Ten safe, livable communities for retirees
Retirement is all about freedom and choice. It’s doing what you want on your terms — like moving to a new town to be closer to family, craving warmer weather, or simply wishing for a different view from your kitchen window. Making sure the retirement town you choose is safe and yet still provides everything you need when you retire is vital to any move. Analyzing data from the... READ MORE
Where solo agers can find help, support
Dear Savvy Senior, I’m a divorced 68-year-old childless cat lady and have been thinking a lot lately about who will look after me when I get older and my health falters. What resources are available to solo seniors like me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person to be my emergency contact, as well as lookout for my health, financial matters and living arrangements in my elder... READ MORE
Should you get a mortgage in retirement?
Why buy a new home after retiring? You may want to downsize, move to a more agreeable climate or be closer to the grandkids. Yet just like any other homebuyer, retirees face formidable issues like high mortgage rates, elevated home prices, and associated costs on insurance, maintenance and possibly homeowner association fees. The average U.S. mortgage rate was 6.65% in March,... READ MORE
DC Housing News April 2025
Coming soon: The Reserve at Falls Church A new luxury senior living community is coming to West Falls Church, Virginia. In December 2024, developers broke ground on The Reserve at Falls Church, a new project by Experience Senior Living, the senior housing operator of NexCore Group. The Reserve at Falls Church will have 215 upscale units for independent living, assisted living... READ MORE
Can you recall everything in your house?
When was the last time you really took a long, hard look at what’s inside your home? Let me tell you a story about why it is important that you do so — and do it as soon as possible. You never know when something could destroy it all. After one of the many devastating wildfires that hit California, I was speaking with a client whose home burned to the ground. I’m not talking... READ MORE
Who you gonna call? How ‘solo agers’ do it
Think fast: You need someone to drive you home from surgery and help you around the house for a couple days. Who do you call? If you couldn’t name a trusted helper, you might be a solo ager. Around 22% of older adults are considered solo agers — people who aren’t supported by a partner or adult children as they age. Without this built-in support system, solo agers may not know... READ MORE
Baltimore Housing News April 2025
Edenwald launches university program Maryland’s senior living is getting its first university-based retirement community. Goucher College and Edenwald Senior Living, both founded in the 1880s, have announced an innovative collaboration that aims to blend Goucher’s educational program with Edenwald’s senior living amenities. In 1985, Edenwald developed its current location in... READ MORE
Home equity can boost retirement income
Many retirees have built up significant home equity over the years, but surprisingly, they often overlook it in their retirement planning. With the average home equity for homeowners in the U.S. sitting at around $300,000, a house is a valuable asset that can be leveraged to support retirement. “You can do a couple of different things with your home equity,” said Pam Krueger, founder ... READ MORE
Grow a tidy native-plant garden
For decades, native plants were relegated to the “weed” section of many American gardeners’ minds. Most nurseries didn’t stock them. But that’s slowly changing. Native plants provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial critters. They effortlessly grow healthier and stronger than exotic species, seldom need fertilizers or other amendments, and... READ MORE
When — and how — to ask for help at home
Most people want to stay in their own homes as they age: Nearly 80% of older adults say they prefer to age in place, according to AARP. But when cooking, yardwork and stairs become too much trouble, who do you ask for help? Dozens of home healthcare companies exist in our area, and in a matter of hours, they can send someone to your house to help make meals, shop, run errands,... READ MORE
