Homeowners, What Should They Do In These Times?

Discussion in 'Politics & Government' started by Marie Mallery, Feb 2, 2023.

  1. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    Some of us are confused not knowing if we are in danger of being forced out one way or the other.
    will they tax us out or find some other reason.
    Being seniors and not knowing how long we have to begin with, how should we go about financial issues?
    Do we try to keep our property and see or do we sell or borrow against it and live for today? But there is not really anything for us in this day and time that money would give us access to we enjoy unlike before when we were healthy and younger.

    Only thing is neither of us know.
     
    #1
  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,310
    Likes Received:
    42,307
    There are no single answers to your questions, Marie. Each of us is in our own unique situation at this point in life, so there's no way to know the best solution for an individual problem. You and Jake must make decisions that will best benefit you, just as the rest of us do for ourselves. Sometimes those decisions are hard. @Hedi Mitchell and her hubby just moved to a different state and are starting a whole new adventure, so they know about hard choices.

    My husband and I are fairly comfortable at this point due to a lifetime of hard work and a great deal of luck. Our house is mortgage-free and we made good investments while working that provide a comfortable living in retirement. As we all know, people's lives can change in an instant so there certainly are no guarantees. (I learned this hard lesson with a cancer diagnosis.)

    I guess the old saying, "Plan for the worst but hope for the best" might apply.
     
    #2
  3. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    14,881
    Likes Received:
    27,873
    As Beth said, it is hard to know and each person has to look at what is best for them. One problem, is that this can change overnight due to illness or injury, or some other unexpected happening, like a house fire.
    Right now, you seem really happy and content with your property near the rivers and fishing areas, and lots of privacy. However, like you said, @Marie Mallery we can’t see the future to know what is best then; so sometimes we can’t plan for what is going to happen.

    One thing that we seniors can pretty much expect, is to have our physical health decline, at least to some extent, and that alone can change where we are able to live.
    Myself, as an example, would be that I am fine here in the house where we live, and it is close for times we need medical care. However, Bobby does most of the outside work, and takes care of any repairs for the house, and enjoys building things out in his shop.
    If something happened to Bobby’s health, where he could not do this anymore, we would have to find a different place to live because we could no longer maintain the property.

    I think that this is a topic that many of us have been thinking about here on the forum, and have been discussing our abilities to keep the lifestyle we have now as we continue to get older.
    Ken has talked about having to shovel all of that snow on his roof and driveway, John Brunner is away from even his neighbors if he fell and hurt himself, and Mary Stetler has also talked about not being able to do the gardening like she did before.
     
    #3
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2023
  4. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    Thank you, Beth, for your opinion it was a good one. I only consider alternatives when I see what the PTB are doing to this nation and its people. So, I wonder what alternatives we may have in case they go after our homes which I read that is next. If they go after our SSi like they are threatening to do, then it would be very hard to hold on although we could but not easy.
    Maybe its just a scare tactic but look what they do to others and no penalty or outcry from others.

    IN England for example they moved seniors out of their homes and put " immigrants" into them.
    We need to try to be ready for anything they are up to next.
    I hate what happened to you and being a smoker for so long I never know when I may cough up blood and its over. My mother was fine one day, next day had 3 to 6 months at best to live. We never know.
     
    #4
  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,310
    Likes Received:
    42,307
    Marie, I choose to not live in fear, particularly when it comes to paranoia about what the government "may" do. I don't believe there is any circumstance where the US government would move seniors out of their own property, unless of course the mortgage/taxes are not being paid. A tax lien can be devastating.

    As far as heath issues, sadly those just come with the territory of old age. The older we get, the higher our chances of devastating illness. I just plan to live my life for as long as I am able and not fret about the "what ifs." It's not like I can control any of that anyhow.
     
    #5
  6. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330

    Thanks Yvonne and like Beth I know what you're saying. It helps me to get feedback on things these days with so much going on.
    I put up a post a while back about the new residents right up against our property who don't obey laws and the county doesn't enforce them. Nor does the damn sheriff's dept who just said he was shooting at a snake.
    I wonder if someone sent a bullet whistling by his head if it would be ok then?
    This is what concerns me how it has affected our life now and when I walk down my path fence line I wonder if I may get a bullet from the idiots.
    Our property values took a dive too, who wants to live next door to a campground?
    They also start fires to burn their used building materials and junk they bring in.
    This is why I wonder what we could do if things got worse here or everywhere.
     
    #6
  7. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    I felt the same way up till last year or so. As you said life changes.
     
    #7
  8. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    I like this guy, purchased his book about 15 years ago 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', gave my daughter a copy and she too agrees with him. He is warning us now about a financial crisis.


     
    #8
  9. Ed Marsh

    Ed Marsh Very Well-Known Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    May 30, 2020
    Messages:
    320
    Likes Received:
    465
    Good evening to all-

    There are no guarantees in life. None.
    All we can do is try our best and do our best and try to make life better for others and ourselves. that's how I've lived my life, and that's what I still try to do. What happens to do us from day to day is largely out of our hands.I am happy to have our house paid off and our bills are minimal. We pay our taxes and we are proud to do so. What we grow on our place- veggies, fruit, eggs- , we share with neighbors
    I don't fear anything that the "government" might do- I'm not important enough for anyone else to bother about.

    Things are OK. Things will work out the way they're supposed to work out.

    you all be safe and keep well- Ed
     
    #9
  10. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2017
    Messages:
    8,797
    Likes Received:
    15,381
    @Marie Mallery , where do you live, I forgot. What brought on the urgency to do something? Are you just speculating ? Have you thought of seeking out a financial advisor ? Just do not make any rash quick decisions. Taking out loans and etc I would not do at this age. We could have bought this house we just moved to instead of renting. I like the house, but dang glad we did not buy. Too much money to get it where we would like it to be. Besides, approaching 75, I don't want o own a house. Keep searching you will find and answer.
     
    #10
    Yvonne Smith and Marie Mallery like this.
  11. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    Thank you Hedi for reply. I think your right about getting in more dept at our age. The upkeep on a house is not easy to deal with. We put in a new well tank, now time for heat, air pump which is the low 1000s.
    I was on phone yester with our kids and they want to pay for it but I don't like taking from them. Daughter said it is their responsibility to help us, but I don't feel it is.
     
    #11
  12. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2017
    Messages:
    8,797
    Likes Received:
    15,381
    Yes it is... you and hubbs raised them and paved the way for their maturity. However just make sure of what you really want before they to help out financially.
     
    #12
    Marie Mallery likes this.
  13. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330

    Its np longer a want now its a need .I sitting here shaking from cold now but I can pile on more clothing, but I don't like sitting around all bundled up but no big deal really. it will be really warm again Tuesday so not long, but heat and air man is on the way to give estimate and see what we need. We can charge it but I may let them pay for it they are all doing ok financially.
     
    #13
    Hedi Mitchell likes this.
  14. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10,287
    Likes Received:
    9,330
    It ended up being $5970.00:eek: She put half down now, the rest when he is finished Wednesday.
    Both inside and outside inside in attic and outside unit's need replacing. I don't think he is trying to rip us off because its been going since 2005. I'm sure since most only last around 10 years.
    It cost to live now a days. I sure am glad we didn't get hat new stove last month. But I do need a roaster over in case it stops working too. Although we do have a grill and a Coleman 2 burner camp stone. I have camped all my adult life so I'm a pro at roughing it. Just too old to take heat so AC is a must.
     
    #14
    Yvonne Smith likes this.
  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,310
    Likes Received:
    42,307
    That sounds pretty reasonable to me for the entire system, Marie. We had ours replaced about 9 years ago and it was $13,000. Hopefully your utility bills may go down because the new units are usually more energy efficient than the older ones. I'm glad y'all won't be cold any longer.
     
    #15
    Krystal Shay and Marie Mallery like this.

Share This Page