A Social Worker Says They Paid Off Their Mortgage In Only 1.5 Years, But Is This Something Others Could Replicate Or Are They Just An Outlier

A 28-year-old social worker from South Jersey says they paid off a $225,000 mortgage in just a year and a half. The home, purchased in July 2024 for $475,000, came with a 30-year mortgage at a 7.125% interest rate. “I am MORTGAGE-FREE!!!” they wrote on Reddit’s r/Mortgages recently, celebrating the payoff just three days after sending the final check.

How It Happened

The social worker explained that while their current income is about $80,000 a year, the real financial engine came from a years-long side business flipping luxury watches. “From 18-24 yrs old, I had a side hustle of selling luxury watches (primarily Rolexes) to rich people who wanted them immediately,” they said. “That money laid the foundation for paying off the mortgage.”

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By the time they bought the house, they had reportedly made around $350,000 from this side business. They put down roughly $250,000 upfront and used the remaining proceeds plus work income to knock out the rest.

They credited their success to a mix of timing and frugality. “I lived with my parents up until the day I bought the house,” they wrote. This allowed them to save aggressively and avoid rent or other major expenses.