Reasons Downsizing Makes Sense

I have written often about downsizing, including our own plans for condo living. Saving $1000 or more on monthly living expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc.) is the equivalent of adding $300,000 or more of income-generating assets to your retirement nest egg.

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The Low Stress Vacation Home

The New York Times recently published an article that attempts to explore the harsh realities of owning a vacation home. I agree with many of the author’s views. I wanted to comment further because we are now experienced owners of a pre-retirement vacation home. If you have considered purchasing property to use for vacation or weekend living, perhaps you might learn something helpful from this post and/or from the article. Read more

Downsizing and Mortgage Refinance Strategies

For the past year or so we have been openly discussing downsizing from our primary residence after our youngest son graduates from college next spring. We would take the proceeds from the sale and either buy something smaller in the area or, more likely, rent. Now we are rethinking that strategy. Read more

Is There a Low-Cost Retirement Paradise?

A common theme in discussions about retirement in a foreign country is that a life in a warm, sunny retirement paradise can be experienced at low cost. This belief applies in particular to retirement destinations such as Mexico, Belize, Panama, and Costa Rica. According to some folks who have tried it, this belief is only half-true. Read more

Re-Thinking the Dream of a Beach Front Retirement

Many baby boomers have grown up yearning for beach front property. Owning a house or condo near the ocean for retirement is a dream that lots of us have shared. Sadly, the Gulf oil disaster has added another reason to the list of reasons why retiring on the beach may not be such a good idea. Read more

Downsizing Compared to Upscaling in Retirement Living

We drove to Long Branch Lakes yesterday to check on the construction progress of the condo we are buying. Things are moving along rapidly. The unit is completely shelled in and framed, with rough plumbing and electrical completed. The garage is finished and our horse’s shoe was embedded in the garage floor surface as we asked. Read more

DIY Home Design for the Downsizing Baby Boomer

As they empty the nest and approach retirement, many baby boomers are thinking about what to do with their present home. Should they remodel to sell and downsize? Should they finally implement those upgrades for a carefree retirement lifestyle? What about new living spaces – what should be done with those? Read more

Retirement and Las Vegas

Ask me ten years ago and I would have told you that Las Vegas would be a fun place to live in retirement, at least part time. It was energetic, unique and affordable if you don’t have a gambling addiction. Things have changed. Read more

A Decluttering Strategy for Downsizing

“Simplify” is a word and concept that becomes more significant to me as I age. I’m having success applying it to my work (a 100% paperless legal practice) but it’s harder at home. I struggle with the realization of how much stuff there is to get rid of when we downsize. The household clutter is a constant reminder of what needs to be done. Thus, I was intrigued by the “stock theory” of decluttering that I read about today. Read more

Top 100 Places to Retire – 2010 List Edition

TopRetirements.com has published an updated list (for 2010) of its best 100 places to retire. This list is compiled using a somewhat unusual method: The publisher determines which 100 towns have the most online visits of the 450 cities that are presently reviewed at Topretirements.com. The list reflects the towns that visitors to the site are the most interested in reading about for retirement.  Read more

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