Retirement Watch Lighthouse Logo

Home Equity & Senior Housing

Bob Carlson’s ideas and strategies for managing home equity and choice of housing to maintain a budget

Found 128 Articles.
Get access to our full article archive by subscribing to Retirement Watch and Retirement Watch Spotlight Series.

retirement-housing-myths-shattered

Retirement Housing Myths Shattered

June 1, 2007

Some of the biggest retirement planning mistakes occur because pre-retirees believe common myths and rules of thumb that often are featured in the media. Most of these retirement platitudes do not stand up to basic research or investigation. Retiree housing has been a subject of some of the premier and enduring retirement myths. The media […]

good-time-to-buy-second-home

Is It a Good Time to Buy a Second Home

May 1, 2007

In our Feb. 2002 visit I advised, “If a second home interests you, now is a good time to take a serious looking at buying one.” Those who took my advice have done well. Vacation and second home prices were stagnant then because of the economic downturn but doubled in many areas between 2000 and […]

the-surge-in-reverse-mortgages

The Surge in Reverse Mortgages

March 1, 2007

Reverse mortgages suddenly are booming. The number of reverse mortgages insured by the federal government surged by 77% in 2006. Areas with high home prices and a high percentage of older people see the greatest number of the mortgages issued. Several factors are behind the increase in reverse mortgages. The aging population increases demand, as […]

housing-bubble-revisited

Housing Bubble Revisited

November 1, 2006

The headlines about housing certainly changed over the last year. Talk of unending years of double digit appreciation have been replaced by stories of unsold homes, sharp price declines, and forecasts of how long and how steep the decline might be. Throughout the housing boom we maintained that there was not a national housing bubble. […]

SUBSCRIBE TO Lifetime Retirement Protection Program

Bob’s exclusive new service gives members the tools and knowledge to maximize their retirement finances for the rest of their lives. The Lifetime Retirement Protection Program includes all monthly issues of Bob’s Retirement Watch newsletter, all monthly video webinars in his Retirement Watch Spotlight service, every one of Bob’s premium reports and white papers (past and future), complete access to RetirementWatch.com, and 90 days’ membership in Eagle Financial’s DividendInvestor.com. Click here now to access all of Bob Carlson’s research.

should-you-keep-your-mortgage-or-pay-it-off

Should You Keep Your Mortgage or Pay it Off?

August 1, 2006

A home is the most valuable asset owned by most Americans. A key and confusing financial issue for many is how to manage the home equity. Proper management of the equity can increase net worth and enhance one’s life style. Managing home equity means determining the trade off between a mortgage and unencumbered home equity. […]

using-home-equity-as-a-retirement-fund

Factors to Consider when Using Home Equity as a Retirement Fund

July 1, 2006

Is home equity the mainstay of your retirement fund? Apparently it is for a number of people. Both anecdotal evidence and some consumer surveys indicate that a number of Baby Boomers plan to “retire on the house.” The plan is especially prevalent along the coasts and in resort areas. These are the areas in which […]

should-you-buy-or-rent-the-second-home

Should You Buy or Rent the Second Home

May 1, 2006

The real estate markets are changing, especially those in resort and vacation areas. Home prices streaked upward from 2000-2005, causing us to address the possible “housing bubble” several times in this newsletter. Those articles are on the web site Archive. Now, the forecasts we made the last few years are looking accurate. The hottest housing […]

the-new-breed-of-vacation-homes

The New Breed of Vacation Homes

April 1, 2006

A vacation home is passé for some people. While vacation and second home owner-ship are on the rise, and more Boomers plan to buy second homes, a number of people are moving on to what they consider the next level of second home ownership. This innovation is known generically as the destination club. There now […]

pixel

Log In

Forgot Password

Search