Selling to Build: Freeing Up Capital for a Home

Over the past weeks, I have been unwinding several equity positions. Not as a reaction to markets, but as part of a deliberate shift in priorities: building cash for a future down payment on a house.

The positions sold:

• Kinder Morgan (KMI) – 48 shares
• Canadian National Railway (CNI) – 20 shares
• A. O. Smith (AOS) – 25 shares
• Medical Properties Trust (MPW/MPT) – 200 shares
• Medtronic (MDT) – 30 shares

This marks a temporary transition from long-term compounding to short-term certainty.

Looking Back at the Buys

Each of these investments was made with a clear thesis and documented at the time:

• https://dividenddream.blogspot.com/2024/10/recent-buy-canadian-national-railway-cni.html
• https://dividenddream.blogspot.com/2023/05/recent-buy-aos.html
• https://dividenddream.blogspot.com/2023/02/recent-buy-mpw.html
• https://dividenddream.blogspot.com/2022/09/recent-buys-asml-txn-mpw-afl-intc.html
• https://dividenddream.blogspot.com/2022/12/recent-buys-bep-txn-ad-and-mdt.html

Reality Check: Underwhelming Performance

Since purchase, results have been mixed at best:

• Limited price appreciation
• Some positions trading below cost
• Weak sentiment around MPT in particular
• Opportunity cost versus stronger performers

None of these positions were outright disasters. But collectively, they did not produce the expected combination of growth and income. Under normal circumstances, the answer might be patience. But portfolio decisions do not happen in isolation—they depend on real-world needs.

The Actual Driver: A Life Event

The decision to sell is not primarily market-driven. It is because I need liquidity for a future down payment on a house. Selling achieves three things:

1. Converts invested capital into usable cash
2. Eliminates downside risk before deployment
3. Creates flexibility and certainty

Final Thought

Investing is often framed purely in terms of returns. But ultimately, capital has a purpose beyond accumulation. This is one of those moments where capital shifts from: “working in the market” → “working in real life.” From building a portfolio… to building a home.

Recent buys: BEP, TXN, AD and MDT

 During the last month I added to three existing holdings and opened one new position.

• On November 4 I purchased another 40 shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners for $29 per share. The current dividend yield is around 4,4%. This purchase adds more than $ 50 to my annual forward dividend income. 
• On November 4 I purchased another 10 shares of Texas Instruments (TXN) for $162 per share. The dividend yield at the moment of purchase was around 3,1%. This purchase adds about $ 50 to my annual forward dividend income. 
• On November 16 I purchased another 50 shares of Ahold Delhaize (AD) for € 27,60 per share. The current dividend yield is around 3,5%. This purchase adds just under € 50 to my annual forward dividend income. 
• On November 29 I opened a new position in Medtronic. I purchased 30 shares for about $77 per share. The dividend yield at the moment of purchase was around 3,4%. This new purchase adds about $ 80 to my annual forward dividend income. 

My current annual dividend income is around € 11.430. Due to the new purchased it increased by roughly € 230, but the weaker USD had a negative impact on my annual dividend income in EUR.