{"id":2751,"date":"2016-03-04T18:27:32","date_gmt":"2016-03-04T18:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=2751"},"modified":"2016-03-06T16:39:10","modified_gmt":"2016-03-06T16:39:10","slug":"time-to-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/winter-2016\/time-to-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to Move?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Keeley Gould<\/em><\/p>\n

O<\/span>nce the children have grown up and left the nest, it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to explore your next passage. Where to next? A completely renovated and updated home? What about something with historic significance? Perhaps, a place where celebrities once lived and entertained?<\/p>\n

Not ready to move on? You may love the house you have called home for years and wish to stay put. Perhaps, redecorating is on your horizon.<\/p>\n

Want to scale back? Downsizing might be the way to go. Here are ideas. . .<\/p>\n

Make your next home one of distinction<\/h4>\n

There appears to be an uptick in real estate sales,\u00a0according to the National Association of Realtors<\/a>, so this spring might be the time for you to choose your next home. To inspire you, here are some properties shared by TopTenRealEstateDeals.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Playboy Mansion:\u00a0The crown jewel of L.A.’s “Platinum Triangle” situated on 5 picturesque acres in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, CA. Photos:\u00a0TheAgencyCreates.com<\/a> \u00a0(Jim Bartsch)<\/p><\/p>\n

Live like a playboy at the Hugh Hefner mansion<\/h4>\n

Other than President Obama’s White House, the Playboy Mansion<\/a> is one of the most famous homes in the United States. The dream home of millions of teen boys, their fathers and grandfathers is now for sale at $200 million.<\/p>\n

Chicago native and Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner bought the 20,000-square-foot Los Angeles mansion on five acres in 1971 for $1.05 million and relocated full time in 1974 from the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Built in 1927 for the son of Arthur Letts, founder of Los Angeles department stores, The Broadway and Bullocks, the home is located in the ritzy Holmby Hills neighborhood, an area that Letts kick started in 1919 when he bought 400 acres of the Wolfskill Ranch.<\/p>\n

Over the years, Hefner and Playboy Enterprises have spent millions of dollars to renovate, update and expand the estate, which includes the 29-room mansion with six bedrooms and baths, a four-bedroom guest house, pool, tennis court, koi pond, catering kitchen, wine cellar with a secret door, gym, zoo facilities, theater with a built-in pipe organ, waterfall, four hot tubs, bathhouse and a grotto.<\/p>\n

While the mansion may soon have a new owner, Hefner isn’t going anywhere as it is being sold as a life estate meaning that Hef, age 89, will be able to continue living at the home for the rest of his life. According to the official listing, \u201cThe Playboy Mansion has been a creative center for Hef as his residence and workplace for the past 40 years, as it will continue to be if the property is sold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hef’s home has replaced the South Florida mansion Le Palais Royal, asking $159 million, as the most expensive listed, single-family home in the United States.<\/p>\n

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The former estate of Bing Crosby is on the market.\u00a0Photographer:\u00a0Christina Frary of Matthew David Studio<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n

You can be \u201cSwinging on a Star\u201d in Bing Crosby\u2019s home<\/h4>\n

Every holiday season we remember Bing Crosby when his melodious baritone gets us in the Christmas spirit with the song \u201cWhite Christmas,\u201d the classic song of the season. Now you can feel his vibe all year round if you choose to buy\u00a0Bing\u2019s Rancho Mirage<\/a> home located in Thunderbird Heights, Rancho Mirage, California. The home is listed by Sothebys.<\/a><\/p>\n

The ranch-style home rests on 1.36 acres with grand views of mountains and city lights. Built in 1957 for indoor and outdoor living and entertaining, the 6,700 square foot mid-century house contains a total of six bedrooms and six baths.<\/p>\n

It includes an attached casita, named after President Kennedy, with two bedrooms, two baths, a living room and complete kitchen with its own private entrance. The casita is completely private and was named for the President after he stayed there, as legend goes, with Marilyn Monroe.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be humming one of Bing\u2019s tunes like \u201cPennies from Heaven\u201d and \u201cSwinging on a Star\u201d as you enjoy such features as the custom Moroccan wood entry doors, large, open and airy formal living and dining rooms, media room and chef\u2019s kitchen with granite and stainless steel. All glass walls surrounding the outdoor entertainment area retract and open the house seamlessly to the pool, patios, outdoor kitchen and bar with mountain and Coachella Valley views. Having undergone a complete restoration, it is priced at $5 million.<\/p>\n

Sothebys, the listing agent, has an awesome video of the home. See it here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Multipurpose pieces offer versatility in redecorating. Photos: Ethan Allen.<\/p><\/p>\n

Not ready to move? Maybe just redecorate? Ethan Allen offers tips<\/h4>\n

But don\u2019t worry, if the house of your dreams is out of your grasp right now, some people choose to downsize and others choose to redecorate.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve turned to Ethan Allen, the American furniture company with over 80 years of experience, for advice on redecorating, and Ingrid Sullivan, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist(SRES)\u00ae, gives useful tips on downsizing.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider multipurpose pieces that can be relocated easily for different uses, like our Corbin ottoman,\u201d Marta Eriquez, Director of Special Projects for Ethan Allen<\/a> said. \u201cWhich can serve as extra seating or a place to set a tray when you have guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another tip Eriquez offers is creating multipurpose rooms, so the space is being used to its full potential. Have a home office that doubles as a guest bedroom that way when you don\u2019t have guests over, the room isn\u2019t just sitting there abandoned.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to put large pieces in small places if their scale and proportion works. Using small pieces in a small space can create a cluttered look, which will make the space look smaller,\u201d Eriquez said.<\/p>\n

She also offered the idea of choosing pieces that \u201cmaximize storage possibilities\u201d like their Weston media center, which can store electronics, books and even decorative items. If you\u2019re losing lateral storage, that can be made up in vertical storage with bookcases, like Ethan Allen\u2019s Villa.<\/p>\n

If redecorating isn\u2019t for you then Ingrid Sullivan may be able to help. Sullivan has spent more than 20 years in real estate, and, for the past four years, she has specialized in helping people downsize to smaller homes.<\/p>\n

Five Reasons to Consider a Downsizing Move<\/h4>\n

By Ingrid Sullivan<\/em><\/p>\n

As life changes and the kids grow up and move away, the family home may no longer be suited for your lifestyle. In many cases, a smaller, more manageable home, an active adult neighborhood or an independent living community can be great options for empty nesters. Deciding whether or not a downsizing move is right for you requires a look at your current situation and an assessment of what you might need in the future, as well. Here are a few items to think about as you weigh your options.<\/p>\n

Does Your Home Match Your Current and Future Needs?<\/h5>\n

As we age, it can be more difficult to continue the upkeep on our homes ourselves and, as our homes age, they require more repairs and maintenance. Hiring professionals to keep the home and lawn in good condition can be costly. Just one large repair could really affect your savings. Another thing to think about is whether or not your home is suited for aging-in-place. Health and safety need to be priorities. Significant remodeling or updating can sometimes be required to accommodate changing health and mobility needs. Are you prepared for the costs associated with those types of changes?<\/p>\n

Is Staying in Your Home the Best Financial Decision?<\/h5>\n

We’ve already mentioned the potential costs associated with maintenance and repairs to your home, but there are many other financial considerations. By reducing the amount of square footage you are living in, you can also reduce the cost of utilities and insurance. There is also the potential to save a significant amount on property taxes, depending where you choose to live.<\/p>\n

Does Your Current Situation Offer Flexibility?<\/h5>\n

After a lifetime of working and caring for the kids, many mature adults are ready to hit the road and do some traveling. Having the worry of home security and maintenance can keep many from being able to live out this dream. Choosing an active, 55-plus community can help alleviate those worries and allow you to basically “lock and leave” and enjoy the time away.<\/p>\n

Are Your Social Needs Being Met?<\/h5>\n

Staying connected is an important part of healthy aging. Moving into a neighborhood or community that caters to boomers and seniors is a great way to connect with others in the same stage of life. Being with peers in your own age group allows for familiar topics of conversation. There are clubs to join and events to attend every week. Many of these communities also offer trips and outings for their residents. If you choose to move into a small home or apartment rather than a senior community, a local senior center may have similar programs. Some even offer transportation to and from the center for those who don’t drive.<\/p>\n

Do You Have Too Much “Stuff?”<\/h5>\n

Let’s face it, after years of living in a home, we all have accumulated a lot of “stuff.” Downsizing will give you a chance to go through and eliminate all of the things you no longer need. When you make the decision to make a move, consider hiring an estate sale company versus doing your own garage sale. Not only do you have the potential to make more money, you don’t have the stress and hassle of doing it all yourself. While this is one of the biggest showstoppers for people who are thinking about downsizing, the process is very freeing. In the end, you will be happy you did (and so will your kids).<\/p>\n

While downsizing may not be the solution for everyone, it’s worth asking yourself these questions and assessing whether or not it is the best option for you. A real estate agent who specializes in senior moves can help you determine what your home is worth and show you the housing choices in your area. They can also refer you to trusted, vetted professionals with services to help with every step of the process. The Seniors Real Estate Institute <\/a>or Seniors Real Estate Council <\/a>can help you find a qualified senior specialist in your area.<\/p>\n

Ingrid Sullivan is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist(SRES)<\/a><\/span>\u00ae and Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP)\u00ae. She and her husband, John, are Senior Downsizing Experts and have managed late-in-life moves for hundreds of clients.<\/em><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Considerations to make: Take off for the wild, blue yonder or keep the home fires burning?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2016","category-winter-2016-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2751"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3462,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2751\/revisions\/3462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}