55+ Communities (Wilmington, Newark: buyers, tax, clubhouse)

[peeweeaz]

Charley,

I just had an epiphany. As you probably know, the Fed cut the prime rate by 1/2 yesterday. That's translates to lower interest rates for mortgages. Since the housing market is in a big slump at the moment, you could probably buy what you're looking for now cheaper than later, and rent it out until your wife retires. This assumes, of course, you have the funds for a down payment. My wife and I bought our house in AZ in 1992, but didn't move in until 2002. I hired a property manager who took care of everything and charged 12 percent of the rent. Even after the 12 percent, we still made a little over the mortgage. So we had the mortgage paid for ten years and got the tax deductions at the end of the year. In ten years, it was never vacant. When we moved in, the house was is good shape. Just a thought.

Bob

[Charley]

It's a good thought, but I don't want to be a landlord. The last thing I want is someone living in MY house before me.

Mortgage won't be an issue. I'll be selling a house in New York, so it will pay for whatever we choose in Delaware.

Funny when you think about it ... a benefit to owning a house in New York is selling it so I can afford the next one somewhere else.

Charley

[peeweeaz]

Charley,

The point I was trying to make was with a property manager, you don't have to do anything except sign the lease agreement and send it back. Maintenance is taken care of by the property manager. But, if you want to move in brand new, then that option is off the table.

Bob

[JoycieM]

Charley, Wow, full benefits...can't beat that. I would wait as well.

Rockky,
Thanks for the good wishes. I was widowed at 47 after 25 years of marriage. I also found support from other widowed people through a website that saved my life and sanity. I have made many friends and some I consider " family."
Take care.
Joyce

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by JoycieM

Hi All.
I will report back later this weekend with as much information that is available from Nittany Glen.

I guess there will be something that will always concern us no matter where we choose to live. I guess we have to list our priorities and go from there. But, Eliza, I do know what you mean about tiring of the process. We have been investigating different places for over a year now. We have visited several places as well. I do enjoy the trips and have eliminated a few places right away. But sometimes it's just hard to sort everything out. Ron does take pictures of the models and that has helped.
I have to have faith that our research and instict and maybe blind luck will lead us to the place we are meant to live. I am so anxious and I know that can be dangerous. But time doesn't wait. I am so ready to start our new life together in a new place.

Take care,
Joycie

Hi Joyce,
Anxious to see what you think of Nittany Glen.

I know what you mean about being anxious and impatient to start your new life.
I was the same way.
Only thing that stopped me was the fact I was still working and couldn't leave till I stayed long enough to get all the money due me.

This is a huge step in life and I was worried we would make the wrong decsion.
But from the time we got here, it felt like home and I did not look back.

So take your time, weigh everything out, do some more narrowing down then just go with your instincts.
You will end up where you are meant to be

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

I am also so ready ... but time is not on my side right now. I'm already retired, but my wife still works. Based on an excellent retirement incentive, she may need to work as few as two or as many as six more years (5 years, 9 months, 7 days ... lol). We're BOTH ready to make a move, but the incentive is too good to pass up. So she works and we wait.

Charley

6 years charley. That is a long time. You may need to start a new thread called What to do till wife retires. LOL
By the time you are ready, your information will be extremely valuable.
My guess is that you will be in a community that is not on the map yet. Just a prediction.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by rockky

Did you guys happen to notice this thread in the General Section in the Retirement Forum? It's here on City Data.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/retir...insurance.html



I had a real mess with my health insurance moving from PA to DE.

It all seems crazy to me. As we boomers retire, many of us are moving away to sunnier more attractive areas. No coverage and messed up coverage will be an issue for sure....as if health care isn't messy enough right now.

JoycieM - I want to wish you well on your new adventure in life. I am a widow too...at 49yo...30 year marriage. Somehow the best support I got was from complete strangers who were also widows. There's a lot of us out there. I applaud (more like cheer ), your willingness to keep going and find a new relationship. My bestest to you and Ron!!

Rockky............This was the one thing I checked into before I retired. We put a small deposit on this place August 2006 so I needed to find out all I could and fast.
I did some inquiring about keystone and it is not taken this far south in DE So I call Benefits dept and decided on a universal for now which is Blue cross.
Not I have dental that is not taken in this area so they will reimburse me.

We have neighbors that moved here not knowing and now when there is a problem, they ride back to NJ by NY until they get this straight.
Which I can't imagine cuz she worked in a doctors office.

Are your married now Rockky? We have quite a few widows in Southern meadows who are unattached!

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by peeweeaz

Charley,

re coverage to decline.
Also, expect Parts B and D to increase their premiums as the years go on. Of course, if Hillary wins the Presidency, we'll all have national health insurance, just like Canada (lol).

Bob

Go Hillary

[Charley]

Originally Posted by elizamary

6 years charley. That is a long time. You may need to start a new thread called What to do till wife retires. LOL
By the time you are ready, your information will be extremely valuable.
My guess is that you will be in a community that is not on the map yet. Just a prediction.

It is a long time, although it could be as little as two years if the right combination of things happen. In the meantime, I keep myself very busy with a "little" project of mine at QFLEA Flea Market, the friendliest virtual flea market online and with getting the house ready for sale. I'm doing much of my own painting, spackling, carpentry, repair work, landscaping, etc ... and throwing out (and freecycling) a lot of junk that we're just not going to take along with us.

Nobles Pond is in an 8 to 10 year building cycle to get their homes built, averaging 80 to 100 per year. They are just finishing year 1 ... so I think the timing will be right for me. For the other three that are on our list, they would most likely be resales when we are ready. And of course, you're quite right that some new communities will probably pop up between now and then.

Charley

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

It is a long time, although it could be as little as two years if the right combination of things happen. In the meantime, I keep myself very busy with a "little" project of mine at QFLEA Flea Market, the friendliest virtual flea market online and with getting the house ready for sale. I'm doing much of my own painting, spackling, carpentry, repair work, landscaping, etc ... and throwing out (and freecycling) a lot of junk that we're just not going to take along with us.

Nobles Pond is in an 8 to 10 year building cycle to get their homes built, averaging 80 to 100 per year. They are just finishing year 1 ... so I think the timing will be right for me. For the other three that are on our list, they would most likely be resales when we are ready. And of course, you're quite right that some new communities will probably pop up between now and then.

Charley

Well charley, it is great that you do have the time to get ready like that.
Health care is an important issue and you need it especially in the golden years.
And yes, a lot of communities have different phases.
Bon Ayre is still building and have been for about 6 years or so.

On line flea market is interesting. Do you sell or buy?