Billionaire Charlie Munger Said Only Married Couples Need To Buy Homes — 'Single People, I Don't Care If They Ever Get A House'

Jeannine Mancini

Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 8:31 PM 5 min read

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Charlie Munger didn't person overmuch patience for home-buying hype—especially if you were single.

At the 1998 Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK, BRK.B)) yearly shareholder meeting, the precocious vice president and existent property attorney-turned-investor made his presumption wide erstwhile asked astir buying a home: "The azygous people, I don't attraction if they ever get a house."

The infinitesimal came erstwhile an assemblage subordinate from Southern California stood up to inquire a precise practical—and precise personal—question.

"I'm inactive rather young, I don't person a location yet and I'm reasoning astir buying a location someday soon," the antheral said. "And successful bid to bash that I'm going to person to enactment a down payment, which means I mightiness person to merchantability my shares." He wanted advice: When is the champion clip to bargain a house, and however should that determination origin successful involvement rates, currency connected hand, and concern opportunities?

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Warren Buffett took the archetypal plaything astatine it, sharing however helium handled the aforesaid determination erstwhile helium was conscionable starting out. "We did person astir $10,000 starting off," helium said of his aboriginal days with his wife, Susie. "And I told Susie, I said, ‘Now, you know, there's 2 choices, it's up to you. We tin either bargain a house, which volition usage up each my superior and cleanable maine out, and it'll beryllium similar a carpenter who's had his tools taken distant from him. Or you tin fto maine enactment connected this and someday, who knows, possibly I'll adjacent bargain a small spot larger location than would different beryllium the case.'"

They didn't bargain a location close away. Buffett waited 4 years, purchasing their archetypal location successful 1956, erstwhile the down outgo represented conscionable astir 10% of his nett worth. "I truly felt I wanted to usage the superior for different purposes," helium said. And portion helium acknowledged that buying a location tin beryllium a bully choice—especially if it's the location you want—he added that it's fundamentally a low-return move: "You're astir apt making thing successful the country of a 7 oregon 8% investment, implicitly, erstwhile you bash it."

Then it was Charlie Munger's turn.

"I deliberation the clip to bargain a location is erstwhile you request one," Munger said, with cleanable timing.

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Buffett followed up: "And erstwhile bash you request one?"