Golf community life
Many retirees dream of a home in a golf course community, where connecting a shiny driver with a perfectly dimpled ball on a lush, green fairway is just another day in paradise. But a golf club membership isn’t a given at these communities and sometimes comes with hefty fees. When you buy a house in a golf community, it pays to understand exactly what you’re getting. Some golf... READ MORE
Reverse mortgage can be a financial tool
Note: This story picks up where our January Housing Options feature, “Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan” ended, with a reference to reverse mortgages. Over the past several years, reverse mortgages have begun to overcome a somewhat tarnished reputation through product changes and additional requirements for financial assessment that have corrected some potentially... READ MORE
Make your bathrooms safer, easier to use
Dear Savvy Senior, online pharmacy https://psychassociates.net/wp-content/uploads/slider/cache/b3433b8a4f4a237ae419c60db5ee2fe4/seroquel.html no prescription What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems, and she fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that... READ MORE
Retire to a room of one’s own at the kids’
When Cary Childre, 65, of Athens, Georgia, considered moving closer to her daughter, Eva Maudlin, of Decatur, an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, Maudlin, 31, researched building a cottage in her own backyard. In October, they made a deposit on a Craftsman-style design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits ... READ MORE
Whether to move to a senior community
With so many senior housing options available today, deciding where to live — and whether to move at all — can be an agonizing exercise for some. For others, there is no decision to make: They want to stay put in the home they’ve known for years. But some older adults find they need support, or they long for a more active social life and prepared meals. Others are ready to stop... READ MORE
D.C. Housing Notes January 2021
Find the perfect housemate Looking for an affordable place to live? Or perhaps you have an extra room you’d like to rent? Montgomery County, Maryland, just made finding (or renting) a long-term, affordable home a little easier. The county teamed up with a nonprofit called Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP), a local housing developer and counseling agency, to launch a Home Sharing... READ MORE
Whether to move to a senior community
Deciding whether and when to move into a senior community is a challenging undertaking for many older adults, a decision that most people do not want imposed on them in a crisis. For those who have lived in a single-family home for years, moving to a group housing complex can be a daunting leap, while for others, moving is a smooth transition that opens doors to new opportunities. The ... READ MORE
Stay connected and informed from home
The people behind a new website called Amava note that “experiences that connect us to others and produce authentic social ties are more important than ever.” So, they bring older adults together virtually for engaging conversations (called “circles”) around topics of mutual interest. For example, 10 people or so can “meet” to discuss pets, travel or even play charades... READ MORE
Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan
A debt-free retirement has been the ideal scenario for so long that older adults often overlook a valuable financial resource: their home. Collectively, homeowners age 62 and older have a record $6.5 trillion of “tappable” equity, according to data analytics firm Black Knight. Individually, home equity accounts for more than a quarter to almost half of the median net worth of... READ MORE
Upgrading during pandemic? Get it insured
As many Americans face months on end stuck indoors, some are using their time (and money) to create a change of scenery or upgrade their surroundings. Home office equipment purchases are on the rise, and people are tackling more renovation projects than usual. But expensive new stuff and significant home improvements can leave you underinsured. If you’re considering making changes to... READ MORE
