After 13 years of being a landlord, I find myself with a problem. I have acquired 27 houses, worth about 4 million, have 1 million of debt, at crazy low interest rates. only have about 15 mortgages left over. I don't intend on buying anymore houses, I have been blessed beyond belief. I end up with a huge pile of cash each month. For a while I was buying gold and silver, but got tired of that. Then I buried cash in my yard( pvc pipe sealed on both ends ), but feel uncomfortable with that much around the house. Been putting some in various high yield savings accounts, ( a whopping 1 percent ) Bought a couple of new cars at 2 percent interest rate, ( could pay those off tomorrow if I wanted ) paid off all my HELOCS, and 0 percent credit cards, and all I have left are those super low interest mortgages. ( average 4.5 percent ) I feel that interest rates will return to higher than now, but not as bad as Jimmy Carter days. Should I pay off my loans? Should I become a Hard Money Lender? ( don't trust most people ) I tried the peer to peer lending, but almost all of my loans went bad. I have some stocks, but find the market too risky with the wild moves it has. Neither my wife or I work, both in our 40s. What would you do if in my situation? Oh, of course, I did not post my name I typically go by, or my real state. I hate getting preached at for having taken out those mortgages. --75.141.xxx.xxx

It's my goal and dream. --108.252.xxx.xxx

Give someone a job - teach them the business? --173.22.xx.xx

Reit? Maybe a nice vacation home? Travel? If you have kids begin building their empire? Self directed Roth IRA? Pay off the existing loans & become someone's private money source (return would be better)? What does your wife think? The world's your oyster. I hope to be in your shoes in a few years. --70.194.xxx.xxx

I too have a very good monthly income. I spend time pondering how to best give some of it away in a way that it benefits the recipient without enabling bad decision making. Recently I've been helping a friend of my daughter pay off her student loans. --173.170.xxx.xxx

--96.46.xxx.xx

Start paying off the rest of the houses and then LL full time and enjoy your hard work. --70.197.xx.xxx

Write a book. (Success, My Way!) --24.180.xxx.x

--72.70.xxx.xx

I believe you will feel immensely rewarding by involving various charities that fit your interest. Volunteer yout time and money since you have more than enough to cover your operation --173.48.xx.xxx

I might also look around at friends and family who are having a hard time and find ways to help them. --24.130.xx.xx

A two tier process where first pay off all the mortgages then make some improvements to the rental units. Being mortgage free puts is in a better position when interest rates go up or anything happens in the economy. --142.47.xx.xx

I'd give it a way. --73.34.xxx.xx

Seriously? You buried your money in the yard? --69.201.xx.xxx

Too much cash? Race horse, boat or trophy wife! --204.227.xxx.xxx

I agree with many of the others. Find a way to use it to make the world a better place. That will give you far more satisfaction than anything else you can spend it on. --65.25.xxx.xx

Get that cash out of your yard, loan $25k (secure, collateral backed, at X% on a five year note) to Roy so he can buy that house deal. There, Homer, I fixed two threads. --64.53.xxx.xxx

If you lost almost all of your investments in peer to peer, something is very wrong. Did you use a reliable site like Prosper or Lending Club or a roll your own? Did you pick only the most risky credit grades? --45.46.xxx.xxx

Uh, could the OP please post your address I know a guy with a backhoe... --24.121.xxx.xxx

--107.77.xx.xx

I run a dog rescue, getting dogs about to die out of the Kill shelters from GA all day long. You could donate to us to help save all those GA dogs from being killed. GA is one of the worst states for dog over population and really could use your help. lol --74.104.xxx.xx

I'd buy people lunch. Like the entire lunch room! --66.87.xxx.xxx

btnn, I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer! And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say! I'd say you're a bit of a dreamer too! How it happened I wouldn't even try to guess? But just keep on dreaming! Charlie...... ..... .... ... .. .. --70.215.x.xxx

btnn, like someone else suggested,call up Roy, he's looking to some cash for one of his new ventures! Good investment,little risk! Charlie...... ..... .... ... .. . ........ --70.215.x.xxx

I think this may be a troll post. Buying gold and silver and burying cash in the yard? If you are for real, I imagine that you are probably working on your manifesto and planning on building that cabin off the grid. One piece of advice: Idaho is perfect for people who think Montana is too crowded ... --68.156.xx.xx

Also consider SDIRA --24.239.xx.xxx

What really amazes me is just how many people here were seduced by this post. Cash is King and it does get people's undivided attention even when the cash is not real. --68.62.xxx.xxx

Well it peaked my interest because it essentially described me. I didn't do the gold and silver piece though but my ex has. --173.170.xxx.xxx

Lol Roy of G-----n. I am not a troll. Just a landlord wondering if I should pay off my low rate mortgages, buy stocks, become a hard money lender, or any other crazy investment, maybe even life settlements? --75.141.xxx.xxx

You will do a lot better in the long run to suck to the tried and true. S and P 500 ETFs or mutual funds mixed 60/40 or 50/50 with treasury bonds are the safest, and sanest way to go. Silver, gold, viatical settlements, cattle futures all are more risky and less likely to provide the income you will need for the long haul. But you know this, don't you? Try a chinchilla farm. --24.39.xx.xx

--74.184.xxx.xx

Unless your cashing rent checks and not claiming them...burying money in the yard is a horrible idea. Gold generally is as well. --67.82.xxx.xx

There is risk in everything. Risk in losing value, or losing to inflation. The best answer is to spread it out. Payoff debts (if your rate is 4.5%, paying this off is the same as earning a guaranteed return of 4.5%), invest in low cost s&p index funds (tax free/deferred if available), and enjoy it. No need to pick just one. --70.62.xx.xxx

--207.241.xxx.xxx

What an inspiring post! --67.53.xx.x

If this post was actually legit, and if OP were really as smart and successful as he lets on, wouldn't he already be aware of his investment options? And from the message I get from his post, OP doesn't strike me as the charitable type. --107.217.xxx.xx

i'd also consider moving some of the equity to more commercial type stuff like a burger king or such...triple net is a luxury you have earned --76.176.xxx.xxx

If you'd like a guaranteed return of 4.5% then pay off your mortgages. If you'd like to let it rid on the stock market you could probably get a little higher return on an index fund but this is a bit risky. Sounds like you don't need much more $$$ so pay off all your debt. That's my advice. I own 25 SFHs and I just paid off another mortgage at 4% yesterday. In about 4 years I should have all mine paid off and that feels nice! --24.118.xx.xxx

I hoard cash for emergencies so I understand that desire. But I have no debt. I agree getting rid of the debt if you have cash to spare is a good idea. --173.170.xxx.xxx