Episode 6 of 6
Dana's Decision
After five months of modeling, Dana makes her call. She is staying in Seattle, renting for two more years, house-hacking a duplex at 29, and investing $800/month in a Roth IRA in the meantime. She runs the final integrated model to see where this path puts her at 35.
Key Insight
Dana's hybrid plan — rent until 29, house-hack a duplex, and max her Roth — projects a net worth of $285k by 35, compared to $180k if she buys a condo now or $310k if she rents and invests indefinitely. The duplex path offers the best balance of wealth-building and stability.
Model This Scenario