Is Homeownership Overrated? Smart Girl Dumb Questions with Nayeema Raza

Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Money News Network

Self-improvement, Business, Education

4.6 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nicole is joined by journalist and podcast host Nayeema Raza, host of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, for a crossover episode! This is a shame-free conversation about the money questions we’re all holding in, starting with perhaps the most loaded one of all: should you buy a home? Nicole breaks down the 5% rule for renting vs. buying, why she personally chose not to buy, and how to strip the emotion out of a decision that's usually anything but. She also answers common questions about debt, HSAs, growing generational wealth and more. Plus, Nayeema and Nicole talk about which expenses are worth going into debt for, and what Mark Cuban told Nayeema about how money can make you feel poorer the wealthier you become. Listen to Nayeema's podcast Smart Girl, Dumb Questions Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Here's what Nicole covers with Nayeema: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:17 Nicole's Controversial Take on Homeownership 04:44 The 5% Rule: Rent vs. Buy Math 08:37 Why Nicole Chose to Rent (And Invest the Difference) 12:30 How the LA Fires Changed Nicole's Relationship to Home 17:00 Not All Debt Is Created Equal: Good Debt vs. Bad Debt 20:02 What Rich People Know About Leverage 24:03 How Nicole Got Into (and Out of) Credit Card Debt 25:51 Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Debt Payoff Method Wins? 28:09 The Shame Cycle Keeping People Stuck in Debt 29:18 The Debt Game: What’s Worth It? 34:35 Investing in Your 20s: Nicole's Biggest Regret 36:27 Nicole's Daughter's Investment Portfolio 37:15 HSAs, 401(k)s, and Where to Put Your Money First 38:39 How Do You Know If You're Rich? 41:26 Mark Cuban on How Money Can Make You Feel Poorer 42:34 Nicole's "Dumb" Question All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The price of gas right now will bring a tear to your eye, especially in Los Angeles where I live.
0:05.3	When you see pictures of crazy high prices in California, it feels like those photos are always taken
0:10.4	right around my house. So here's one tip I love to use to save a little money every time I fill up.
0:16.0	Use a card that offers you cash back on gas. Like the chime card. They offer 5% back on gas, which is like
0:23.5	taking 5% off the price at the pump. And the benefits offered by Chime stack. Like take that 5%
0:30.7	cash back and stick it in a savings account. With Chime, you can get a 3.75% APY on your savings.
0:36.8	That's nine times higher than the national average.
0:40.1	Suddenly you're making money off your bank instead of them gouging you with fees and charges.
0:45.6	Chime is not just smarter banking. It is the most rewarding way to bank.
0:50.7	Join the millions who are already banking fee-free today. Head to chime.com slash MNN. That is chime.com slash MNN. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Bank. Banking services for MyPay and Chime card provided by Chim's bank partners. Optional products and services may have fees or charges. Stated annual percentage yield and cashback for Chime Prime only. No minimum balance required. Checking account ranking based on the JD Power
1:12.2	survey published October 20, 2025. For more information on APY rates, my pay, spot me, and travel perks, go to chime.com slash disclosures. I'm traveling to Orlando soon for a conference, and I'm really looking forward to it. We travel to Florida pretty often to visit my in-laws. And those trips are always such a nice reset for us.
1:30.2	I'm definitely a sunshine girl. pretty often to visit my in-laws. And those trips are always such a nice reset for us.
1:30.2	I'm definitely a sunshine girl, so any chance to spend time by the water, whether it's at the
1:34.4	beach or just sitting by the pool, makes me so happy. Lately, I've been thinking about what it would
1:39.3	be like to have a place closer to family, so we'd always have our own space when we visit.
1:43.2	And when we're back home,
1:44.4	we could list the place in Florida on Airbnb instead of letting it sit empty. What makes that idea
1:49.3	feel much more manageable now is the co-host network. You can connect with a local co-host who has
1:55.3	hosting experience and can help take care of the important details. A co-host can help create the listing, manage reservations,
2:02.8	message guests, and help make sure everything runs smoothly for guests during their stay.
2:08.2	Honestly, it just feels like a practical way to make better use of a place we'd already love
2:12.7	spending time in. While also bringing in a little extra cash from time to time, if you're
	...

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