Snowbirds - Planning The Maiden Flight.

So retirement looms and the idea of beingquestions before you contact a real estate agent
housebound in the winter for six months is not awho knows the answers!
pretty thought. And of course, you have thoughtFor instance, you may want to find a coastal area
about all those people who just pack up and fleeand buy a place on the beach, or you may wish
as the first snow flake flutters down and youtrack a resort where you can park an RV or you
have wondered....may want to buy a small cabin high in the
How do they do it? Do they like it? How did theymountains or down in the desert canyons.
take the plunge? How could I take the plunge - ifIf you are planning to buy a property, most
I wanted to, of course!people browse the Internet for an idea on prices;
Well, providing you own your own home, thea good real estate agent in the area of your
quick answers are: clever financing, wise lifestylechoice can advise you about regional concerns and
choices, being adventurous, read on....advantages, amenities and climate. He or she will
The answer to, 'how do they do it?', will be leftalso be able to email you details of homes before
until later, because first you have to make sureyou arrive.
that you WANT to do it! Well, the best way toIf you are planning to rent or buy or bring your
find out is to tag along with a friend who does it,own RV to a resort, then you can find much of
but obviously many of us do not have anyonethe resort information on the Internet.
available.Let's suppose you have a place in mind: next is
If you have a car or an RV, you could plan a tourthe financing. This can be easy for those lucky
of the 'Snowbird States' and see which appeals topeople who have spent all their life paying off the
you the most. These states are generallymortgage. The answer is a reverse mortgage. A
accepted to be Arizona, California, Nevada, Newreverse mortgage will let you give yourself a loan
Mexico, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. If youwithout making any payments back. It is like a line
have a car, you will find many bed and breakfastof credit that is secured by your original home.
spots to overnight, as well as hotels.With this money you can buy a property for
If you don't want the expense of this, thecash, which puts you in an excellent bargaining
Internet will give you an overload of informationposition. If you leave the line of credit on your
(start with Snowbirdhelper.com) and you can pickoriginal home for the rest of your life, the bank
out one place and fly there. Or if you are driving,will pay it off and give the balance of the house
you can pick out a few places fairly close to eachto the 'estate' (along with your paid-up snowbird
other and have a research vacation.home).
The question, 'do they like it?', will probably beYou may even choose the option of renting your
answered by how much research is done by eachhome for part of the winter to help to pay down
'wannabe snowbirder' to track down theyour reverse mortgage. Some snowbirders find
environment that is perfect for them. You maythat they want to spend Christmas with the
love the idea of spending winter in a warm place,family, so do not leave until January 1st each
but may forget that you need to match youryear. In this case, you could rent your home out
lifestyle choices to that place.from October to December.
Do you want solitude and peace or do you wantBut either way, you can now join that happy
dancing and a social life or do you wantbunch of people who never get a wheezy cough
recreational fun, stimulating learning opportunitiesor feel an arthritic twinge - because you can
or endless golf? Ask yourself some seriouschoose to always be in the warm!