Baltimore Housing News – July 2021
ElderPlus provides free, all-inclusive help As Baltimore resident Tiffani Williams’ grandmother grew older, she had to help her pay bills, drive her to doctors’ appointments and much more. Then Williams heard about Hopkins ElderPlus, established almost 25 years ago. Providing all the services older adults need to stay healthy, ElderPlus is Maryland’s branch of the federal Program of... READ MORE
Face it: Your kids don’t want your stuff
I know I’m going to get a few calls about this article, but hear me out. We talk a lot about managing your estate and strategies for making the most of an inheritance, but what we don’t often talk about is what to do with your “stuff” and the realities that surround that. When helping people with their estate planning, we obviously cover the big issues, such as IRA or retirement... READ MORE
How to find affordable housing in Baltimore
Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any resources to help seniors find and pay for senior apartments? My aunt, who’s 75 years old, needs to find a new place to live but has very little money. What can you tell me? —Searching Sarah Dear Sarah, Finding affordable housing options for older adults can be difficult, depending on where your aunt lives. Apartments for retirees are a good... READ MORE
10 tax-friendly places for early retirement
Retiring at a relatively younger age may mean needing to stretch your nest egg further. One way to do that is to find the right retirement destination. Where you live makes a big impact on your budget, as it helps determine your living costs, tax bills and income opportunities. Even if you retire, you may actually want to keep working a bit — whether to help pad your budget, pursue... READ MORE
D.C. Housing Notes – April 2021
Affordable/luxury assisted living opens in D.C. This month, Livingston Place at Southern, a 152-unit luxury assisted living community, will open in D.C.’s Ward 8, offering housing for residents 60 and older who require assistance with daily living activities and have low to moderate incomes. Gina Latture, Livingston Place’s director of sales and marketing, grew up in Ward 8 and is... READ MORE
A caring home for those with disabilities
Carol A., a mother of an adult child with autism, worries about her son’s future. “After my husband’s cancer passing, I am often in private anguish about what will happen to my sweet son if anything happens to me,” she said. Parents of adult children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) must plan ahead to secure a reliable, caring home for their children, who ... READ MORE
Sell the house, toss the junk and travel
Five years ago, my wife and I — then in our 60s and recently retired — sold our home in Connecticut and embarked on a worldwide adventure as nomads. To date, we have been to 36 countries on five continents. Our dream turned into a reality that has exceeded our wildest expectations. We did it. You can do it, too. During our 45 years of marriage, we enjoyed traveling, adventure and... READ MORE
Golf community life
Many retirees dream of a home in a golf course community, where connecting a shiny driver with a perfectly dimpled ball on a lush, green fairway is just another day in paradise. But a golf club membership isn’t a given at these communities and sometimes comes with hefty fees. When you buy a house in a golf community, it pays to understand exactly what you’re getting. Some golf... READ MORE
Reverse mortgage can be a financial tool
Note: This story picks up where our January Housing Options feature, “Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan” ended, with a reference to reverse mortgages. Over the past several years, reverse mortgages have begun to overcome a somewhat tarnished reputation through product changes and additional requirements for financial assessment that have corrected some potentially... READ MORE
Make your bathrooms safer, easier to use
Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems, and she fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that can help keep her safe. —Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the... READ MORE
