeking” at charts
• 15 minutes before bed catching up on news
• Random alerts and tweets stealing your focus throughout the day

That’s over an hour a day. Multiply that by 5 days a week, and you’ve sunk over 20 hours a month into monitoring something that probably hasn’t changed your investment plan at all.

Long-term investing is supposed to be boring.​
And crypto? Even more so—because the 24/7 nature of it means you’re never off the clock unless you intentionally unplug.

If you're investing for the long term, your biggest advantages are time in the market and consistency—not perfect timing or obsessively following every price move.

Imagine redirecting that time into:

• Reading a great book on investing or personal growth
• Working on a side hustle
• Spending time with family
• Actually relaxing

Your portfolio doesn’t grow faster just because you stare at it more.

Sometimes, the smartest move is to zoom out, automate what you can, and get back to living your life.

Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of checking up on the markets too. I have a group chat with friends about stocks, and I'm in a crypto chat group even though I don't really invest in crypto. I'm just trying to remind myself (and others) that most investing should be long-term, and it usually won't help to obsess over checking all the ups and downs every day.

If you have any personal finance questions or a suggestion for a future topic, please submit them to mrfrugalee@gmail.com.

Real Estate

Rate Projections for the Rest of 2025

As of April 2025, the Federal Reserve has held the federal funds rate steady at 4.25%–4.50%, signaling a wait-and-see approach amid mixed economic data. While inflation has eased from its 2022–2023 highs, it's still hovering above the Fed's 2% target, which has made policymakers more cautious about cutting rates too quickly.

Current market expectations suggest we may see 2–3 rate cuts before the end of the year, potentially bringing the benchmark rate down to the 3.50%–3.75% range if economic conditions allow.

For consumers, this could translate to modest relief in borrowing costs, including mortgage rates. While mortgage rates remain elevated, many forecasts anticipate a gradual decline, with the average 30-year fixed rate possibly dropping to the low 6% range by year-end, assuming inflation continues to cool and the Fed proceeds with cuts.

However, this outlook is far from guaranteed. Sticky inflation, strong labor market data, or renewed geopolitical tensions could delay or limit cuts. The Fed has made it clear: rate decisions will be data-dependent, not calendar-driven.

Bottom line: If you're waiting for rates to drop significantly before making a move—whether it’s refinancing, buying a home, or reallocating your investments—2025 may bring some opportunities. But don’t expect a return to ultra-low pandemic-era rates anytime soon.

Assumable Loan Opportunity in Herndon, VA

If you're looking to buy a property with an assumable 4.375% rate and a low gap, here it is (2320 Field Point Rd. #4-404). It's a top floor condo in an elevator building with an assigned garage parking spot. It's walkable to the Innovation Station Metro in Herndon and very close to IAD (Dulles International Airport).

The PITI is currently $3,685.38 ($950.13 principal, $2130.85 interest, $604.40 escrow) plus $436/mo condo/HOA fee. Rent would be around $3,300-$3,400, so it won't cash flow. The benefit here is that you can get a below-market rate AND a low down payment without paying PMI. Funds to close would be around $48,000.

The unit is in excellent condition with nice upgrades and has a corner location in the building with lots of windows (natural light, even though it faces north and east).

Full disclosure: I actually made an offer on this one, but we ended up just under $9k apart. Seller did come down a good amount to $630k, 2.5% seller subsidy (this would cover your closing costs) and 2.5% BAC (Seller paying agent).

I did 3 assumptions last year, so I have experience handling these. They do take, on average, about 60-90 days to close, and you do have to qualify for the loan (standard underwriting).

If you have any real estate questions, reach out to me at RealtorDannyLee@gmail.com.​
Follow me on Instagram @RealtorDannyLee​