A generation ago, retirement was more defined. You had a last day of work, collected your gold watch and headed for a planned community in Florida or Arizona. But the baby boomer generation is heading into a much different kind of retirement. Modern technology has made it easier to move to another … [Read more...] about How to choose the right place to retire
Real estate
How to buy a foreclosure home
Just a few years ago, buying a foreclosed home was seen as a way to get a bargain. With a glut of foreclosures and few buyers perusing the market, lenders were willing to sell homes at a substantial discount just to get rid of them.Those days are gone. Buying a foreclosure can still be a good … [Read more...] about How to buy a foreclosure home
Could you live in a 100-square-foot house?
Do you have what it takes to live in a tiny house? You don’t have to be a tiny elf or fairy tale character yourself, but you do need some giant-sized courage to give up the materialistic lifestyle that most Americans have learned to love.Proponents of living in tiny houses (we’re talking 100 to … [Read more...] about Could you live in a 100-square-foot house?
How to buy and sell a house at the same time
Now that the real estate market is climbing out of the doldrums (or now that your family has grown by a member or even a few), you may be ready to buy a new home.But do you sell your old home first? Or do you buy and then sell?“It’s always a tough choice to make,” says Anthony Vitale, senior … [Read more...] about How to buy and sell a house at the same time
How to turbocharge your online home search
There was a time when the only way to find homes for sale was to engage a real estate agent to send you listings or drive up and down the streets scouting "for sale" signs.In the past decade, an explosion of online real estate listings services has drastically changed the way Americans look for … [Read more...] about How to turbocharge your online home search
New rules for buying a house in a sellers’ market
It wasn’t so long ago that you could shop for homes at your leisure, offer significantly below asking price and end up with a bargain.No more.In many parts of the country, buyers outnumber sellers, and homes listed for sale in the morning may be under contract by lunch. Homes in good … [Read more...] about New rules for buying a house in a sellers’ market
8 ways to save when moving into a new home
Congratulations: You’ve been given the keys to your new home. Now the physical work begins. Moving, even locally, can be a very expensive process. Here are eight money-saving tips that I discovered during our move within the same city last year. Get free boxes and use towels as packing … [Read more...] about 8 ways to save when moving into a new home
What you need to know before buying a home
With interest rates still at an all-time low, many first-time homebuyers are looking to make the leap into home ownership. Choosing a home is the easy part of the process – you’ll also need to deal with contract offers, inspection, securing a mortgage and insurance, and the closing, all of which … [Read more...] about What you need to know before buying a home
7 little-known homeowner insurance traps
Do you know what your homeowner's insurance policy covers should you file a claim in 2013? Yes, it's not exciting, but with more insurers are inserting provisions to shift risk and costs to homeowners, a careful read is more important than ever, say the experts at the Consumer Federation of America … [Read more...] about 7 little-known homeowner insurance traps
