Maximizing Senior Options: Getting More, Often for Less Part 2 of 2

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

Maximizing Senior Options: Getting More, Often for Less Part 2 of 2

  

See More Places, Do More Things

Travel is one of the best ways to have new experiences.

Budget-friendly options – Take advantage of off-season prices at resorts, on cruise lines, and even at campgrounds with an RV.

Group travel – Start by contacting local travel agencies, local senior citizens centers and resources offered through the Road Scholar organization (originally Elderhostel), the leader in the lifelong learning movement. (RoadScholar.com)

Save on meals – Take advantage of any senior discounts.

Online travel discounts – There are also many online resources for individuals willing to research lower prices. Consider Expedia.com, Kayak.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com, CheapAir.com, CheapOair.com and similar sites. Smartphone apps like Google Trips, Hopper, and Airbnb are also good options for spotting travel discounts.

Stay flexible – Many online reservation systems help travelers find cheaper flights if they aren’t locked into particular dates. Also consider volunteering to be bumped for overbooked flights, which often results in free future tickets!

Plan in advance – Airline ticket prices usually climb as the date nears.

Closer to Home

Find out when local entertainment venues offer discounts or “free days” for seniors, including the zoo, art galleries and museums, theatre productions, and matinee showings.

Finally, don’t forget to schedule some “me time” to be alone and enjoy your own company, which can do as much for your outlook as travel and socializing. Consider meditation, journaling, reading, yoga, or even curling up with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn to watch a movie solo.

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

Beautiful Home in Tierrasanta - 11232 Zorita Ct

Enjoy the Resort Style Living in this 

Summerton Hills 4br, 3ba home.

To get started with your next home purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

Wonderful Townhome in Villa Monterey - 5461 Escarchosa Lane

Open and spacious 3br, 2.5ba townhome in Tierrasanta. Perfect for entertaining.

To get started with your home sale purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

Maximizing Senior Options: Getting More, Often for Less Part 1 of 2

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

Maximizing Senior Options: Getting More, Often for Less Part 1 of 2

Reigning in unnecessary expenses is only the first step in learning how to live large on a fixed income. The real fun is shifting the focus to discovering a world of budget-friendly opportunities to learn new things, enjoy new experiences, and establish new friendships.

Healthier Eating Choices

Expand your nutritional horizons by supporting local farmers and improving your own eating and cooking options.

Avoid fast food – Eliminating fast food can lead to huge improvements in weight, health, mood, and budgets!

Investigating what’s new – Energy-efficient induction burners speed up the cooking process, while combination pressure-cooker/slow cooker devices make it easy to add ingredients, program a meal, and serve it up with less effort and mess than traditional meals.

Cooking meals as a social event – This may also be a great time to take a cooking class and meet new people while learning some new recipes.

Discover local resources – Enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables? Want higher quality eggs and meat? Try LocalHarvest.org to find suppliers in your area.

Dig in the dirt – Even if your current home doesn’t offer a large yard, you can investigate container gardening, terraced gardening, or even a plot in a nearby community garden. Check out CommunityGarden.org.

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

What You Need to Know about Easements

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

What You Need to Know about Easements

Property easements enable a third party to access a portion of someone else’s property for a specific use – most commonly as a right of way or to enable service maintenance by public utilities such as electric, water or sewerage.

If, for example, the only way to access property B from the main road is through an alley or driveway on neighboring property A, then property A may be burdened with an easement that benefits property B.

Similarly, if electric lines are located above property A and property B, then both properties may be burdened with easements that benefit the electric company, which is allowed to access either property for purposes of repair or maintenance of the lines.

What does this mean to you?

Homeowners whose land is burdened by an easement are not permitted to build any structure on or over the easement land, or to use the easement in any way which interferes with the rights of the benefited party. If they do, the person or utility company who benefits from the easement could sue the homeowner who is obstructing their use – or even destroy the new structure in order to gain access to the easement, without being liable for damage.

The escrow company will order a title search of the public records for easements along with any liens or encroachments, and identify them in full in the preliminary title report before closing. Agents and clients are encouraged to read the preliminary report with care before that all important closing takes place.

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

8 Home Improvements to Increase Value

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

8 Home Improvements to Increase Value

If you want to make a big impact by doing small things, here are 8 things you need to include:

1.    Change Out the Lighting

Lighting is something that can be updated easily and won’t cost a bunch of money.

2.    Paint Walls

You will be amazed at what some paint can do to your home. Give your home a color makeover.

3.    New Fixtures

Start with the kitchen faucet and then move on to the bathroom.

4.    Paint Cabinets/Add New Hardware

Painting old cabinets and installing new hardware will give the kitchen a facelift.

5.    Remove Old Carpeting

Hardwoods, tile and laminate are all good options.

6.    Add Curb Appeal

Plant flowers and shrubs that bloom at different times of year. Shutters, fresh coat of paint to the porch, decorative numbers to display the address and a new mailbox are wonderful.

7.    Repaint Ceilings

A fresh coat of paint on the ceiling can really brighten up the whole room.

8.    Upgrade the Exterior Façade

If you have it in the budget, you can add stone accents, retexture, or do some tasteful enhancements.

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

6 Ways to Cut Costs in Retirement Part 2 of 2

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

6 Ways to Cut Costs in Retirement Part 2 of 2

4.    PRESCRIPTION SAVINGS

Often, prescription drugs are both necessary and expensive. Despite this, most people simply select a pharmacy and stick with it, even though drug prices can vary dramatically—a missed opportunity to save hundreds of dollars a year (or more).

Compare and shop. Check local prices using online tools like WebMD.com/rx or GoodRx.com.

Online pharmacies — Another option is to comparison shop for mail-order drugs. This has the added bonus of automatically delivering monthly meds without the hassle of picking them up! Start by visiting PharmacyChecker.com.

5.    SAVVY SHOPPING

Major sales aren’t limited to Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Cars – Inventory goes on sale right before or after the newest models arrive in the fall.

Computers – late March/early April (new models rolling out) and August/September (back to School).

Large appliances – September/October (new models rolling out). Be sure to ask for free delivery, hookup and old appliance disposal. Refrigerators are cheapest in May.

Televisions – Thanksgiving weekend and January (or early February) when old models are cleared out and new ones arrive in time for the Super Bowl.

Outdoor – lawnmowers in April and after Labor Day (clearance), along with grills; patio furniture in October/November.

Mattresses – Memorial Day weekend sales (negotiate for even-lower-than-advertised prices).

6.     OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE

Amazon has become many online shoppers’ go-to source, but do you know about several sites that track Amazon’s prices? Use CamelCamelCamel.com or Keepa.com to view price history charts and set up drop alerts to save purchases.

Even with great deals, however, remember to keep the focus on “living large” – in other words, using your time and energy to buy only what you need at the best possible prices!

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

6 Ways to Cut Costs in Retirement Part 1 of 2

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

6 Ways to Cut Costs in Retirement Part 1 of 2

Many bills are the result of long-term habits. A comprehensive bill review is the first step for revealing expenses that are no longer necessary—as well as discovering more attractive and affordable options.

1.    TWO CARS?

When both spouses were working full time and getting children to different events, two cars may have been a requirement. Once scheduling demands change, however, the need for two (or more) vehicles may no longer exists.

Compare the costs – Determine what you paid over the past year for maintenance and repairs – particularly if you own older cars. Which car should be kept, are they 2012 or newer?

Consider other options – Public transit, Uber, Lyft or rideshare.

2.    CUT THE CABLE

With the improvement of online streaming options, many people have decided they prefer selecting what they want to view.

Several low-cost paid streaming services offer extensive on-demand programming options, while many familiar television channels (including the major networks, popular cable stations and news channels) stream their content free of charge.

While it’s increasingly popular to view this content on a desktop, laptop or mobile device, it’s just as easy to attach a small, inexpensive device (like Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire, Apple TV and Nexus Player) to stream online content, via Wi-Fi, directly to your television.

Add another small investment in an over-the-air antenna and you’ll be able to tune in local hi-definition channels for no monthly fee.

3.    OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND?

Paying storage fees? Why? Now is the time to eliminate this expensive cost. Sort through and toss what’s not needed, re-home what’s going to the kids, and donate (and take the tax credit for) things that are no longer useful.

To get started with your home sale or purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US

Here's What Tim's Clients Say...

Real Estate Matters with Tim Bro

Here’s What Tim’s Clients Say…

“It is a great pleasure to recommend my real estate agent, Tim Brodowski. Since 2009, Tim has been a mentor, advisor, and now my wife and I consider him family. He led us through the process of buying our first home in Hillcrest, later selling that home, and recently buying our "forever" home in Kensington. Tim's unwavering dedication to those he serves, his many decades of experience in San Diego, and his advance credentials make him the real estate agent you want on your team. From the very beginning, Tim took the time to sit down with us, explain the process, and before we even began talking about neighborhoods, bathrooms, and sqft, he walked us through our budget to make sure we would end up buying not only a home we would love, but also a home we could afford. He spoke with us about short, medium and long-term goals. He spoke to us about lifestyle. And then he gave us homework, helping to familiarize us with various San Diego neighborhoods. Seven years later, when we knew what our dream neighborhood was, Tim would not let us settle for anything less, and worked tirelessly to get us the house we wanted. His relish for a challenge, fighting spirit, and loyalty are qualities that will make sure you get the best deal possible on the home of your dreams. Thank you Tim Bro!”

                        -Mike and Anita

To get started with your next home purchase, call Tim @ 858-354-2354, “The Right Choice in Real Estate”.

When Real Estate Matters, contact Tim.  BRE #01224576

www.youtube.com/c/TimBroHomesUS

www.TimBroHomes.US