- Independent Living, Retirement, Senior Living Advisor, Senior Living Advisor, Senior Living Community, Seniors, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, SRES®
What is Independent Living and How do we Help?
Independent Living communities are usually larger apartment-type buildings or complexes where seniors live on their own, with little to no assistance required. Types of communities include senior apartment buildings, retirement communities, campuses, etc. Apartments range from studio to 2-3 bedrooms in size, and in some cases casitas, villas, patio homes and/or full-sized homes. Amenities range from simple proximity to services to a wide range of activities, transportation, dining options, exercise facilities, pools, theatre rooms, and off-site group activities. Independent Living is an appropriate setting for seniors who are capable of living on their own and need little to no assistance with activities of daily living (ADL,) (dressing, bathing, etc), but…
- Financial Prep for Retirement, Retirement, Senior Finances, Senior Living Advisor, Senior Living Community, Senior Savings, Seniors, Taresa Lutz RE Agent, Taresa Lutz Realtor, Uncategorized
How to Make Your Retirement Savings Last
Downsizing Tips and Tricks
Give Away Decide who should have each item, invite them over for coffee and a chat. Gift the item and let them know why you choose them (limit to just a few items/person). If photographs, write a short description of the event/person. Donate Uniforms or unique / historical clothing Drama departments at schools and theaters ROTC (uniforms) for mock medical emergency drills Household Goods Donate items and clothing (only those in good repair and free of smoke and cat/dog hair) to the Thrift stores. Check with nonprofits working with housing refugees or other populations like Star of Hope Mission in Houston. Photographs Check with local historical societies, museums or local…
Why Owning a Home is a Powerful Financial Decision
Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger future. Here’s a dive into three often-overlooked financial benefits of homeownership and how preparing for them now can steer you in the direction of greater financial security and savings. 1. You Won’t Always Have a Monthly Housing Payment Personal finance advisor Dave Ramsey explains: “Every payment brings you closer to owning the house. When you pay…
Homestead Exemption: Don’t forget to file – Now is the Time!
If you purchased a new home in 2022, it’s time to file your homestead exemption! What is a homestead exemption? For those that don’t know or understand, the homestead exemption is a benefit to homeowners allowing for the removal of a portion of the home’s value from taxation, which in turn lowers the property taxes you pay each year. Sounds great, right? As it turns out, there are some requirements to qualify for the tax break. What are the qualifications? From qualification requirements to how it works, here’s everything you need to know about filing your homestead exemption in Texas: How do I know if I qualify? Qualifying for the homestead…
There’s a Long Line of Buyers Waiting to Buy Your House!
If you’re following what’s happening in the housing market right now, you know that many people believe the winter months aren’t a good time to sell a home. As realtor.com Senior Economist George Ratiu recently noted, “Sellers tend to be more reluctant to list during the colder time of year when the market typically makes a seasonal slowdown.” However, a recent report by ShowingTime reveals how this year is different. Buyer activity is way up compared to the same time last year. The report explains, “The nation’s 12.6% growth in home showings compared to 2018 was the most significant jump in buyer traffic during the current four-month streak of year-over-year increases. The West Region saw the greatest growth…
What Does Professional Home Staging Cost?
Note: Credit for the bulk of this article goes to Home Matters. Some of the article has been modified to reflect local information or my own comments. Staging your home gives potential buyers (or renters, for that matter) the chance to visualize each room as a livable, welcoming space. It’s hard to convey that feeling with plain walls and a bare open area. But what’s the real value of investing in professional staging? When you’re on the fence, it helps to know that you have options. Your home and budget can benefit from a couple of different setups. Vacant Home Staging Benefits Whether you’ve already moved all of your belongings and…
What is the Cost of Professional Home Staging?
Staging is what you do after you’ve cleaned, decluttered, painted, made minor repairs; it’s all about dressing the house for sale. It should be done BEFORE taking the Professional Photographs and placing the home officially on the MLS. What is the Cost? Well, that is a good question. A major cost of Professional Home Staging would be the cost of NOT doing it! What? I have seen situations though where the home was Staged AFTER having been placed on the market and the home sitting on the market for several weeks. That also costs more $$$. Then you have to redo the photographs and have the photos reposted on the…
Are Home Staging Costs Tax Deductible?
Savvy home sellers and Real Estate Agents understand that in order to get offers and top dollar for their listings in the least amount of time, they need to professionally prepare homes with a professional Home Stager. Current statistics continue to show that Staged homes sell faster and for more than comparable homes on the market. Selling faster actually saves the homeowner money in the long run and they will likely make those dollars back on the sale. As an Accredited Staging Professional® with Stellar Staging Group, I have been informed that the cost of Staging®, may be tax deductible. Barb Schwarz, ASPM®, IASHP® and The Creator of Home Staging®,…