Change

Growing pains? Time to move on from your first home?

It is really OK to admit that your starter home no longer fits your needs. We all start out with dreams and goals and, at the time, your purchase fulfilled your need - and now those needs have changed. It is a part of life - one constant is change.

Is your current home the best for you in your retirement years?

We all have to deal with change at various times in our lives - we cannot escape it. Perhaps you had a need for a large home, a luxury home, space that you no longer need - and many other reasons for living where you live now. But priorities change!

Maybe that extra space means empty rooms, more to clean and higher taxes to pay. Maybe the the executive luxury home is no longer needed because you do not entertain as you once did. Maybe the yard has become too much work - or too expensive to have maintained. Many things change - it is personal! But, you are living in an investment and have the opportunity to repurpose your savings and appreciation.

You have so many options - whether move to another climate or stay local with something smaller - or whether to buy a mobile home and hit the road for a few years - and any variation in between. You have options - the choices are yours!

Home values have recovered! Do you know how much your home has?

Got to love the automated systems that tell you what your home is worth. Their creators try hard - sometimes they get it right or at least close. This is especially an issue in Texas as we have non-disclosure.

What to do? You can hire an appraiser - or you can call in your friendly real estate professional. It is sort of like checking your bank balance!

NAR says it is a great time to sell. I agree!

There has been a housing inventory shortage for quite a while. That shortage impacts sales (not enough supply to meet demand).

It is still a seller's market but that will not last forever. Take a look at the opportunity - it just might work for you!

Retirement

Factors to Consider When Choosing A Home to Retire In

So much to consider when buying a home to retire in! Do you want to downsize – trade the larger home for smaller luxury? Do you want to be near family – or away? Perhaps a different climate would work. Besides all of that, other considerations such as maintenance, affordability, the type of community, convenience and so on.

I am not a psychologist, but if you would like to talk it through and review the options from a real estate perspective, I am more than happy to help. It is something we have already done numerous times!

Home To Retire In

Moving does not always mean moving to a larger house. There are points to consider for your retirement home.

As we go through the various stages of life, our needs and wants are likely to change - several times. If you are empty nesters living in more house than you need, now may be the time to downsize. All kinds of options are out there for you and personally, I have referred many folks to brand new homes. New homes are more energy efficient and have lower maintenance cost. You would not need to worry about upgrading and remodeling. Whether you choose new construction or just a smaller home - it is a great time to give your lifestyle a makeover!

Home Equity and Retirement

The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning... If you have been following us for a while, you have seen our posts about how a home increases your wealth - and how your "investment" grows while providing a place to live. As you start planning retirement most can look forward to social security, investment plan distributions and, if lucky, career related retirement benefits. No matter what your situation, if you have equity in your home you can count on that too. It could mean using the equity for a reverse mortgage, selling your home and moving on - or even aging in place with mortgages that are paid off if you started early enough - or mortgages payments that will continue to increase your equity and one day be paid off. There are so many options and possibilities. Owning is a great option! No matter how you look at it - paying rent will leave you with receipts and a payment due next month. Are you in? For more, have a look at today's article

Baby Boomer Freedom?

Finding freedom in retirement? Read more about that

Retirement with Homeownership

Years ago I remember my uncle coming into the family dining room with two stacks of receipts - each a few inches high. He had saved 23 years worth of rent receipts from his then landlord (there were other landlords before that). He was trying to make a point to the family - he had rent receipts - his landlord had the building. My uncle had no equity to fall back on - nothing. He had receipts. Getting to ownership may require sacrifices along the way but there are plenty of advantages. A home could also be your largest asset. See what you think - checkout this latest article