Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
There's a new retirement calculator in town, and this one is proud to be wearing a brown hat. The Retirement Ranger's motto says it all: "Hi Yo, silver-hairs, away!" (Thanks to OldNassau for that great motto).
Retirement Ranger is a Free new interactive calculator that delivers an instant, personalized list of best places to retire. Answer 11 questions and you will be emailed an instant, free report. Use your Topretirements user name and password to sign up, or create a new one if you aren't already registered. You can retake the quiz as often as you would like - it's free and there is no obligation.
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Published on June 4, 2009
Comments 1
Category: Active adult communities
Update: July 27, 2009. As promised, the IRS has expanded its audit of the tax-free status of more bonds after failing to reach a settlement with Community Development Districts at The Villages. The investigation now covers almost $400 million in recreation and other bonds, up from $64 million in the original audit. See the Bond Buyer Story for more.
Original Story: The Villages, the giant active adult community south of Ocala, FL, has received a proposed settlement from the IRS to resolve an investigation of tax-free bonds issued by 2 of its Community Development Districts (CDDs). The Bond Buyer reports that the settlement would mean that the Village Center and Sumter Landing Districts would redeem over $355 million bonds issued in 2003, pay the federal government $2.85 million, and refrain from issuing more tax-exempt bonds. The IRS suggested that
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Published on June 2, 2009
Comments 2
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
CBS Moneywatch.com has just published a thoughtful article on Best Places to Retire Lists. Thoughtful in the sense that it recognizes that there is no one best place to retire, people need different kinds of lists to match their differing objectives and preferences.
Moneywatch limited its review of the lists only to those updated since 2008. That led to its 5 top rated lists - U.S. News, Money, Smart Money, TopRetirements.com, and RetirementLiving.com. Could we say that Topretirements was pleased to have come out as the most highly rated of the bunch - YES!!!
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The Moneywatch.com writer, Richard Eisenberg, liked Topretirements because of the "Zagat-like" reviews and a "wide variety of reasonable criteria" for selecting the best places to retire on the basis of "livability". Topretirements was rated best for finding towns that other retirees like.
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Published on June 1, 2009
Comments 0
Category: Active adult communities
In 2006 Central Florida was shocked and titillated to read this headline in the Orlando News: "STDs Running Rampant in Retirement Community". The community in question being The Villages, the sprawling active adult enclave spanning several towns and home to over 60,000 people. Dr. Colleen McQuade, a gynecologist, was quoted that she "treats more cases of herpes and the human papilloma
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Published on May 24, 2009
Comments 15
Category: Eldercare
Here’s a club so exclusive that even Brooke Astor couldn’t help you get in. It’s the Super Memory Club, restricted by luck and good habits to about 1 in 200 people. And did we mention you have to be 90 years old to be eligible? Our sister site, BestAssistedLiving.com, has…
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Published on May 22, 2009
Comments 0
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
Sunday, May 17. Just about everybody loves Asheville - it's the #1 Best Place to Retire at Topretirements. It also occupies that position on many other "Best Places" lists. But after watching today's TV segment on CBS News, even more people might be heading down to western North Carolina.
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Published on May 18, 2009
Comments 0
Category: Home and Garden
Have you thought about building an addition to your home for one or more of your parents? With them conveniently at hand you could keep an eye on their condition and help with their care. Meanwhile you and possibly your children would get to enjoy more of their company.
While their are many advantages to these apartments, they come with some challenges. For one; they take time,money, and effort to design and build. For another, they tend to be tightly regulated by local zoning officials. Mike Kephart, founder of Sidekick Homes, has a better idea for these buildings, a new solution that can help you get the benefits without the hassles.
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Published on May 14, 2009
Comments 1
Category: Active adult communities
Note: This 2009 article has been updated with a new edition from 2012. See "Why Not Live in an Award Winning Community".
Philadelphia - For builders, winning an award at the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Best of 50+ Housing conference is really good PR. For baby boomers, looking at the winners provides insight into what the housing industry thinks are the trendsetting ideas in home building. If you are looking to purchase in an active adult community, you should check out this list of communities winning awards to make sure you make the best decision. The awards were given out at the April 2009 Building for Boomers and Beyond Symposium to honor excellence and innovation in the design, development and marketing of housing for older consumers.
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Published on May 11, 2009
Comments 4
Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
Update: October 15, 2010 - It's official - no social security increase in 2010 - $250 payment pushed.
It will be the first time in 3 decades, but there will be no cost-of-living increase for social security recipients in 2010. Following a formula set by law to counter the effects of inflation, beneficiaries can usually count on getting a "raise" every year. Thanks to the economic slowdown, inflation is not a problem at the moment, hence the formula indicates no increase next year.
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According to the AARP, beneficiaries have received automatic cost-of-living every year since 1975. The increase in 2009 was 5.8%. Controlling inflation should be a good thing for retirees because it means the prices they pay for goods and services are not increasing.
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Published on May 8, 2009
Comments 29
Category: Active adult communities
The urban retirement lifestyle represents a perfect fit with what many baby boomers are looking for in a retirement lifestyle. Baby boomers want to be close to employment possibilities, they would like to reduce their dependence on the automobile, and they are very interested in participating in a rich and diverse community. Builders of 55+ communities have been listening, and many new choices are attracting buyers.
Granted, the urban lifestyle doesn't appeal to everyone. Most people, 85% of them, will not move anywhere in retirement. But about 15% of retirees will relocate; either
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Published on May 3, 2009
Comments 5
