Posts Tagged “Using Home Equity to Build Wealth for Retirement”

When is the Best Time to Right Size Your Life?

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downsizing When is the Best Time to Right Size Your Life?

One of the most common dilemmas faced by retirees is when should I downsize and move to a new place? It’s never easy to decide when to leave the family home you have lived in for decades. I have clients that have been in the family for over 60 years.

Here are 5 points to consider

– Housing needs to change over time. Your 4 bedroom 2 storey house with a large backyard was perfect to raise a family, but the kids have moved out years ago.

– Many clients I work with are currently only using 3 rooms (living room, kitchen & bedroom), for day-to-day living. The remaining rooms are unused. They are paying to heat, insure and maintain the entire house.

– Don’t try to time the market for a few thousand dollars more next Spring. Are you are going to spend the entire Winter stuck in the house paying someone to plow the snow? it might be easier to sell sooner so pick the time that is most convenient for you,

– Homes do require upgrades and multiple things may need to be replaced. Spending $10k, $20k, or more to enable you to stay another 1-2 years is very expensive and likely to bring a limited return on resale.

– Are you finding it financially difficult to live in the home? If it takes all of your income each month to live and you are dipping into savings each month to cover housing costs then a right sizing move may make sense.

Eliminating expensive housing costs while simultaneously freeing up equity to invest and produce income can change your financial situation.

Invest and produce an income

If you invest $300,000 (using RBC Managed Payout Solution or a similar product) it will pay approx. $1500 per month in income and you can eliminate $500 per month in housing expenses, giving you $2000 per month to live on.

Hopefully these points will give you some things to consider in making your decision of when is the right time for you to the right size.

Downsizing is a process but a rewarding one. It can be an opportunity to right-size your life and move onto the next chapter with more independence.


homebeat ad When is the Best Time to Right Size Your Life?

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Ways Seniors Can Prevent Falls From Occuring in The Bathroom

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senior bathroom 1075x732 Ways Seniors Can Prevent Falls From Occuring in The Bathroom

Falls in a home can result in minor injuries or may even become fatal, but a fall in the bathroom is a commonplace where people can get hurt. Take the necessary steps to increase bathroom safety for seniors who want to live independent lives. A few simple and inexpensive changes to your bathroom can decrease your chances of injury and make it a safer place.  It’s also advisable to bring your cell phone or emergency alert gadget to the bathroom with you in case you fall and require immediate assistance.

Some medical conditions like diabetes make your skin less sensitive to water temperatures so ensure you turn the cold water on first and off last when having a shower and be sure to check the water temperature in a bath before climbing in. Do not grab onto the tap when entering the tub but hold onto a grab bar for better balance. Some seniors find it difficult to get into and out of the tub without assistance so it will become necessary to follow the tips listed below to prevent serious or fatal falls.

moen Ways Seniors Can Prevent Falls From Occuring in The Bathroom

Improve Bathroom lighting

Place a nightlight outside and inside the bathroom to keep it well lit. Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting can also increase the risk of a fall so ensure the bathroom is well lit and the path from the bathroom to the bedroom has adequate lighting.

Non-slip-mats and bath mats

Use a non-slip mat that has a rubber back in your tub to prevent slipping. Rinse off your bath mat regularly as soap buildup will prevent it from securing snugly to the tub. Add a nonslip rug or mat on the floor in front of the tub, toilet, and sink to minimize the risk of falling on a slippery wet floor. Ensure your bathroom floor is free and clear of towels, face cloths and clothing, and other items to prevent tripping.

Install a Shower caddy

Install a shower caddy for holding toiletry items that can be accessed without stretching or bending. Install it at arm’s height so it’s easier to grab shampoos and soaps. Wall-mounted shower caddies are easy to refill and you don’t have to worry about shampoo bottles or soap falling out of your hands and into the bathtub or shower.

Install Grab bars

A wet slippery surface can be a hazard in your bathroom, so install grab bars in the shower, by the toilet, and other places in your bathroom but make sure they are installed properly and do not pull away from the wall when force is applied. A properly installed grab bar is essential for seniors who have difficulty getting into and out of a bathtub and provide assistance for better balance. Grabbing onto a towel rack for balance is not advisable and is not designed to support your full weight and could come to loose from the wall resulting in a fall.

Shower chair – transfer bench or walk-in tub

A shower chair or bench provides a place to sit and rest while showering as some seniors have difficulty standing and staying balanced. Purchase a chair with rubber tips on the legs to prevent slipping and sliding in the tub.

Raised toilet seat or install a taller toilet

A taller toilet with a grab bar nearby anchored to the wall will give a senior something to hold onto while raising and lowering themselves onto the toilet. Traditional toilets may be too low for a senior who has problems getting up and down. Also, a raised toilet seat provides better access by a few inches and provides assistance for getting up and down. Again ensure a grab bar is handy to reduce falls.


homebeat ad Ways Seniors Can Prevent Falls From Occuring in The Bathroom

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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10 Upsides of Downsizing Your Senior Living

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downsizing and rightsizing 232 10 Upsides of Downsizing Your Senior Living

Need a change in your life?

Consider downsizing with less space and fewer possessions. You can spend less time and money cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things and focus on other priorities.

10 Tips for Downsizing

1. Boomer and senior need less space. Large homes with multiple levels and a big yard represent your past, while a smaller house, condo, or apartment is the present.

2. You want space, so be selective downsizing. Choose a large master bedroom, but fewer secondary bedrooms. An open-concept kitchen but not a big dining room.

3. A smaller home or condo may cost less. If the space is right for you, even paying an equivalent or higher price may be worth it.

4. If you have less space, your utility cost should be less.

5. Moving to a smaller home usually means ridding yourself of some furniture. Some pieces won’t fit the space, so splurge on new pieces that are perfect for the new space.

Preparing to Downsize Report

6. Consider the move a fresh start cutting down on clothes, kitchen gadgets, hobby equipment, and other things you don’t use. Reducing the volume of “stuff” will make your move easier and help you get settled in your new home.

7. As the items that won’t make the move pile up, use Kijiji, garage sales. Donate all or part of it to an organization or a needy familiar.

8. If you have collectibles, jewelry, household goods, or other treasures you want to give to your kids or grandkids, distribute them as you downsize and reclaim the space.

9. If you discover you still have more than you need to move into your new home, don’t be afraid to continue the purge as you get settled to make sure your home stays uncluttered.

10. Though you might feel sad as you let go of your big house and stock of possessions, revel in the fact you are downsizing on your own terms.

Downsizing is a process but a rewarding one. It can be an opportunity to right-size your life and move onto the next chapter with more independence.


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Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Making An Older Home Appeal To Young Buyers

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275e34b892e0d7c2158d797c2c7ce269 ranch house additions second floor addition Making An Older Home Appeal To Young Buyers

The one thing that unites young buyers is they do not want to buy a place that looks old and dinghy and needs lots of unexpected, expensive repairs – regardless of when it was built. They are looking for something that allows them to move in and do minimal work to update the property.

Making An Old Home Young At Heart

What this means is that if you are selling an old home to young buyers you must take some steps to make the home young at heart, even if you have a 100-year-old home in a historic neighborhood. This does not mean you need to add expensive amenities. While some buyers come to the home buying process with unrealistic expectations that granite counters and stainless appliances are essential to their well-being, most come to realize that homes with good bones can be turned into a perfect home. So what should you do to make a home stand out to young buyers?

Verify the condition of the home with a home inspection.

Young buyers usually cannot afford to fall into a money pit. For a few hundred dollars, a home inspection uncovers most problems a professional can see without ripping the home apart. Whatever the inspector finds that is not fixed must be disclosed. Savvy young buyers with vision can get a renovation mortgage to take care of some issues. Having any problems on the table will enable them to make a good decision based on how much remodelling they can handle.

Do the basic upkeep

Clean out the gutters, have the furnace and chimney cleaned and serviced, and have the septic system pumped. Having these services done (and showing would-be buyers the receipts) will offer peace of mind that basic systems are in order.

Flooring is critical

Carpets are a huge negative when selling your home. If you have hardwood under the carpet consider removing the carpets and exposing the hardwood floors. If not, it’s advisable to brand new install hardwood or laminate.

Lighten it up

For a fresh, modern look, paint the walls in neutral colors. Remove the dark floral wallpaper and update the light fixtures. This will offer the buyer a taste of what the home could be like if it were their home.

Play up the neighborhood

The location of the home can sell it as well as the features it has. If buyers can walk to amenities they like, or reach them with a short drive, the neighborhood may offer special appeal. Young buyers may want cafes, restaurants, shopping, fitness centers, and nightlife, along with great schools, parks, and a nice yard for their children and pets.

Make Your Older Home Feel Like A New Home

By taking a few simple steps, you can make an old house appeal to younger buyers. Since the next owner will want to put their stamp on the place, your goal is to remove obstacles that will block their vision.


homebeat ad Making An Older Home Appeal To Young Buyers

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

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seniors and money A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

At 65, will you still have a mortgage hanging over your head? Are you a Boomer over 50 who will still be making mortgage payments once you reach normal retirement age? If so, you’ll be like 35% of other senior homeowners, according to the Canadian Association Of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. As a senior, a mortgage obligation can take money away from the resources you need to carry you through the remainder of your life. Unless you are willing to cut expenses, you could be in trouble.

Why Seniors May Still Have Mortgages

With the 25-year mortgage common, you might be in that situation if you took out a mortgage past the age of 40. You may have become a homeowner later in life, but many seniors are still paying mortgages because they refinanced their homes at an earlier time to pay for a wedding or a loan to their kids for a down payment or some other purpose. Your thinking might have been that the kids would inherit the money anyway, so they might as well have it when they need it.

The Trade-off For Having A Mortgage In Retirement

This generosity makes some sense, but the great risk is that it will tap into monies that seniors need to live on. With people living longer, the average senior will need to keep working into retirement, cut expenses, and not take on a new debt areas to make it. In contrast, according to Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc., many seniors are not changing their spending habits to match their coming reality. Seniors are both adding new debt and taking on new mortgages which could put them in trouble if interest rates rise and the payments follow. “It could send them into a tailspin,” says Schwartz.

How Do Your Finances Line Up?

During your retirement years, what does your financial picture look like? If you are thinking of taking out a new mortgage or even if you find yourself holding a mortgage or considerable debt, you need to ask yourself some hard questions:

  • How far into your retirement does or will your mortgage extend?
  • How far into retirement are you planning to work?
  • How much debt do you have and how do you plan to extinguish it?
  • Are you making it every month or feeling squeezed?
  • Are you prepared to cut your spending so you can both pay off your debt and save for the future?
  • Do you have any other assets you could extinguish to reduce your debt or monthly living expenses?
  • Whether you are paying house or only it out right, can you still afford the extra expenses associated with homeownership, such as taxes, landscaping, repair, and maintenance?

The answers to these questions might influence your housing plans in your retirement years. Your concern should be to have the resources to hold you through the rest of your life.

Call Me For Expert Senior Housing Services

Looking to sell your home? Give me a call today. When you are buying or selling a home, don’t waste time. Give me a call for experience, market knowledge, correct pricing, and a sincere interest in helping you fulfill your real estate goals. If you are ready to sell your home for maximum value, the best place to start is by clicking here and scheduling an appointment.


homebeat ad A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

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rightsizing Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

Over time our housing needs change. The kids leave to get married and start their own families and your housing needs changes. My senior clients decide to sell and move to something smaller. This process Is called downsizing. Not just getting something smaller but finding a new place more suitable. More accurately called Rightsizing.

Common questions I am asked by my clients are “When do I downsize and sell my home?” These are really two questions rolled into one. The first question “what time of year is best to sell” and the second “based on our situation, when is the time for me/us to sell”.

The first question has a very simple answer. Whenever you want to sell can is the best time. There are certain times of the year that have unique advantages. January to March period are good because there are fewer homes listed for sale means you have less competition.

The selling market in the Spring / Summer market (April to July) usually the busiest market and when the most buyers are actively looking. Spring and Summer are also when most homes are for sale and you have the most competition. The Fall market (September to November) usually the second busiest market of the year.

The second question is difficult to answer because situations are different for everyone. To decide for yourself when you to make a move, ask yourself these questions.

How much longer can I realistically stay?

If you are in the mid-60s, in good health, still able to mow lawns & shovel snow, and enjoy gardening, staying for 5-10 years or longer possibly makes sense. But if you are in the ’80s, experiencing health issues, unable to maintain the property, and rarely able to leave your home, make the move.

What are the advantages of staying?

Emotionally it’s hard to leave your home, but look at it objectively and make a list of the advantages of staying. People stay to maintain their independence. However, selling your home and moving to accommodations more suitable to your current needs could increase your independence. You may end up closer to necessary amenities and family.

What are the financial benefits of rightsizing?

The vast majority of my clients and seniors, in general, prefer to move to a rented apartment to enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle. This frees up the equity in the home for investing to produce an income. If you netted $300,000 from the sale and invested it at 3% it would produce $9,000 in annual income.

Eliminating expenses like property tax and maintenance you could free up another $5,000-10,000 (or more) per year. Let’s say an average of $7,500. Add that to the $9,000 and it gives you $16,500 to put towards the cost of the rent. And of course, the original principal stays intact and untouched.

Call Me For Expert Senior Housing Services

Looking to sell your home? Give me a call today. When you are buying or selling a home, don’t waste time. Give me a call for experience, market knowledge, correct pricing, and a sincere interest in helping you fulfill your real estate goals. If you are ready to sell your home for maximum value, clicking here and scheduling an appointment.


homebeat ad Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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