Home Improvement

I’m Retiring Soon. Should I Buy a Home?

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Home After 60 - SmartAsset

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Home After 60 – SmartAsset

While you may not immediately associate retirement with home ownership, buying a home after age 60 can be both thrilling and financially savvy. Instead of looking for highly rated school districts, you can find the ideal combination of convenience, affordability, and proximity to them that matters most. That said, no matter your circumstances, buying a home as you approach retirement age can have a lasting impact on your retirement finances. Here’s what you should consider before buying a home after age 60.

A financial advisor can help you figure out when buying a home makes sense for your financial plans.

The Advantages of Buying a Home After Age 60

Buying a house after the age of 60 can be a wise financial move. Here are four general benefits:

Opportunity to build equity. Wherever you are, equity is a

Home Improvement

french blooms: shooting photos for a book

I’m excited to tell you about a new book, called French Blooms, published by my dear friend, Sandra Sigman.

French Blooms

French Blooms shares Sandra’s love of flowers, and illustrates her inspiration that comes in large part from the time she spent living in France. Creating a book is an adventure. From outlining the concept to the writing, the photography, and then of course finding a publisher, it feels like running a marathon.

I was privileged to run part of the race with Sandra when she visited me a few years ago. Sandra stayed with me here in Normandy, along with another friend, the über gifted photographer KIndra Clineff. They came to shoot for the book, and also shoot my garden for a magazine, and I honestly think that on that trip, Kindra took the best pictures I have ever had of our garden. Sandra also invited me to write the foreword

Home Improvement

Officials warn homeowners of ‘home improvement’ scam

SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KELO) — Authorities in Northwestern Iowa are warning residents about a “home improvement” scam in the area.

The Sioux County Sheriff says that in a recent incident, a suspect was offered to paint a building on a farm.

They then claimed to run out of paint and would be back the next day to finish but wanted to be paid.

After getting the money, the suspect left and never finished the job, leaving the building in sub-par condition.

Authorities say this scam occurs when subjects go door-to-door trying to get work in outdoor tasks like painting, roofing, or landscaping. They will then do sub-par work for a higher rate or not finish the job.

Authorities say it’s a good idea to ask for references and check them before agreeing to work. Officials

Home Improvement

getting grand with flowers – MY FRENCH COUNTRY HOME

I was recently lucky enough to spend 24 hours in the Loire Valley. We have a tour there at the end of August, and I need to check some addresses – never a hardship!

I had heard about the amazing flowers at the Chateau de Chenonceaux, and was determined to see what all the fuss was about.

I was not disappointed. They know a lot about getting grand with flowers!

Chenonceaux itself is a truly stunning chateaux that spans the Cher river from bank to bank. The history of the place dates back to the 16th century, and each age brings its own highlights. From hunting lodges for Kings, to a hospital during the war; to safe passage out of occupied France during the second world war, it has seen some true adventures.

Today Chenonceaux welcomes visitors from around the world, and to make their visit even more enjoyable, the

Home Improvement

Nelson Cabinetry Launches Cryptocurrency Payment Option for Home Improvement Purchases

The company has just announced its acceptance of 10 cryptocurrencies to help

Houston, Texas–(Newsfile Corp. – June 2, 2023) – Nelson Cabinetry, a leading national online retailer of high-quality ready-to-assemble cabinetry, now allows customers to make seamless payments with cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, USD Coin, Tether USD, ApeCoin, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Dodgecoin, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu. This pioneering decision places Nelson Cabinetry among the first in the home improvement sector to embrace blockchain technology, offering an array of benefits, including fast, secure transactions and enhanced privacy.

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Nelson Cabinetry Revolutionizes Home Improvement

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The new cryptocurrency payment option is available starting today on the Nelson Cabinetry website: www.nelsonkb.com. This new service enables customers to purchase cabinets and other products using their cryptocurrency holdings without having to convert to fiat currency first via the Coinbase Commerce platform. This seamless and secure payment

Home Improvement

Gen Sustainable Home Improvement Program Wins Top Honors at 2023 SEAL Award

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Gen

Gen, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Press release picture

Gen, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Press release picture

Gene Blog

By Amanda Davis | Sr. Manager, CR and Environment

Today, Gen™ received SEAL’s 2023 Environmental Initiatives Award for our Sustainable Home Improvement Program (SHIP). SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership) is a top environmental advocacy organization that honors leadership through its business sustainability and environmental journalism awards while funding research and pursuing environmental impact campaigns.

Our Sustainable Home Improvement Program (SHIP) is a benefit we began offering on Earth Day 2022 that provides our colleagues at Gen all over the world cash incentives for home improvement projects that help reduce environmental impacts.

SHIP was born out of the understanding that as our team members shifted to remote work, Gen’s environmental footprint was shifting too. We conceived the program to empower employees to bring home the culture of sustainability they’d helped

Home Improvement

How much it costs to buy a DIY or home improvement business like Drain Surgeon or Easylife Kitchens

  • South Africans picked up DIY and home improvement in a big way during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Many companies that install blinds, garage doors, and kitchens are franchises you can buy and run.
  • Here’s how much it costs to buy a turnkey home improvement or DIY franchise in South Africa.
  • For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a lot more homeowners reaching for hammers and paintbrushesand eventually looking to professional companies, to help improve their immediate surroundings.

As the world outside our homes slowly rematerialized with lifting lockdowns, and the cost of living steadily increased, this surge has since subsided.

But the DIY and home improvement sector is resilient and has many successful franchises. And while starting a window or blind business from scratch would be a complex undertaking, tapping into an existing framework provided by a franchisor is a

Home Improvement

Cool down in home improvements across Windsor-Essex: MPAC

A cool down across Windsor-Essex when it comes to home improvements compared to a busy period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, which tracks property data across the province of Ontario, reports residential home improvement permits decreased by almost 6.8 per cent in 2022 in this area compared to 2021.

These permits were for home improvements including renovations, additions, swimming pools, sheds, garages and decks.

Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said as a result of COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, people are spending more money on travel and experiences while rising interest rates and borrowing costs have increased prices for construction projects.

AM800-News-MPAC Stats-1

Data showing permits issued for various home improvement categories in communities across Windsor-Essex. (Image provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation)

MPAC reports despite the slow down, overall permit activity in this region is mostly above pre-COVID-19 activity.

According to MPAC, the

Home Improvement

Stettler home improvement program entering final stages of approvals

A new program which will allow Stettler residents to make home improvements and pay for the renovations over time on their taxes is another step closer to reality after the May 2 council meeting.

Following a public hearing during the council meeting, where no submissions were received or presented either for or against the proposed programme, the final two readings of the bylaw were read.

The program, overseen by Alberta Municipalities but administered by the municipality, will allow residents of the community to apply to have proposed renovation work done on homes, such as replacing furnaces, windows, or other high-cost repairs that could be made to make a home more energy efficient paid for upfront by municipal affairs, then have things repaid over 25 as part of the annual tax levy.

To qualify for the program, homeowners will be required to undergo an energy audit before the renovations and again

Home Improvement

Ontario Smart Energy and VaultPay Partner to Drive Innovation in Smart Energy Market.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 8, 2023 / Ontario Smart Energy (OSE), a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions, has announced that it has secured lending from VaultPay, a leading financial lender for home improvement. The financing will enable OSE to accelerate its clean energy projects and expand its footprint in the renewable energy market.

Ontario Smart Energy, Monday, May 8, 2023, Press release picture

Ontario Smart Energy, Monday, May 8, 2023, Press release picture

OSE is committed to developing sustainable energy solutions that reduce carbon emissions and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. The company specializes in providing turnkey solutions for solar power, battery storage, and energy efficiency projects. OSE’s projects help residential communities reduce their energy costs, improve their energy efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The partnership with VaultPay will allow Ontario Smart Energy to offer even more financing options to its customers. VaultPay is a leading financial lender for home improvement projects,