What Warren Buffett Taught Me About Sleeping Well at Night
I was shocked at how monstrous the "Oracle of Omaha's" house really is...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett is one of the richest men in the world. But despite his immense wealth, he's typically portrayed as a simple guy, still living in the house he bought in 1957 for $31,500.
So when I was investigating a few investment possibilities in Omaha, Nebraska, I decided to swing by Buffett's home to see how simple it really is.
I pictured an understated rancher in the then-outskirts of the city... another one of the thousands of other suburban houses thrown up all over the country in the '40s and '50s. (I have one of these homes in Augusta, Georgia.)
Boy, was I wrong.
Buffett's house is huge... a beautiful five-bedroom, light-brown and white brick home, with a Craftsman flavor. It has clearly been renovated over the years, with its roof recently replaced and impeccable landscaping.
Today, Zillow (an online real estate estimator) values the home at roughly $1.4 million.
On the surface, it would seem Buffett's home investment hasn't done so well – barely 6% per year over nearly 70 years. That's much less than the 20% per year he has averaged over decades of investing in the firm he founded – Berkshire Hathaway.
But Buffett has a different perspective on his investment's return. Here's how he explained it in his 2010 letter to shareholders...
All things considered, the third best investment I ever made was the purchase of my home, though I would have made far more money had I instead rented and used the purchase money to buy stocks. (The two best investments were wedding rings.) For the $31,500 I paid for our house, my family and I gained 52 years of terrific memories with more to come.
In other words, Buffet's home is a sleep-well-at-night investment.
Buffett didn't speculate on his house and pay some crazy multiple of his gross income. Instead, he bought an affordable home and watched it appreciate little by little each year. He didn't lose much in the downturns, because he didn't consume too much house in the beginning.
Buffett understood what too many folks don't...
To become wealthy, you don't need to invest in a lavish home in San Francisco or Los Angeles. You don't need to spend money on fancy clothes or cars. What's critical for a wealthy retirement is saving money and investing regularly.
But most Americans don't understand investing and savings... Folks who consume instead of save and invest are on the road to poverty, not wealth.
If you're reading this, it's probably because you want to learn ways to boost your returns. If so, you're already way ahead of the crowd.
Whether your portfolio isn't doing as well as you'd like... or you haven't reached the goals that'll allow you to enjoy the life you want... my latest breakthrough can help you do just that. It's possibly the biggest of my entire career.
This brand-new system is powered by the same algorithm that NASA used to predict the path the Orion capsule took to rotate around the moon. My team and I use it to track sector rotation.
Here's what I mean by that...
You've probably noticed that when tech stocks lead the market, it's only for a little while. Then financial stocks rotate into the lead, followed by consumer staples, healthcare stocks, and all the rest.
And once you can spot and predict these rotations, you can see when stocks and sectors are rotating into new bullish cycles.
If you haven't already tried out my new system, you can click here to learn more.
Now, let's get to this week's Q&A... And as always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. My team and I read every e-mail.
Try This Easy Step to Protect Against Identity Theft
Q: Are RFID wallets worth it/useful? – A.C.
A: Thanks for your question, A.C. Lots of folks have probably heard of the acronym before, but many probably don't know what it means.
RFID stands for radio-frequency identification. Think of it as a digital, trackable tag. There's some debate on who exactly invented RFID technology, but it didn't start to gain popularity until the 1990s. Today, it's used to track library books, credit and debit cards, ID cards, and even livestock... along with other retail products.
In 2007, the U.S. State Department began issuing passports with RFID chips inside them to make them "more secure." That's the same reason your credit card has a chip in it now – for better security.
The problem is, it actually creates a hole in your individual privacy and security...
That's because some unscrupulous people can use an RFID reader to access your personal information. This includes all of your biometric data... your digital picture from your passport... and your credit-card information.
And get this... RFID scanners can communicate with chips up to 100 feet away. The technology is an identity thief's dream.
(Of course, RFID skimming isn't the biggest risk to your identity or wallet. You're more likely to be a victim of hackers stealing your data online or illegally skimming your card at a gas station or ATM.)
I believe in protecting yourself when you can. You can do what I do and buy an RFID-blocking wallet or purse. These items use a metallic composite material to prevent communication between the RFID chip and the scanner. Best of all, they cost about the same as a regular purse or wallet – and you can easily find them on Amazon.
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? Timing stocks doesn't have to be tough anymore.
- Something different: A mysterious bidder just bought a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton for $50 million.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
July 17, 2026