Are you among Baby Boomers are looking to capitalize on home equity to enhance their retirement savings? 

Here are 6 things to consider if youʼre planning a relocation for retirement...

 

Unlike earlier generations of retirees who paid off their mortgages and retired in their family home, today's Baby Boomers are looking to capitalize on home equity to 

enhance their retirement savings. If youʼre considering a “relocation retirement,” below are a few points that may inform your decision.  Here are some discussions you should have before making any 

decisions about relocating, downsizing, or trading up:

1. Speak with your spouse or partner first, even if you think you're both of the same mind. Don't just assume that you're in agreement.

2. Consider the cost-of-living in a different part of the country. There's a pretty big swing between rural Florida and urban San Francisco, for example.

3. Consider whether your plans are realistic. For example, could you really live in a 1-bedroom after spreading out for years in your present 4-bed/3-bath?

4. How much will the ease and pleasure of retirement depend on family and friends? What are the pros/cons of moving nearer/farther away?

5. Consider the potential impact of capital gains if you have substantial equity in your home and speak with a tax professional.

6. Relocating to a more affordable area as well as to a smaller home is a strong strategy. But real estate values and property taxes can vary immensely by locale, 

even within the same state. Research thoroughly. Also, you want to spend significant time in the location to make sure its compatible with your lifestyle, pace, and interests.

I enjoy helping retirees navigate these decisions and would welcome the opportunity to help you if youʼre thinking about relocation.

 

 Contact me: 815-627-0477

I love to help my clients manage stress through the sale or purchase of a home. Hereʼs a great article with 37 stress management tips I hope you enjoy.

 

Part of my specialty as a real estate agent is managing stress for my clients. It means a lot to me when clients tell me at closing, “Wow, Heather , I canʼt believe how smoothly everything went.” Itʼs a badge of honor for me when I hear things were “stress free” or “low pressure” from my clientsʼ perspective.

Even in the best case scenario, every real estate transaction comes with a little stress. If you consider WHY most people are buying or selling a home, the motivation usually comes from either positive or negative life change. Marriage, the birth of a child, the death of a spouse, divorce, a new job, downsizing... all are common reasons people buy or sell a home.

Itʼs no surprise that these major life changes are also listed on the “Holmes and Rahe stress scale,” a list of 43 life events which can contribute to illness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale).>

The ability to manage the stress associated with these events isnʼt just about feeling good... itʼs also a crucial component of maintaining our health along the way.

Since Iʼm always on the lookout for ways to reduce my clientsʻ stress levels during this time of transition, I was thrilled to find this excellent article from Readerʼs Digest called “37 Stress Management Tips” to share with you:

http://www.rd.com/health/37-stress-management-tips/

 

Enjoy! If youʼre looking for an agent to help you with a stress-free real estate transaction, drop me a line today: 815-627-0477

Have a great summer!

Heather Lawson, Broker Associate

Keller Williams Realty Signature

www.heatherlawsonrealestate.com

Here are some recently sold properties in Belvidere Illinois. If you are curious about home values in your neighborhood, visit www.heatherlawsononline.com. You can look up both active and sold property listings. This will give you a good indication of values in your neighborhood.

Please call me if you have any questions, 815-627-0477.

 

Thanks for reading,

Heather Lawson