Buy Your Retirement Home Now

Great article by Dan Kadlec in the September 2007 issue of Time magazine. In it, Dan talks about why buying a retirement or vacation home now while prices are still falling is a good idea. Now is an especially great time to buy in the Florida Keys! Please visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ for more information. Enjoy! -Team Mullins

Buying a home while prices are sliding is not an easy decision. After all, you never know when things will bottom out, and if you jump too soon, you may miss an even better deal that could have been yours just by waiting. But if your goal is to retire to a vacation-like property in a decade or so and you can afford to buy now, today's tepid housing market may offer a great opportunity to put your plans into motion early. Here's why.

First of all, home prices won't weaken forever, and they almost certainly will be much higher in 10 years. Waterfront and resort properties and those with spectacular views-just the features you dream of for a retirement home-can be expected to rise the fastest.

None of this means you should be rash. The whole point of buying while the market is soft is to have time to think things through. Sort it out now-and then take the plunge. Here are some other reasons that buying a vacation home now to live in later may make sense for you:

Roots. When you buy before you've retired, you start making the area part of your life right away. That helps you build a social network, which will ease the transition when you do make the move.

Family connections. Kids grow up and change jobs and cities. One way to bring the entire family together more often is by living in a fun, familiar house in a great location. Buying while you still have children at home is a bonus. The kids will feel invested in the place, make friends and want to visit more often when they're older.

You can rent to own. In the long term, prices are going to go up. By not acting soon, you risk eventually being priced out of the market altogether. If money is tight, consider buying now and collecting years of rent to defray your costs. The trick is getting over your fears. With retirement facing all of us sooner or later, there's only so much time for that.

8 Tips To Getting The Most Money For Your Home

8 Tips to Getting Top-Dollar For Your Home
From Today Show Real Estate expert Barbara Corcoran:

1. Make the right first impression.

• Paint the front door and trim.
• Hang a wreath on the door.
• Add potted flowers.
• Fertilize the grass to make it bright green.
• Put fresh mulch around the bushes.
• Fix the doorbell if it's broken.

2. Let the sun shine in!

• Clean all the windows.
• Replace drapery with sheer curtains for white shades.
• Replace lamp shades with sheer white shades.
• Replace light bulbs with higher wattage.
• Trim back shrubs that block window light.
• Paint the inside walls white.
• Put white slipcovers on all dark furniture.
• Put up lights in each corner of the major rooms.

3. Remove clutter.

• Store half of your "stuff", including knick-knacks and furniture.
• Remove personal objects like family photos and childrens' artwork.
• Remove all objects from closet floors.
• Put half your clothes into storage.
• Make your linen closet meticulous; people judge hidden wiring and plumbing by how neat your linen closet is.
• Hide all electric cords and wiring.
• Eliminate unhealthy plants.
• Put fresh sheets on beds with four extra pillows.

4. Send Fido to Grandma's house.

• Remove kitty litter, dog beds, and other smelly pet items.
• Warm a few drops of vanilla inside the oven door.
• Smoke outside; remove ashtrays.
• Open all windows an hour before the buyer arrives.
• Keep the trash can clean.

5. Freshen the kitchen.

• Clear all countertops.
• Replace cracked, scratched. or broken appliances.
• Re-grout the tile.
• Wax the floors.
• Update the kitchen knobs.
• Paint or replace the cabinet fronts.
• Put in a window; it can increase the value of your home by 10 percent.

6. Clean the bathroom.

• Scrub the walls and floors.
• Clear off all shelves and put away personal items.
• Re-grout tiles and replace caulking.
• Hang a new shower curtain.
• Buy fresh hand towels and rug.
• Replace old soap.

7. Add color.

• Buy new throw pillows for the sofa and bed.
• Add a fresh ficus tree.
• Define areas with colorful rugs.

8. Don't empty out the house.

• Rent or borrow furniture if you need to in order to make the home look lived in and give the buyer a sense of space.

For more helpful tips on how to get the most money for your home, visit our website at http://www.lowerkeys-homes.com/!