Housing and Home Equity

The decision to relocate in retirement is huge — especially since you literally have a world of options. You can retire anywhere and into a wide variety of housing types. Live and travel in an RV. Buy a big beach side home. Relocate abroad to financial or lifestyle reasons. Downsize to a small apartment. Buy…

Rain. Snow. Sleet. Cold. Once the coziness of winter holidays passes, dark weather can weigh heavily on our psyches.  However, when you retire, you have more freedom to seek and enjoy sunnier or more temperate climates. What’s holding you back? Here are nine tips, tricks and things to consider when thinking about a warmer location…

There is no shortage of lists and articles about the best places to retire.  These lists are fun.  However, they sometimes feel random and not all that practical or useful for figuring out where to spend this phase of your life. For example, did you know that Jimmy Buffett is opening “Margaritaville” — a real…

Nine in 10 older Americans want to remain in their own homes as they get older. But most people aren’t planning ahead when it comes to making sure their houses are equipped to provide their desired lifestyle in retirement, research shows.In fact, while 96% of Americans age 50 to 80 say it’s important to be…

Economic hardship is not news to many seniors. Most of us feel stress about our finances. At the top of our concerns? We believe that we will run out of savings in retirement. In fact, the majority of Americans feel this worry. According to the latest findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2016 Planning & Progress Study,…

If you’re thinking about moving to a new location to retire, whether it is to be closer to your family or to downsize, the verdict is in on the best and worst places to retire this year, according to new findings from Bankrate. The ranking is based on the cost of living, cost and quality…

In the years leading up to retirement, people often ask themselves, “When should I retire?” As retirement becomes a closer reality, the question turns to “Where should I retire?” And then, as financial anxiety sets in you might ask, “Where are the cheapest places to retire?” There are many different affordable retirement destinations.There are numerous…

The “top places to retire” really is a subjective topic. Warm and tropical locations nearly always rank high. That makes a lot of sense. Even if you’ve lived up north for most of your life, wouldn’t it be nice to retire from shoveling snow, too? But what if your idea of the most perfect place…

Nearly 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 say they want to stay in their home as long as they can, and 80 percent believe they will always live in their current home, according to a survey by AARP. But the fact is that as our needs and abilities change as we grow…

Not all retirement facilities are created equal. And every retiree has unique needs if they wish to enjoy their retirement. From special diets to activities to healthcare, we talked to Charlotte Clarke of Ontario’s Luther Village On The Park to find out about retirement living facilities. What are some things a new retiree should keep…

Do you know where you want to spend your retirement? While some people want to stay in the area that they already know, others decide to pack up and move to a warmer, more exciting location or relocate to be closer to family. When it comes down to it, it is vital to find a…

Don’t expect baby boomers to rely on traditional options when it comes to retirement. Individuals and couples are feeling freer than ever to design their retirement to meet their desires and dreams. They want retirement choices to empower them to do what they most want to do and keep their own priorities front and center.…

What do you think? Is living in some kind of community with other seniors a good option for you? The ABCs of Senior Living A guide to the full range of housing options available to seniors. Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Housing Options for Retirement Where you live is important. Use this guide to…

Retirement is your time. Find the best place to retire. Best Places to Retire? Avoid the Worst States to Retire! Here are a few places you might want to avoid. The 5 Best Places to Retire Abroad Are you among the 3.3 million people considering retirement abroad? Most Retirees Think That Staying Put is the…

Work is part of life, and many people spend the majority of theirs either working or commuting to and from their workplace. The typical sequence of event is: support a family, become a homeowner, and, eventually, retire. On average, people retire between the ages of 55 and 65 – and we currently have an average…

One of the biggest financial concerns Americans have today is whether they’ll be able to afford retirement. According to a 2014 Gallup poll, 59 percent of Americans rate having enough money for retirement as their top financial worry. Fortunately, there are options for those who fret about budgets. Retiring overseas can mean a better living…

As we prepare for life after retirement, we want to prepare for every contingency. This includes long-term healthcare, fixed rates, and a number of other factors to eliminate as many variables as possible in order to make sure you and your loved ones are well taken care of. Terence O’Malley is an expert on a…

Retirement is supposed to be all about rest and relaxation, but lately the term “R&R” has taken a new meaning for retirees thinking about their living situations during their non-working years: Renovate or Relocate? Whether you are planning to take on a home improvement project or thinking about packing everything up and shipping out to…

If you have visions of spending your retirement years on a sunny beach or in a sleepy, small town—you are not alone. Many retirees decide to pack up and relocate away from their primary residence when they’re no longer working. Three in five Americans (60%) want to spend their retirement years in another city or…

When it comes to choosing a place to retire, a lot of people nearing retirement age gravitate towards Arizona, Florida, and the Carolinas. Natural choices, granted, but perhaps it’s time to think outside the box just a little and consider the Lone Star State. That’s right, the second largest and second most populous state in…

Many people approaching retirement are left to decide if they should sell their home or stay put. This decision is an important one as housing often makes up about 30% of retirement expenses. For some people, selling the house is a necessary way to help fund their lifestyle in retirement. For others, keeping the home…

Sixty-four percent of retirees are likely to move at least once — looking for the best places to retire. The top motivating factors might surprise you, as revealed in a new retirement study by Merrill Lynch conducted in partnership with Age Wave. Where are the best places to retire?  What are retirees looking to find…

Deborah McLean of Maine Senior Guide understands that retirement planning can be difficult. With the Maine Senior Guide, retirees have the option of examining multiple options pertaining to retirement benefits, healthcare, senior communities, and a host of other issues relating to one’s retirement years. In this interview, McLean discusses the benefits of the Maine Senior…

If you own a home, it is important to keep your home equity in mind when making decisions about your property and planning for retirement. If you use home equity effectively, it can help you pay for some of your retirement expenses. The first step to using home equity wisely is understanding what is home…