The Trumpet has blown

[Doc Vernon]

This all very well the rising value of your house, think of the costs of whatever smaller house you may seek.They rise correspondently Then there are the costs of selling and buying , the government charges on any profits you are expecting , the council rates , the maintainance as you get older and have to employ someone to do, overall I went into it in detail and came to the conclusion we would be better off and better served in a retirement village and up until now have been proved right . No rates , no maintainance , no gardening as such as all done weekly, entertainment if you want , free transport to shopping centres if don’t drive anymore , medical services available if required on site. If you want to move then there is a returnable fixed price on what one paid for the property. Your monthly fee is a fraction of what most people pay for a mortgage , and is fixed at 30% of the old age pension per month ,the Australian one that is. I can if so inclined save more money than I ever did proportionally I did when working. An owned property can be a noose around some peoples neck for life. I wish I had known more when I arrived in Australia as was over 50 and eligible for a retirement village and think of all those lawns I had to mow of the 3 property’s I owned and at various times lived in. At the end of the day we are all wise after the event. JS

Whilst i will agree with what you say JS, and yes we know al that, but for us at the moment, we are very Happy here, the House is mainly for the Kids when we pass on, so not worried about the price really.
But we also know that the time will come when we cannot keep up all the Work here, as its a biggish plot (840) and quite a lot of Mowing, especially in the Summer Months . The Winter is quite OK, as only have to Mow about once a Month or 3 Weeks. And yes there are the overheads, but that as you well know comes with owning a Home.
We have spoken about Retirement Places, but to us both, we just cannot see out way living in a sort of crowded community. Not that we are recluses, far from it but we do like our space and of course Her Indoors would be totally lost without her Garden, which is a large one ! So for now we stick with waht we have , untill that dreaded day comes that we may just have to Weigh ANCHOR! BUT IN ALL REALITY WITH MY HEALTH BEING ok, FOR NOW I FEEL AT MY AGE IT COULD WELL BE THAT I SPEND MY LAST DAYS OUT HERE! HOPEFULLY ANYWAY!

[happy daze john in oz]

Built three houses here in Oz, one of them twice in different spots, moved 400 meters up the road as we did not like living in a court situation.
Cost about 140000 some 32 years ago to build etc, now worth about 900,000 on some 861 meters with room for a subdivision.

Like John in WA when the time comes we will move to some form of retirement village, but for now we are able to cope with what we have.
No lawns and mainly drought proof plants.

As to our Don, he certainly has set a rocket off, but it may well do a 'U' turn and hit him in e ASS. as the yanks say.

Already he is set to negotiate with a number of countries and been told by a number of companies forget about building new factories, takes too long and they would most be automated ones so no place for increased employment.

Hang on to your money, it will grow again.
One maybe good thing, interest rates MAY go down at some time!!!!

[James Curry]

A retirement village to me is just another term for a waiting room for God, each to there own.
The problem is when you no longer can stay in your home as you may need to go into a care home, which is not cheap. The government will not fund your care if you have assets exceeding £xxxxx and your home is classified as an asset. But the care home wants paying so you may have to sell be sold up. Thing is what happens to your wife as wives usually out live hubby. On advice I now have my son also enetered as co owner so it cannot be sold without his say so.
Thankfully we are getting our tish sorted out now concerning the right to Die laws. No way am I going into a home to end my days.

Concerning Horses, we had the Grand National here on Saturday.Trainer Wullie Mullins had 4 horses in the top 5 a family affair as the winner was ridden by his son Patrick Mullins. I earned more money than the Jockey 33/1 shot bet a £10 so £330 profit thank you Patrick, and thank you Nick Rockeet. I only ever bet on the national or the Derby.

[Doc Vernon]

James
Funny just off a bit here, but your Post at the end reminds me of when i was in the UK, in Southampton, on Two occasions .
First time i was on my way to the Betting Shop and Walking there just off chance came across a Nun , in full Habit. Anyway not thing much on it when in the Betting shop, looking at the Horses, behold there was a Horse called Nuns Delight at 33/1. An omen i said and backed 20 Pounds on it, came in Flying.
Second time i dreamt of a Bolt of Lightning again at the Betting shop, there i saw a Horse called Lightening Bolt again at 33/1, and yes again 20 Quid and Wallah! A Winner again!
Just shows at times one must follow your instincts and Dreams ! LOL

[j.sabourn]

If you leave it too long Vernon you stand to lose the point. I was 85 when moved in , and found most of the active ones were younger and got around to do what they wanted with the amenity’s features , if one wants to not do anything then your privacy is assured. If you’re worried about leaving your family money via means of a house also think of death duties and tax, far better to leave them the cash , even before you expire if necessary.
Even if you spend all your savings there is still the retirement village to leave at a fixed price . I am not a salesman extolling the virtues of retirement accomodation as they can do that themselves. As they all exist at different levels, I had and still have no debts with any bank so anything that remains after I and wife expire will be in hard cash and not too available to the maggots and shysters of this world. Anyhow everyone to his own thoughts, old age can be very expensive towards the end. Some have to sell their property’s sometimes at a loss just to pay exorbitant medical fees as most find out when seeing specialists. Cheers JS

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[Des Jenkins]

i John.
We have a fair size lawn, I get a bloke to cut it $80 but for the last twelve months we have had very little rain so he has only been here about every three weeks breaks it down a bit, other than damage like our gutter we have little to do except clean and Club LoL
Des

[Les Woodard]

Concerning the family home and retirement or care homes here in Oz. My solicitor informed me that if I intend to go to either then it would pay to get the house valued. Then put the son on the deeds plus pay the fecking stamp duty. That way they can not use your home as it remains inhabited with a family member. I know a lot of people have ended up in a home and loosing their family home to fund the parasites out there. Just thought that if any are thinking of this it might pay to look into putting a family member on the deeds but more importantly talk it over with your trusty solicitor as it will cost a lot to do but no where as much as not doing it. Instead of taking the word of a hairy arsed ex seaman

[j.sabourn]

A care home and a retirement home are two different subjects Les., Depending on your wealth the fees for a rest home can be very exorbinate the same as if have a lot of available cash.incidentally there is no stamp duty on a retirement home. I made our wills out 20 years ago and lodged with a solicitor , have recently sent copies to those family beneficiaries also
telling them not to expect too much as will be spending up until to the state of dust to dust , ashes to ashes. But as you infer there is no control by oneself after you have ceased to exist.All one can expect is to sail off with a clear conscience , and not leave a bad smell behind like one said when leaving a ship. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

There are three types of retirement places here in Victoria.
Life style, on the growth pattern, retirement and care homes.
All offer a very different life style.

The life style ones often come with other bits such as a bowling green, swimming pool, bar, restaurant, community center and a few other things.
But a bit on the expensive side.
One company says, 'downsize to a 21 square house for only $750,000.
My current house is that size so no go for me.

Then retirement villages, similar i think to the one John is in.
Offer a range of extras such as community center, bowling green and many have a hair dresser or doc on site on certain days.
All have medical on call for an emergency.

Aged care, beware some are good and some are worse than some third world places.

But to be on the correct side you must have power of attorney with someone or you could be in strife.

With no direct dependents we have put a percentage to a number of other family members.
Our finance guy will look after all financial matters when the time come and will be rewarded for that.

WE can if cash gets low take out a reverse mortgage. means less to leave.

[Johnny Kieran]

Just out of interest. Care homes in the UK near us, start at about £1200 a week, but most are more costly. If you have to go into one they sequestrate your property. My brother-in-law never married and lived at home, still does. After his parents were gone, the council, or whoever it is that pays the care home fees, tried to chuck him out and sell the house. It took a while to prove he's paid the mortgage for most of the time, even though he wasn't on the deeds. He ended up with the house and still lives there.
I knew an Indian geezer once, that owned a care home. He advised me to invest in one as it was a sure fire winner, making loadsamoney.