Category: Retirement Real Estate
July 9, 2013 -- We continue our series of reader suggested articles with today's installment on renting in retirement. First we will explore the pros and cons of buying vs. renting, then we'll share some tips and techniques for find your best place to retire rental. We hope you enjoy the article, and look forward to your Comments below.
We Americans seem to have been collectively brainwashed when it comes to the belief that home ownership is a cardinal virtue. For sure, owning your home can make a lot of sense. But the truth is, renting a home, particularly for the winter, is often a much better idea for many people's situations. We buy houses in Seattle and flip them on a monthly basis - so we're kind of experts in the field. Let's start off with some tips from us by comparing some of the advantages
more...
Published on July 8, 2013
Comments 77
Category: Retirement Real Estate
May 14, 2013 -- Here you are in a strange, not yet "rediscovered" town. You can see there are some obvious problems. But look - here's a pleasant street lined with stately Victorian, Queen Anne, and Georgian homes. Some are proudly restored, and others are in various stages of rejuvenation. You keep walking through the old downtown, past quirky shops and nice looking restaurants. By the time you reach the waterfront with its bobbing sailboats and beautiful views, you can feel your attitudes changing.
We're willing to bet we're not the only folks visiting a possible retirement town who've been surprised to find themselves going from "no way" to "maybe" and perhaps all the way to "why not". First we are skeptical - there's no way we could retire here... too many negatives... empty storefronts on main street... pockets of poverty and crime. But then as the place grows on us and we see baby boomers proudly planting flowers in their beautiful front yards we start to ask - could this become a great retirement spot?
Just this week
more...
Published on May 14, 2013
Comments 24
Category: Retirement Real Estate
April 24 -- Oh what a contrast from 4-5 years ago. In the dark days of real estate reporting in 2008 and 2009 there was a steady drumbeat of foreclosures, short sales, record home inventory backlogs, and falling prices. There were no buyers, it seemed, and although there weren't many sellers, it wasn't from lack of trying.
Something to (Grouse) About
Fast forward to the March sales report from National Association of Realtors (NAR) that came out this week. Sales are up 10.3% above the year ago month, and the median price of a home, $184,300, increased 11.8% over
more...
Published on April 23, 2013
Comments 80
Category: Retirement Real Estate
March 19, 2013 -- The nation's builders think they know what you want as a home buyer, or at least they are trying to understand. A new study conducted by the National Association of Home Buyer's Economics and Housing Policy Group found that buyer's preferences are changing (Note: the study was conducted among people of all ages, not just retirement age).
What do home buyers really want?
-- Energy efficiency. Buyers are interested in features like energy-star rated appliances and windows, and an energy-star rating
more...
Published on March 19, 2013
Comments 31
Category: Retirement Real Estate
February 25, 2013 — We are curious to find out and report on what our members are thinking about when it comes to retirement living preferences – what types of towns, homes, and communities you are thinking about choosing for retirement. NOTE: Thanks to the more than 750 people who…
more...
Published on February 25, 2013
Comments 28
Category: Retirement Real Estate
November 20, 2012 -- If Hurricane Sandy had some tiny silver lining amidst the tragedy it wreaked in the Caribbean, New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere, it is its lessons on preparedness. Those lessons could be very relevant to you if you are considering buying a retirement home in the next few years.
Infrastructure experts have long warned state and local officials as well as home owners about serious problems that could come with coastal flooding. Yet electrical and communications equipment left at ground level flooded, along with subway and car tunnels. Homes in flood zones were destroyed, above ground power lines were downed, roads washed out. The resulting human suffering is beyond
more...
Published on November 20, 2012
Comments 2
Category: Retirement Real Estate
January 24, 2012 -- One of the most frequent questions we get is on how to find a retirement rental. Usually it is a snowbird looking for a warm winter retreat, while other times it is a retiree looking to try out an active adult community before buying there. Whatever the reason, many people are interested in the rental option, which we always think is a good idea. Here are our top suggestions on how to find a seasonal rental apartment or home for your retirement.
1. Ask your friends. This is usually the surest fire method. If you have friends
more...
Published on January 24, 2012
Comments 4
Category: Retirement Real Estate
November 11, 2011 - Here in Biloxi at the “Back from the Brink: Building Bridges to New Horizons” conference put on by the AARC, the mood is resilient, if not overly optimistic. Attendees at the conference were primarily developers of retirement communities and marketers from states/municipalities promoting their regions as retirement destinations. It has been a hard ride for these folks since the real estate market started its downhill ride in 2007. Construction in active communities has virtually stopped as short sales and foreclosed properties have made new properties uncompetitive. Half-finished communities have languished, gone into bankruptcy, or been sold to deeper
more...
Published on November 12, 2011
Comments 7
Category: Retirement Real Estate
September 16, 2011 -- The good news is that you have been out looking at active adult or 55+ communities. Scoping out different communities, their homes, and the amenities is an important step in the process of finding your best place to retire. But the bad news is that unless you have a good system for evaluating what you are seeing and learning, or if you don't rate the communities when they are fresh in your mind, they are all going to blend together as time goes on. Which leads us to today's article, how to develop an easy-to-use and reliable system for evaluating active adult communities. Note that
more...
Published on September 16, 2011
Comments 2
Category: Retirement Real Estate
July 15, 2011 -- Note: This is Part II in our series from Sandy, who has spent years researching how to find the perfect - and affordable - retirement spot. "Part I: What Sandy Learned in 8 Years of Visiting Dozens of Active Adult Communities" has attracted 49 comments so far.
For me and my husband the best way to a ‘perfect’ retirement is to enjoy wonderful Northern springs, summers and falls - and spend winters somewhere warm. In spite of what a lot of people think, it is possible for almost anyone, even those on a very small budget, to experience this dream. This article will tell about a successful strategy we used to get there.
A few years ago I was searching the Internet for a way to stay longer in Florida without the high cost of the Destin
more...
Published on July 15, 2011
Comments 55
