[orangeeater]

> This proved problematic when my wife and I decided to refinance our home. Although Gina, an attorney, earns plenty, we needed a bit more income to persuade lenders to work with us. It quickly became clear that for us to qualify, I would need more than occasional gigs as a freelance writer; I would need a steady job with a W-2.

He's working for amazon to get a loan so he can refinance his house. I think that's half-true, and I suspect the other half is that he got a job there so he could write this article.

Either way I liked the article - it's a little misleading though.

[akeck]

That quote is a little... off? If your wife's an attorney and you can't get a refi with getting a job delivering packages, is that house massive? Why would the relatively small contribution of a delivery job push a bank over the line for a refi? Isn't getting a delivery job during the Xmas season usually temporary?

[brudgers]

Legal salaries are bimodal.

https://www.nalp.org/salarydistrib

[ukoki]

Any idea why there's such a narrow peak at 160k? Is it a tax efficiency thing or are law firms colluding on salary? (or something else?)

[JauntTrooper]

It’s the starting salary at biglaw firms. The law profession is very guild-like in it’s hiring practices.

[ryanmetz]

Most attorneys don't work at large firms and don't make nearly as much money as the popular imagination would hold it. There is a huge glut of law school graduates that is driving down wages outside of the white shoe firms, as well.

[rconti]

He clearly stated he needed W2 income. It probably doesn't matter if it pays less than 1099.

[vonseel]

He also mentioned that his checking account is overdrawn, so I think he may need this income.

[magduf]

Instead of refinancing, it sounds to me like they need to sell their house and buy something smaller and cheaper. Live within your means (or better yet, well below your means so you can handle income changes easily).