55 Communities Baby Boomer – Fighting the Holliday Blues

Holiday Blues Receipe – For The Over 50 Active Adult

So, you are a baby boomer active adult living  in one of America’s posh over 55 communities with all the ammenities one could only dream about and you’ve got the “blues”.   Well here is a receipe for relief:

1.  Accept all Invitations – play a round of golf with a buddy or two at one of the outstanding Active Adult Retirement golf courses.  Take a walk around and mingle with fellow retirement community neighbors; socialize at all costs.  55+ active adults are suppose to be “active” not sitting around alone watching tv.  If you are living in one of those retirement gated communites – bust out and go drinking, eating and enjoy what the good life is all about. 
   
2.  Help Others- it always feels good to help another.  Go out of your way to lend a helping hand to someone who needs it.  Your own retirement community is filled with people needing your love and attention.  To find out about local opportunities, contact area schools, churches and charitable organizations. Seek out and you shall receive big time! 

3.  Eat Healthy and Often:  put the diet asside and enjoy gourmet dining with great conversation while relaxing with friends.  A local 55+ community resort could be your meal ticket.

4.  Travel to Your Favorite Resort – if you got go, then go – what are you waiting for.  Arizona is loaded with cheapo or mucho expensivo gettaways.  Either one, will do you.  This is not the time to count pennies – throw some money around, it will make you feel good.

5.  Get Plenty of Rest:  you will need it to overcome the “Holiday Blues” and keep you in the “Holiday Spirit”.  Just try not to sleep alone.

Do the above and feel the results – happiness or depression, which one sounds good to you?

Baby Boomer or Bust

Many of you over 55 living in a beautiful Active Adult Living New Home are concerned about availability of your retirement funds and sufficient medical care to meet your needs.  As Baby Boomers cycle into Social Security and Medicare, the question arises – “Will my social security and medicare benefits be available to provide the active adult community  lifestyle I envisioned?”.  After all, we are still active adults and living life to the fullest -  we expect to receive what we were promised and what we planned for.

Governments are worried. Physicians are scarce. Retirement funds are in jeopardy. Will older adults and the up-and-coming Baby Boomers—a combined age group described as a tsunami—spell catastrophe? Or, is the large number of older and aging adults an untapped resource that will add value to the world?

Gain the broad perspective of older adults in “Active Aging Industry Outlook 2010,” the new research report prepared by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA). The active-aging industry provides facilities and programs that are part of a prevention/wellness model focused on quality of life for people who are 50 years and older. On the eve of the first Baby Boomers turning 65 year old, ICAA searched the analysis and research results of many organizations and compiled them into a single source of credible information.

Among the seven key drivers identified in the report are key concepts for the future:

1. An aging population is a large, growing market;
2. Functional ability among “older adults” is so diverse it requires a diverse range of services; and
3. The 50+ community population envisions their future lifestyle as active and involved.

The majority of older adults, according to the findings in the report, are happier, healthier and living longer than any other generation. While the prevalence of chronic health conditions is an important issue, so is the ability of older adults to contribute to society and change the way they age. Their interest in health and lifestyle creates ample opportunity for businesses and for service providers to tap into the older adult market by understanding their needs and wants today—and in the future.

The explosion in up-scale  55 communities and affiliated businesses are examples of new home developers meeting the requirements  of a Baby Boomer active adult community lifestyle

It is time to witness how the Boomers and their parents—together the largest, richest and fastest-growing segment of the overall population—are changing the way society responds to their expectations, needs, desires and dreams.”

Buy in Rancho Bernardo

Rancho Bernardo is a wonderful community in San Diego, California which is located south of Escondido and north of Poway.  With it having stunning neighborhoods like 4S Ranch, Bernardo Heights, Sabre Springs and many others, Rancho Bernardo has always been a popular choice for many home buyers.   So if you are looking for reasons to move to here, here are some to consider.

•  Convenient access to the I-15 freeway.
•  You can buy old or new.  With Rancho Bernardo being a big community, you can buy a Brand New home in neighborhoods like 4S Ranch or Del Sur or an older home in the established neighborhoods like Bernardo Heights or Carmel Mountain.  It is always nice to have options.
•  Location!  You are only about a 20 to 25 minute drive to San Diego Downtown and beaches.
•  Convenient shopping and restaurants in such places like 4S Commons and Carmel Mountain Ranch Town Center located in the Rancho Bernardo community.
•  Looking to retire?  Rancho Bernardo’s Seven Oaks and Oaks North are 55+ years old active adult retirement neighborhoods.
•  It is part of the award winning Poway Unified School District.
•  It has public golf courses like Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course and Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club, beautiful parks (dog park too!) and scenic walking trails

Now, these are just of few reasons why Rancho Bernardo is an area to think about moving to.   I am sure I am missing a few more but these reasons should give you a really good idea what Rancho Bernardo has to offer.

When Staying at Home is No Longer an Option

Let’s call it like it is- most people don’t like to move and most older individuals certainly do not want to leave the family home and move into an assisted living environment.  There are of course many reasons that make a move so difficult, not least of which, is the overwhelming thought of emptying cupboards, basements and bedrooms.  When the ‘home’ is no longer safe- is usually the determining factor of when a move should be made.  But sometimes it is hard to determine when a move to a higher level of care is appropriate.   For older couples it is sometimes advisable to plan a move while the couple is still well enough to adjust to a new setting.   However many will only consider a move after a spouse dies.  

 

Once it has been decided that a move is necessary, there are several options to consider. Most seniors strongly resist moving into an “old folk’s home” for fear of the negative images they hold.  There are several options available in today’s marketplace including: condominiums, life lease apartments, senior’s apartment buildings, supportive housing, retirement residences, and long term care facilities.  An open discussion about what the senior would like and their current and future care needs is a great place to start.

 

When making a decision about a move, it is important to remember that each living arrangement has benefits and drawbacks. A condominium might be a good fit for someone who is finding the outside maintenance of their home to be a challenge and who wants to maintain complete independence- as no services are typically offered.  Many have a doorman or concierge who can provide some level of security and assistance.  These buildings also can allow the senior to stay in a community of people of varying ages. Seniors living in condominiums still need to prepare their own meals and take care of their own household chores. Perhaps the largest drawback to this type of move is that it is likely that the senior will have to move again as their care needs increase, unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

 

A senior’s apartment building is a rental option for seniors who, much like those who purchase condominiums, find outside maintenance of their homes to be difficult to manage but in every other way would like to maintain complete independence. These apartment buildings have an age requirement and do not allow children or younger families to rent. Seniors who chose a facility like this to call home may find that they meet more people who share similar interests and activities. Like the condominium, however, the largest drawback to this type of facility is the need to move again to higher levels of care when health begins to decline and the need for assistance with tasks of daily living increase unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

 

Supportive housing provides affordable housing designed to help seniors re-establish connections to the community. The housing is linked to voluntary and flexible support services designed to meet the seniors’ needs and preferences. It is designed for people who only need minimal to moderate care, such as homemaking or personal care and support, to live independently. The level of support may vary, and some support services are provided by on-site staff, while in other instances may be delivered on an outreach basis. This may include adult day programs or medical/physiotherapy clinics coming into the apartment building. Staff working in these facilities try to help seniors in their building get linked into other services offered out in their community, such as senior’s centres. These staff, however are not medically trained, some are Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) while others have certifications in recreation planning. In many facilities, no one is on staff during the night in case of emergency.  Supportive housing buildings are owned and operated by municipal governments or non-profit groups including faith groups, seniors’ organizations, service clubs, and cultural groups. Accommodations, on-site services, costs, and the availability of government subsidies vary with each building.

 

Accommodation costs are based on market rent for similar apartments. Seniors wishing to live in this environment need not have a certain income level however subsidies are available for seniors with limited financial means. If eligible, the government may subsidize the rent so that the senior only pays up to 30% of their household’s monthly income. To be eligible for a rent subsidy, the senior must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or refugee claimant. If they own their home they are obliged to sell it within six months of moving into supportive housing. Local governments may set additional eligibility requirements for rent subsidies. There is usually a waiting list for subsidized units. Seniors may have to pay an additional fee for optional services such as transportation, recreational outings or hairdressing.

 

To find out what the further eligibility requirements for subsidy are for your province, and to find out where there is a supportive housing unit in your area, contact your local CCAC or Community Care Association who have application information as well as a listing of all supportive housing locations in the area.

 

A retirement residence is another option. Many are geared to modestly well and independent seniors. These rental facilities, can range in price and service delivery.  Many offer dining room settings, pools, exercise rooms, supervised outings and bus services.  Units can include a bachelor, one or two bedrooms and some have kitchenettes that allow residents to opt in or out of some of the meals.  These retirement residences have the benefit of having staff (typically Personal Support Workers) available to residents as well as nursing and recreation planning staff. This provides the senior and their family a feeling of security in knowing that there is always someone close by in case of emergency. These facilities often become a community unto themselves, with meals offered and activities and events pre-organized by the staff.  Many even have visiting physicians and other health practitioners and can arrange for medications to be delivered right to the resident’s door.

 

Within many retirement communities varying levels of assistance for personal care are available (assisted living) and can be purchased as needed for an additional fee. These programs are offered as a means to help seniors ‘age in place’ so another move will not be necessary. Additional levels of care may be referred to as ‘assisted living’ which includes some hands on assistance from a Personal Support Worker for bathing and/or dressing and may include medication monitoring.  If the individual requires more assistance during the day and evening, or are dealing with significant cognitive issues that result in the need for full time supervision or a secured floor, while some facilities may be able to accommodate others would deem them ready to move to long term care or to require extra help from private service providers.

 

A life lease apartment is much like a condo – but includes access to all the services of the retirement home. These facilities may be within a retirement residence or a separate facility. The benefit to these types of apartments is that the resident maintains a bit of equity –they own their apartment and when they pass away, the money from the sale of the apartment will act as an inheritance or be available to pay off any remaining debt. If a retirement residence has life lease suites along with apartments, assisted living programs and long term care, the senior could move once and not need to move to another facility. Rather, they would move within the facility as the need arose for higher care levels.

 

One of the major drawbacks to moving to a retirement setting is the need to adjust to a communal setting. In these facilities there is a set menu, a set meal time and bus trips and outings are set according to a pre planned schedule. It can also be a shock for a senior first moving into one of these facilities to see “all the old people”. Discussing what to expect and getting tours of possible residences will help make the decision as to whether the facility will be a right fit. Some locations will offer trial stays so that seniors can see what daily life will be like, get to taste the food and meet other people who live there.  Respite and convalescent care is also offered in many retirement residences and may be another good way to introduce an alternate setting.

 

A long term care facility is available for those who require more assistance than what is offered by the retirement residence. These facilities are funded by the government so that no person who requires this level of care will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

These facilities have 24 hour nursing care and residents receive help with all activities of daily living- eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, as well as having provision for laundry and housekeeping.

 

In the Province of Ontario, long term care facility admission is accessed through the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). The CCAC will send a case manager to your home to help you to select 3 facilities that you would be willing to move to, in order of preference. Much like Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Prince Edward Island have agencies (Home and Community Care Services, Community Care Access Capital Health, “Centres locaux de services communautaires”(CLSC) (Local Community Services Centre in English) and Home Care Office respectively) through whom residents of the Province access admission to long term care. These government agencies assess applicants for eligibility, assist with completing applications, monitor the waiting lists, and advise residents of their admittance to a particular home. Initial contact with any of these agencies can be completed by either the senior themselves or a family member. To ensure that you make an informed choice, it is always good to book a tour of each facility, enjoy a lunch and speak with other residents and family members prior to making any decisions on your application.

 

If you are still unsure of what setting would be right for your parent, a Geriatric Care Manager can help assess your parent’s care needs and can assist with outlining the various local options available. They can help the senior to make a decision that will optimize their health and lifestyle for the immediate and long term.

 

Retirement & Relocation

While economic conditions may have affected or delayed the retirement plans of some, there is still a great number of baby boomers reaching retirement age.

According to a Dell Web survey of baby boomers, 55% of them plan to move when they retire.

If you own a home, it is likely your most valuable asset. Although there may be many emotional ties to your current home, you should consider if its the right place for you in retirement.

There are many good reasons to consider downsizing or relocating for retirement:

Retiring with debit is not optimal; perhaps you can downsize and eliminate the need for a mortgage completely.
Even if you don’t have enough equity to buy a smaller home outright, reducing the size of your mortgage payment will likely improve your financial security in retirement.
Your housing needs during retirement will most likely be different than your current needs and you may want to find a home and community that better suits your retirement needs.

In addition to a lower mortgage relocating can provide several other financial benefits:

Moving to an area with a lower cost of living, lower energy costs and better tax environment are all things that can benefit you financially.
Moving to an area that offers a climate or community that is a better fit for your retirement can have a positive impact on your retirement lifestyle.

Beyond the financial savings relocating and/or downsizing can improve the quality of your life. You can reduce the time and hassle of maintaining your current home and move to an area ideally suited to your values and interests.

You might move out of your large suburban home into a condo by the beach. Or, relocate across the country to be closer to family. Perhaps your health would benefit from a different climate.

No matter your motivation, retirement should be a time for you. Find the place to make these years the best they can be.

Be sure to consider the following points when evaluating retirement locations:

Proximity to family
Climate
Adult education opportunities
The number and types of doctors
Hospitals
Air Quality
Crime rates
Availability and cost of recreational activities
Availability and cost of cultural activities
Ease of travel-proximity to transit systems, airports, train stations, etc.
Cultural events and festivals

You will also want to consider how well you will be able to live in the home or condo you choose as you age:

How easy is the property to maintain
Does the home have stairs
Could the home accommodate a wheel chair if necessary?

The questions and concerns can seem endless when you begin the process of selecting a new home for your retirement. There are many organizations, websites and magazines dedicated to helping provide answers to these questions.

Many companies offer the price saving benefit of their relocation program to retiring employees. Be sure to check with your Human Resources Representative about this important benefit. Once you choose your new home and are ready to move, A. Arnold World Class Relocation will be there to get you moved into your new home with ease.

 

Five Critical Factors To Consider When Deciding On A Retirement Home

After decades of hard work, family, and saving, it is finally time to select the home of your dreams. Before you start packing the knick-knacks and advertising a yard sale, there are five crucial factors to consider before buying a new home. These factors are finances, climate, accessibility, medical services, and entertainment.

While many people would love to retire in Manhattan or Paris, many cannot afford those options. Retiring on a fixed income means living within your means. Also, as beautiful as a white Christmas may be, most retirees do not want to spend their winter months digging snow out of the driveway. Taking a careful look at these critical factors can help retirees make the best choice possible.

Affordability

With fluctuations in today’s economy, many retirees are being forced to reconsider their finances. There are often penalties for earning extra income, so the budget must be designed accordingly. The less expensive an area is, the further that monthly income will go. There are affordable options geared toward retired individuals and families in established communities. Retirement homes for sale in Orlando that combine accessibility, affordability, medical services and easy access to world class entertainment.

Welcoming Weather

Young bodies may be able to thrive in bitter cold but older joints prefer warmer, gentler climates, which is what makes retirement homes in Orlando so popular. It’s not so much the cliche of retiring to Florida, but the fact that the weather provides plenty of warm sunny days are comforting to the senses and that allow for outdoor activities and socializing on a regular basis.

Medical Services

Living in a rural wilderness may be fine for young adults, but diseases, disabilities, prior injuries, and chronic conditions tend to catch up with us as we age. Convenient access to medical services must be considered when looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando, Missouri, Costa Rica, or anywhere else. Ideally, geriatric medical services of various levels will be close at hand to provide for increasing medical needs, in case conditions worsen.   

Accessibility

Accessibility is another important factor when choosing a retirement home. While you may not need advanced accessibility features now, you won’t want to be burdened with the cost of adding on should you need these later. Sidewalk ramps and elevators become more necessary as we age. Finding the perfect home does no good if assistance is needed for every activity.

Entertainment

This stage of life means more free time to enjoy community events, museums, arboretums, educational opportunities, amusement parks, and other attractions. There is no reason not to enjoy all this hard-earned leisure time. That’s part of what all those years of hard work were for and what makes looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando worthwhile.

Make Enjoying Life a Priority

Some will find retirement homes in Orlando to be the ideal opportunity while a home town based senior community will be right for others. No matter what you choose, make enjoying life a priority. Now is not the time to settle! Ask yourself what you really want out of retirement and then go out and find it, rather than taking the first or most obvious option. Most people are surprised to find that a sunny Florida retirement filled with activities, friends, and sunny days really isn’t that expensive or out of reach at all.

In Home Care for Senior Help: Making Lives Better for All

As the gray-haired population hit the mid-sixties, in home care is much in demand.  Their children have come to realize that caring for their aging and sick parents can tax them beyond their limits.  This can cause a lot of friction in the home, where ironically aging parents should get the most support and understanding during this stage of their lives.   The option to get senior help for the elderly resolves these issues.

 

Independent Seniors

 

In the case of seniors who wish to live at home instead of spending the rest of their days in retirement or nursing homes, senior help or in home care is available.  They can get help to manage their legal transactions, do their shopping and grocery, drive them to community activities, and clean the house and cook their meals.  In case of a medical emergency, there is always someone around who can take them to the hospital.

 

These are the seniors living in their own homes or living on their own.  In today’s society, it is impossible for their children to be around all the time.  Hence, senior help is getting to be the best solution around.

 

How In House Care Can Make Lives Better

 

But living in their home makes a big difference to the seniors.  They would rather stay at home where they have lived for years and be near their friends.  Some may opt for a senior nursing home if they need nursing care and therapy, but still it is in their homes where their hearts are.    

 

At home, old people need companionship.  This happens at a time when their adult children have families of their own, are working, or out of the country.  Some of the elderly are unmarried and have no children, which makes their lives lonely. 

 

Fortunately, in-house care providers do not only do the mechanical routine of cleaning house and cooking meals, or checking if their charge is all right physically.  They also provide friendship and companionship, badly needed by the seniors who have lost most of their friends or who have families out of town.

 

The caregivers are also there to help the seniors:

·         Make the most of their time keeping them productive

·         Meet people and establish new friendships

·         Keep fit by walking in the park

·         Keep mentally alert by reading to them and explaining the TV sitcoms for the hard of hearing

·         Keep in touch with family and friends

 

Making Lives Better for Family Members

 

Caring for the elderly is not for the faint hearted.  It requires physical strength, tons of patience, money, and some skill.  It also affects one’s health because the task is physically demanding.  Although it may cost to get in home care, the benefits that can be gained from it cannot be converted to its cash value.

 

As a primary care provider for your parents, you do the following chores daily:

·         Prepare their special meals early in the morning

·         Feed them

·         Bathe them

·         Assist them with their toilet

·         Give them their medicines

·         See to it they are comfortable

·         Take them to doctor for medical consultations

·         Shop for their needs

·         Clean the house

 

With in home care, you can go to work without worrying about your parents, have more time for your family, and take business trips out of town. 

 

Aging Baby Boomers Need and Demand One-call Home Care Services

The demographics of America are changing – and fast. There is a growing population of aging baby boomers who are savvy, smart and independent, and they know they have choices for their future lifestyles.

The statistics show that this population is on the rise. In 2003, there were 36 million Americans who were 65 and older; by 2030 it’s projected that this population will grow to 71 million. And an AARP study from 2005 found that 89 percent of people 50 and older want to stay at home as long as possible.

To do this, our aging U.S. citizens will likely need assistance in many areas such as housekeeping, yard upkeep, home maintenance, and, in some cases, relocation to new homes or care facilities.

These people, whether they are in need of physical assistance or are busy traveling during retirement, will need others to help them take care of things at home.

With this trend, a unique business opportunity is now flourishing – a “one call resolves it all” home care services for seniors.

It’s an ideal time for investors to capitalize on this new business trend. That’s exactly what Kim and Paul Abelman did when they decided to start a business.

The Abelmans found their new business in Spectrum Home Services. Spectrum is part of a national growing industry offering personal home care for older adults and busy homeowners.

But Spectrum Home Services is different from traditional home care service companies. They are simply one-call away for people who need a broad spectrum of services including housekeeping, yard care, maintenance, companionship and relocation services. Other companies offer a few of these types of services, but not the number of services available through Spectrum.

The Abelmans are happy to offer this service to area seniors and other busy homeowners through Spectrum Home Services.

Kim Abelman shared that “people who choose home care can find it frustrating making calls for numerous services. Many of our clients were calling a handyman for broken items around the house, a yard service to mow their lawn, a home cleaning service to do their laundry and a nursing service to make sure their medication is taken on time.” One call to the Abelman’s Spectrum Home Services fulfills all these needs and more.

In September 2006 they purchased franchise rights to Spectrum Home Services in New Albany, with the guidance of franchise consultant and expert, Barney Greenbaum.

Greenbaum works with clients in the Ohio market through the national organization, FranNet. Using FranNet’s proprietary process, he matches his clients with the right franchise using safety, risk avoidance, high standards, and affordability as criteria.

“My job is to act as first a facilitator to help find the business that matches their requirements, then I coach them along with helpful resources, such as financing, franchise attorney, and accountant, once they find a good fit. We spend 30 to 60 days on the search with a well thought out action plan. My goal is for the client to find the right tools to make the process less scary, and help them reach those important goals,” Greenbaum explained.

He demonstrated this trend in the home care service industry to the Abelmans. “With 10,000 people now turning 60 every day the baby boomer generation will need more caregiver services than the caregivers can easily provide,” said Greenbaum. “Paul and Kim wanted an affordable business they could grow, while maintaining a balance with their family, work, spirit, and health. Working with active seniors on home care projects allowed them this flexibility.”

The Spectrum Home Services approach to home care drew the Abelmans to this business. They discovered that Spectrum was for them after reviewing several other business options.

“We knew that the eventual goal for this business is to provide services that are very much needed,” Kim Abelman said. “We ‘got’ the concept after meeting with Greenbaum and going through the FranNet process.”

The Abelman’s also wanted something that would give back to the community. “We work closely with families and do everything they need done – trash, cleaning, clearing out for Goodwill, running errands,” Abelman explains. “We’ve become like family for many of our clients.”

Abelman says she “liked the networking and marketing aspect of Spectrum. To reach people that need the services, I do in-service programs with discharge managers in hospitals and at realtor meetings. As a former college lecturer, it’s easy for me to put [our business] into words. I’m okay going out and meeting people to teach about this new concept of senior home care.”

With no other franchise like Spectrum in the area, the Ablemans are getting a lot of calls for the services they offer. They’ve also experienced a rise in the number of younger, busy homeowners who call. Some companies are even offering Spectrum Home Services as part of employee benefits to help working families.

Greenbaum enjoyed matching the Ableman’s with Spectrum Home Services and summed it all up: “At the end of the day they added some value to someone’s life, and occasionally they might even get a hug for it.”

To learn more about FranNet in the Columbus area, contact Barney Greenbaum at

614-882-7777 or call 1-800-FRANNET.

Finding The Best New Homes

Cherokee County is one of the fastest growing counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area – which is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Cherokee County, “where the Metro meets the mountains”, offers all of the amenities of living in a major metropolitan area along with all the advantages of living in the luxuriously beautiful lap of Mother Nature. The newest of the new Cherokee County new homes are set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, with all the serenity and majesty that goes along with it.

If you’re looking for a new home in Cherokee County, you’ll have your pick of types and styles. Whether you want to live in a single family home in a close-knit community, a gated community of townhouses or a luxury condominium on the waterfront, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Cherokee County. With so many choices, how do you choose the perfect home for yourself and your family? Here are a few tips from the experts on choosing a home where you and your family will be happy for years.

What sort of community do you want to live in?

Many home buyers make the mistake of looking for the perfect house instead of the perfect home. Remember that “home” is more than just the house that you buy. Buying a home in the right community for you and your family can be the difference between liking your new house and loving it. Consider the features that are important to you in a community, and which are the most important to you, then let your realtor know. Your realtor will be have an easier time finding just the right home for you if you’re clear about what you want in a home.

Cherokee County has been growing fast over the last decade, but thanks to the foresight of city fathers, the development of Cherokee County new homes has been carefully planned to ensure that the county retains its essential quality of life. These planned communities are designed to suit everyone from young, single professionals through families with young children through active older adults who are looking for all the luxuries and amenities that will make their retirement years the best years of their lives. Choose from Cherokee County new homes in gated adult communities, single family homes in suburban style neighborhoods and luxury condominiums and town houses tucked into the knolls and hollows of the Appalachian Mountains.

What kind of house do you want to live in?

Do you want a gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances and accessories? Does your dream home have a gorgeous view of the lake and mountains? How many bedrooms do you need? Before you start shopping, sit down and make a list of everything you want in your new home, then prioritize them in order of importance. That way you’ll have a list to help you narrow down your choices to those that are most likely to please you – and your realtor will have a set of guidelines to keep in mind when looking through his or her listings.

Besides helping you clarify your vision of the home that you want, creating a list like this will help you avoid mistakes that happen when you fall in love with one aspect of a house and ignore all the things that don’t match your needs. The view is spectacular, but can you live with one bathroom? The kitchen is enormous, but will that make up for the awkwardly shaped living room? When you know ahead of time what’s most important to you, you’ll be less likely to find yourself living in a house that you don’t love.

What can you afford to buy?

Your finances will play a major part in your decision, of course, but you may be pleasantly surprised at what you can afford. Here in Cherokee County, new homes range in price from the mid-100,000s to upwards of $1.5 million. Whatever your price range, you’re likely to find the right home for you and your family within the range.

Take the time to work through the things that are important to you in a new home, then communicate your vision to your realtor. Together, the two of you can sort through listings until you find the homes that meet your requirements and desires. By narrowing your choices down from the start, you’ll use your time far more effectively when it’s time to start looking at Cherokee County new homes.

Will Omabacare Eat Into Your Retirement? Create a Firewall

This is a tough question because none of us will know the answer until it becomes fact. The healthcare bill is roaring along like a runaway freight train, yet no one in government can say with certainty if will create jobs…or take them away. No one in government can say with certainty if it will eventually bankrupt this country…or it will promote a new wave of prosperity. No one in government can say with certainty if the new taxes imposed upon us to pay for it will bankrupt us taxpayers…or put extra money in our pockets. It’s all a speculation. No one knows for certain what the outcome will be.

I’m Paying Now For Bad Career Decisions

Hello, I am an old codger, 73, who made too many bad career decisions over my lifetime—decisions that left me without a cushy pension. I still work a part time job and depend on Social Security and Medicare—but all of these are in jeopardy. If you are one of those fortunate folks that made the right career decisions and are living comfortably, then this article probably won’t be of much benefit for you. This article is directed at those out there that are genuinely concerned about what our government is doing and what you can do to offset some of the consequences.

This Has Nothing To Do About Politics

Please understand that I’m not some wild-eyed political activist. I’m not talking about politics at all. I’m talking about survival during some very uncertain times. I’ve been characterized as a survivor most of my adult life. Most of my friends, relatives and former classmates who are my age have been retired for years. For me personally, retirement sounds like a scary situation—I’d be bored to death. As long as I have some semblance of good health I must keep occupied. In a little bit I’ll tell you what I’m doing to maintain my sanity, and help out with the monthly bills.

I’ve lived through the same economic downturns and recessions as you did. I learned that if you leave it alone, the economy will rebound on its own—it always has, and it always will if government would stop meddling with it. Meanwhile each of us has established a lifestyle that may be sufficient—but could always use improvement. So what are the options?

Some College

I have a part time job that pays well for a high school graduate with about one year of college behind him. But at times I wonder whether it’s worth the cost. I commute 42 miles round-trip each working day. Factor in the cost of maintaining a car, insurance and the wear and tear on the car and me, and I question the value of the income it produces. On the other hand, could I stand retirement if it meant scaling back the lifestyle I’ve become accustomed to?

A couple of months ago I had an idea—why not look into some sort of activity that I could pursue from home. My job is writing complex technical articles for a manufacturer of crime scene investigation equipment. There was a time when I had a lot of first-hand experience in using that CSI stuff. I asked my employer about “out-sourcing” this work—I could do it from home. No deal, no comment. So I looked into finding something else I could do that didn’t involve a commute. What I stepped into at first was like falling into an open cesspool.

The Retail Store Is Close To Extinction

Internet marketing has become a serious threat to the “retail store” way of life we know. Chances are buy things you need over the Internet—most of us do. It saves time, avoids the crowds (and the swine flu they may be carrying with them), and it saves on gasoline!

I wondered if there might be a way I could get involved in Internet marketing in some fashion. I soon learned that I can—but you know the old saying, “Let the Buyer Beware.” I started clicking on those pesky little ads that are plastered all over the websites I visit. “Start Your Own Home Business,” “Make Big Money On The Internet,” “I Made Over $10,000 Last Month On The Internet.” You’ve seen them and maybe you were tempted to click on them.

It’s Not A Get Rich Quick Scam

The most successful “experts” in Internet marketing will tell you that over 90% of these “Get-Rich-Quick” schemes are bogus, pure garbage, and the only ones getting rich quick are the scum-bags selling them. After a couple of miss-starts, and a little over $100 spent on crap, I decided to find the 10% that were genuine, honest plans that could help me to get started and not wipe out the little bit of savings I had left.

Begin Your Home-Based Business In three Easy Steps

What I decided to try was “affiliate marketing.” It works like this:
1.    I signed up (at no cost) as an affiliate with ClickBank (CB). This 10-year-old company has paid out over $1.4 Billion in affiliate commissions. CB carries 10s of thousands of electronic books (e-books) covering virtually any topic you can think of.  All products carry a 100% money back guarantee.
2.    Next, I opened the CB Marketplace and searched for products I know a little bit about. I started with Digital Photography and Weddings (mostly because I still photograph weddings occasionally). I contacted the authors of these e-books and signed on (again at no cost). They gave me a “Hop Link,” that people searching for information on these two subjects would click on to purchase the e-book.
3.    CB takes the credit card information and immediately sends the e-book to the buyer.  And every two weeks CB sends the affiliate a check. Commissions average 50%-75%. It’s all done on autopilot. I can be at home asleep or walking the dog when orders are processed.

Now, how do I get people to click on the Hop Link. The method I use is “Article Marketing.” You are reading an example. Below is the Hop Link to ClickBank. I write articles and post them on article directories like this one (once again at no cost to me).

The only problem was, I had no idea how to write articles. My forte was technical manuals—stuff like how to develop latent fingerprints, test for illegal narcotics, how to search and photograph a crime scene, and so forth. Once again I turned to the Internet and sure enough, I found an e-book that taught me—step-by-step—in language I could understand, how to write articles and how and where to post them. The $39.00 I spent on this e-book renewed my faith in the free market and in my own ability to supplement my income. It will do the same for you!

Don Penven (Treefern) is a freelance writer with locations in Raleigh and Morehead City, NC. He is an affiliate marketer representing nearly a dozen different e-books and downloadable software. His articles appear on many of the top-rated article directories.

Did this article answer some of your questions? Did it start you thinking that starting your own home business may be a very good idea? If you are ready to look at a new venture with minimal cost, minimal risk, then Click Below for more information. This e-book is sold with a 100% Money Back Guarantee!

Don strongly recommends the purchase of “Turn Words Into Traffic,” the e-book that gave him the knowledge to supplement his income. For more information:
Click ===> HERE.

One last thought, nearly 90% of the newcomers to Internet marketing fail in the first year–mostly because they just give up. Let’s face it, if it was truly that EASY, a few more million people would be trying it! So if you are just a tire-kicker looking for a fast buck, you won’t find it here.

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