Healthcare, cost of living, recreation and education are high on the list
Where are the most affordable places for the 55+ crowd to retire and own homes? U.S. News & World Report highlighted the top 10 places attractive for seniors to begin a second life. The cities chosen are based on a criteria of median home prices, affordable cost of living, good healthcare resources, and recreational activities.
Another very important factor is the availability of jobs and a low unemployment rate. Seniors aren’t “re-tired”; they still want an active professional life as well.
Let’s look the best affordable places for 55 plus homeowners to retire: Ann Arbor, MI, Ashville, N.C., Aurora, CO, Columbia, S.C., Columbus, OH, Eugene, OR, Fort Worth, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Kansas City, MO, and Tucson, AR.
One common theme for these locations is the presence of a college or university. The cultural, academic and sports opportunities offered by an educational institution do attract seniors who don’t settle for an inactive retirement.
St. Charles County and the St. Louis metro region have many characteristics to attract senior homebuyers too–colleges and universities, healthcare, easy access to cultural events and plenty of sports, both professional and amateur. If you are considering selling your home, what would attract a senior buyer, in addition to the regional amenities?
The good news is 90 percent of the 55+ homebuyers are moving in the same general area or from a different part of the state, according to a survey by conducted by The National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Smaller, single family homes are preferred by 79 percent of the respondents, and open kitchen/family rooms, a washer and dryer plus lots of storage.
The 55+ age group is tuned into technology. They was special places for computers, advanced security systems, built-in wiring for flat screens and programmable, but easy to use thermostats. Energy efficient appliances are musts for 79 percent of the respondent group while other green concepts include solar heating, a water filtering system and chemical-free building materials.
Keep these tips in mind as you consider selling your home. Remember, every size home has a potential buyer out there.
Written by Myra Vandersall
October is the time to garden for now and for a spring sale
Look to the future when planning your fall garden. Putting in some extra work and planning now will pay off in ready–made spring blooms
By Jeanne Baker, MLA, Landscape Designer
Fall is officially here. The nights are cool and the trees are starting to change. There are beautiful flowers that wait to bloom until the temperature drops and the days shorten. Take advantage of this opportunity to add color by planting fall blooming perennials in containers, flower boxes or perennial beds. Containers are the perfect way to extend the growing season and bring color to your entrance. Remember to plant a mix of different species in your container and play with color. Choosing plants with contrasting color and form will stand out from a distance inviting a closer look.
Excellent container plants are chrysanthemums, asters (‘Purple Dome’), pansies, ornamental kale, purple fountain grass and Japanese blood grass. To plant, partially fill your container with potting soil or Styrofoam and insert plants still in their nursery pots. Protect your containers from an early frost by covering or moving them to an unheated garage. This will typically allow you to have beautiful plantings through Thanksgiving. Once the weather turns and an extended period of freezing temperatures is predicted, remove potted plants from their container and place pots in holes in the garden, water well and mulch heavily. Plants can over winter and be planted in a permanent home in the spring or repotted in containers.
Work now to insure a vibrant spring sale
If you want to sell your home next spring, now is the time to get a head start by planting spring flowering bulbs. The more planning you do now, the less work you’ll have come March and April. Pairing bulbs with compatible perennials will keep your beds looking neat even when after your bulbs have bloomed and their foliage have started to droop and yellow. The key is picking bulbs and perennials that require similar growing conditions, such as sunny/dry, moist or shady. Plant the bulbs with their companion perennials so that spreading plants will grow in over the spent bulbs. Suggested combinations:
Don’t have the time or the budget to plant everything at once? Plant the bulbs this fall and fill in with the perennials in the spring. Bulbs need the cold weather in order to bloom so be sure to get them before winter.
For more on bulb/perennial companions go to: http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/083/bulb_companions.php
Fall is the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs
Give the new plants time to start acclimating to their new environment during their dormant period before spring and the demands of new growth. Be sure to follow planting instructions carefully. The top of the root ball of a B&B plant should never be below ground level. Water thoroughly and apply 3 inch layer mulch. If you haven’t yet selected a tree/shrub the Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) has excellent online references to help you decide.
Try using Plants of Merit if you are looking for something different that you aren’t likely to see in everyone’s garden. Plants of Merit have all been tested by MOBOT and local horticulturalists and have proven to be reliable performers with excellent plant characteristics but are underutilized in our region.
Want to browse and look at all the trees there are to choose from that like a wet and shady location? Use Plant Finder Search. Plant Search is the garden’s most extensive plant database search engine. It allows you to search by plant type; cultural requirements, such as sun, water, and planting zone; plant characteristics, like height, width, bloom color and time; uses for plant; features of flowers, leaves and fruit.
With a bit of planning, some imagination and digging power, you can enjoy your fall garden now and potential buyers will enjoy your efforts next spring.
October 2009 Calendar of Events
Saturday, October 3
Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival
Noon - 5 pm
Enjoy tastings, live music, and brewery items for sale plus a commemorative glass.
$25.00 www.augustabottomsbeerfest.com
October 4-October 31
Pumpkin Fantasyland, Centennial Farms, Augusta
10-5 p.m. daily/11-5 p.m. Sunday
The farmstead is turned into "Pumpkin Fantasyland" with a whimsical collection of pumpkin figures dressed as farm folks, storybook characters and aliens. Hundreds of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and other fall decorations add to the color. Also apple picking and farm market.
Wednesday, October 7
Staying Healthy This Flu Season
6:30-8 p.m.
Progress West HealthCare Center Community Room
How much do you really know about the flu bug? Discuss transmission, symptoms, treatments and who should be vaccinated. Learn the difference between epidemics and pandemics.
Call 636.344.2273 to register.
FREE
Friday, October 9 - Saturday, October 10
Fall Festival and Craft Bazzar in O'Fallon with live music, children's activities, arts, crafts, and Log Cabin Museum tours. At the Civic Park 5-9 pm. Friday, 9am - 4pm Saturday.
FREE
Friday, October 9-Sunday, October 11
Builders Home & Remodeling Show
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
St. Charles Convention Center
Find what you need for your home. More than 200 exhibitors and special presentations from free antique art appraisals to childrens’ activities and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
FREE
October 9 - October 11
BICENTENNIAL CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Bicentennial Cultural Heritage Festival
St. Charles
Various locations throughout the city.
During the second weekend in October, St. Charles continues its Bicentennial celebration with a Cultural Heritage Festival based on a series of parties, parades and concerts in local parks. The city's official anniversary weekend will feature a wide-range of fun, free, family-friendly events as follows:
Friday, October 9 in Frontier Park, 500 S. Riverside Drive - an evening event complete with live entertainment, food & beverages will kick-off the Bicentennial along the banks of the Missouri river.
Saturday, October 10 in Blanchette Park, 1900 W. Randolph Street - the St. Charles Bicentennial parade begins at noon with an old-fashioned picnic to be held in the park from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Sunday, October 11 in Wapelhorst Park, 1875 Muegge Road - this afternoon event will have an arts and culture theme featuring local talent. Visitors will also have an opportunity to take historical tours aboard the St. Charles trolley.
FREE
For more information call 636-255-6154 or visit www.stcharlescitymo.gov
Sunday, October 11, 2009
10 am - 5 pm daily
Old Settler Days
Riverside Park, Kampsville, IL
This event on the banks of the Illinois River depicts the life and times of the early Calhoun settlers. Civil War re-enactment, carriage rides, fiddle contest, mountain-man activities, apple-butter making and other period demonstrations, food, crafts, and live entertainment.
FREE
Friday, October 16
NEW! Old Time Radio Mystery Shows
10 a.m.-12 noon
Java G’s Coffeehouse Café, 2031 Old Hwy 94S
Sponsored by the St. Charles Community College and OASIS, learn about the popular radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s, especially mystery shows. Discussion and audio examples
$9/age 50 and over
Friday, October 23 – Saturday, October 24
QUILT & CHURCH TOUR
10 am - 4 pm
Calhoun County Communities, Brussels, IL
Take a relaxing drive through Calhoun County to see displays of beautiful quilts, exhibits and activities. Visitors can also take part in quilt demonstrations, quilt appraisals, supplies and sales. As a bonus, attendees will be able to take a driving tour of the county to see 20 barn quilts.
$8 in advance, $12 at the door
For more information call 618-576-2293
Friday, October 30
Trick or Treat on Main
3-5 p.m.
Enjoy a safe afternoon of trick or treating at various businesses for costumed children 12 years and younger. Stay for the Halloween Children's Theater in Frontier Park from 5:15-5:45pm. Main Street
Rehabbers can combine the loan price and improvement costs in one loan
There are homes out there, just waiting to be “adopted” by a loving family. They may be a bit on the ragged side, down on their luck, but with some tender, loving care, a qualified homebuyer and an FHA 203(k) loan, they’ll be returned to their glory.
We’re talking about foreclosed properties that aren’t in tip top shape, but deserve a chance and are manageable rehabs.
This HUD program, administered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), is not a new idea. More than 31 years old, the 203(k) is a loan that includes both the purchase price and the rehab price for a qualified buyer to fix up the place. Because of the amount of foreclosed properties now, this type of loan is very attractive for the buyer who sees value at the end and doesn’t mind rolling up his or her sleeves.
There are two types of 203(k) loans–the full deal for major rehabs and really big projects, and the Streamline 203(k) that tops out the rehab budget at $35,000. This is an excellent way to go for properties that need some sprucing up and energy efficient improvements. It’s amazing how far $35,000 will go to transform a home. Qualifying properties include one to four-family structures.
The loans are granted through FHA lenders. When the purchaser is approved, the down payment will be 3.5%. The potential buyer is responsible for working with an approved contractor and designing a bid for the rehab. The bid must be very detailed, including plans, materials, labor, time frame, which can be no more than six months, and an estimated completion value.
This information is necessary to assemble the package and final loan amount. When the project is approved and closed, the buyer will receive up to half the rehab amount to begin work on the house. The final payout comes after the work has been inspected to make sure it conforms to the original plans.
These loans can be more involved that a conventional loan, so it’s best to work with a SCHNEDIER real estate agent who understands the complexities and can recommend a lending institution that is approved to provide the 203(k) loans.
Just think how satisfied you’ll be to rescue a foreclosed property, make a contribution to improving a neighborhood and take part in the housing market recovery.
Check out area foreclosed homes!
SCHNEIDER Realtor, Robert Clarke, tells his story (click the link below) of how he got involved in selling Cardinal baseball tickets to help his son Cauy, who suffers from a rare disease. You can help and at the same time enjoy the ball game! http://www.cureforcauy2009.com/Home_Page.html Posted by SCHNEIDER
Ranked in the top 25 companies in Sales Volume in a four county area SCHNEIDER Real Estate prides itself on being Smart about St Charles and the surrounding counties. Smart about Marketing your home!
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