Housing and Home Equity

Find insights below whether you are a first time home buyer (it can be one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make) or are looking to downsize for retirement or perhaps even buy a vacation home.

Housing is most people’s biggest expense. And, if you own your home, it is likely your largest asset. Your home equity is the value of your home minus your mortgage balance and any other debts secured by the home. This value can be used strategically to improve your financial situation over the long term.

Your home is also a big factor for your happiness. Where you live determines a lot about your life.

Besides the financial considerations of housing, there are obviously a lot of lifestyle factors. Here are all the resources you need for finding your best place place to retire.

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how to retire abroad

How to Retire Abroad: 12 Tips for Retirement Overseas

Are you wondering how to to retire overseas? If so, you’re in good company! Retiring Overseas Has Almost Doubled in Popularity Retiring abroad has become increasingly popular.  According to the Social Security Administration, the number of retirees who draw Social Security outside the U.S. jumped 40%, to more than 413,000 between 2007 to 2017. And,…

September 28, 2020

Pros and Cons of a Reverse Mortgage During the Pandemic Crisis

Explore reverse mortgage pros and cons for this stressful time. Can the loan improve your emotional and financial well being? Is it right for you now?

September 18, 2020
life expectancy by county

Life Expectancy by County: WHERE You Live May Suggest HOW LONG You Live

Life expectancy has mostly been rising in the United States — overall. However, recent research has found that there are significant differences in life expectancy by county. In fact, in many counties, the average life expectancy is 20 years — TWENTY years — shorter than in other areas.The good news is that some areas of…

July 7, 2020
homesharing

Home-Sharing: The Golden Age of Golden Girl-Style Retirement Living for Baby Boomers

It has been nearly 30 years since the hit television sitcom starred in living rooms across the nation. However, we may be just reaching the golden age of the Golden Girls. While their arrangement may have seemed unusual at the time, four adult women sharing an apartment may not be that far-fetched. In fact, many…

July 5, 2020
co housing

Expert Interview Series: The Advantages of Cohousing

Have you ever heard the term “cohousing” and wondered what it means? If you’re preparing for retirement, or if you’re just looking for a change of scenery, cohousing might be right up your alley. And you might even be able to make new friends in the process. For more information about the advantages of cohousing,…

July 3, 2020

Most Retirees Think That Staying Put is the Right Move for Retirement

Do thoughts of retirement conjure up images of a moving truck and boxes? Does this image sound stressful? If staying put sounds more appealing, you may be like many Americans approaching retirement age who say they actually wish to remain in the same home–or the same area–where they have lived their adult years. “Sometimes it…

July 2, 2020
senior women

Single? Female? Retired? In Search of Roommate? Expert Interview with Golden Girls Network About Shared Living

Do you remember the TV show “The Golden Girls?” Four silver-haired ladies, sharing a household, lending strength, support, and ultimately friendship to one another? Have you ever considered a living situation like that for yourself? This interview was originally conducted in 2015 and has been updated where necessary for 2020. Living in shared housing with…

June 25, 2020

Retirement Relocation Checklist: Where to Retire Quiz and Other Tips

Roughly 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day. Where to retire is a big question for this huge cohort of Americans. It can be an overwhelming decision. Hopefully this retirement relocation checklist and guide to where to retire quiz can help you make a happy decision. There are a lot of factors to consider. Maybe…

June 16, 2020
retirement destination

Three Ways to Afford the Fastest Growing Retirement Destinations

If you’re one of the thousands of Americans approaching retirement, one of your top concerns is probably when to retire. But an accompanying question is where to retire. Realtor.com crunched the numbers and identified the fastest growing retirement destinations. The fastest growing retirement destinations might not be the best place to retire or the best…

March 20, 2019
CCRC continuing care retirement community

55+ Communities: What Are Continuing Care Retirement Communities?

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…

February 7, 2019

Winter Got You Down? Make a Sunnier Climate a Retirement Reality

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…

January 15, 2019
best places to retire

Margaritaville and Other Best Places to Retire…

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…

March 30, 2017

7 Tips to Help People Who Are Retired Stay in Their Homes Longer

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…

February 1, 2017

Why Home Equity is Your Strongest Weapon Against the Economy

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,…

November 14, 2016
worst places to retire

Here Are the Best and Worst Places to Retire — 2016

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…

August 18, 2016
cheapest places to retire

The Cheapest Places to Retire

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…

April 27, 2016
Top places to retire

Top Places to Retire in 2016

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…

March 16, 2016
aging in place

Expert Interview: Making Your Home Safer as You Age

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…

December 1, 2015
retirement home

Expert Interview: Retirement Living Facilities

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…

December 1, 2015
Retirement planning advice

Retirement Planning Advice from Forbes on Best Places to Retire

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…

October 23, 2015
housesharing

Have You Considered Cohousing or Housesharing in Retirement?

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.…

October 6, 2015

Senior Living

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…

September 30, 2015
Retiree

The Best Places to Retire!

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…

September 28, 2015
Retirement

Thought Leader Series: 5 Reasons the Southwest Is a Great Place to Retire

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…

July 30, 2015

NewRetirement Planner

Take financial wellness into your own hands and do it yourself retirement planning: easy, comprehensive, reliable.