Tag: second homes

03/16/19 9:00am

Thousand Oaks Provides California Living On a Budget

budget friendly retirement, California, Frugal Retirement, MoneyWise, second homes, second shelters, Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks California

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Editor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 24th city on the list — Las Cruces, New Mexico. This week, we look at Thousand Oaks, California, and found in California “frugal” is relative, but still found three great homes — all for less than $500,000.

“The cost of living in Thousand Oaks is on the higher side, but for those with an income of about $100,000, this can be an amazing choice for California living,” MoneyWise said. “This city is green and home to many parks and outdoor activities.”

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

“It’s located near Malibu and not far from Los Angeles,” the article continues. “Good healthcare is found in surrounding areas, so be prepared to travel to your doctor.”

Want to see examples of what you can find in Thousand Oaks? Let’s jump! (more…)

02/23/19 9:00am

Want Truly Frugal Retirement? Try Cedar Rapids, MoneyWise Says

Downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Cory Munson)

Editor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 26th city on the list — Springfield, Missouri. This week, we look at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and found three great homes — all for less than $225,000.

“This small city of 128,000 is developing at a quick pace. Traffic can be heavy during rush hours, but you will find easy access to the interstate highway,” MoneyWise said. “Cost of living is low, with a median income of $53,000. Winters can be quite cold and long, while summers are hot and humid.”

“For people who are used to definite seasons and want to take advantage of investment potential in this growing city, Cedar Rapids is a great retirement option. This community has 16 healthcare centers and rates highly for medical access.”

Want to see examples of what you can find in Cedar Rapids? Let’s jump! (more…)

Budget Retirement, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Iowa, Frugal Retirement, MoneyWise, Retirement, second homes, second shelters, vacation homes

02/16/19 9:00am

Springfield, Missouri Tapped As Budget-Friendly Retirement Spot

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Editor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 27th city on the list — Charleston, South Carolina. This week, we look at Springfield, Missouri, and found three great homes — all for less than $350,000.

“Springfield is an inexpensive place to live: the median income is around $34,000, and rent can be less than $700 per month,” MoneyWise said. “Median home prices come in at just over $100,000.”

“You will see some snow in the winter and summers can be hot, but not extreme. The city has three hospitals, as well as extensive home care offerings.”

Want to see examples of what you can find in Springfield? Let’s jump! (more…)

budget friendly retirement, MoneyWise, Retirement, second home news, second homes, second shelter news, second shelters, Springfield Missouri, vacation homes

Celebrity Homes

01/30/19 9:00am

Connecticut Abode Once Home to Peter Pan On the Market

It’s not every day that the estate of Peter Pan (or at least someone who played Peter Pan) hits the market, but when we saw this Norwalk, Connecticut listing from Holly Giordano, we knew we had to share.

In her Peter Pan, Nellie Forbush, Annie Oakley heyday, it’s not hard to imagine that Broadway legend (and Weatherford, Texas native, and mother to JR Ewing himself, Larry Hagman) Mary Martin needing a quiet place to kick back.

And this incredible three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath, 3,160 square foot home sitting on more than two acres of rolling, lush grass would certainly do the trick.

But the home has a bit more history than just Martin — it was built not long after the U.S. won its independence from England. And its current owner has taken pains to marry the historical with the entertaining spaces Martin undoubtedly appreciated, along with the modern touches homeowners nowadays come to expect.

This ‘wow’ house was originally built in 1790 by Epenetus Kellogg then brought today’s high standards by recent home owner Helen Barr of Barr and Barr Bags,” said Giordano, who is with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

(more…)

Annie Get Your Gun, Annie Oakley, celebrity homes, Holly Giordano, Jr Ewing, Larry Hagman, Mary Martin, Norwalk Connecticut, Peter Pan, second homes, second shelters, South Pacific, Weatherford Texas

Historical Shelters

01/20/19 9:00am

Missing Mardi Gras? Snag This Historic Chartres Condo And Be There Next Year

On a street lined historic homes, in a neighborhood full of historic homes, this week’s historical shelter may be small, but it’s also the antidote for any Mardi Gras FOMO you might be experiencing this year.

After all, if you’ve been flicking through photos of all the festivities going on right now, you might also be having a bit of internal conflict — how do you get close to all that fun, but not so close that you’re dealing the hustle and bustle of the New Orleans French Quarter?

The answer just might be in this 1919 Greek Revival building, where one of 10 units is up for sale for $299,500. Located at 1206 Chartres St., Unit 2 is the perfect pad for the occasional NOLA visitor, who wants more comfort and freedom than the usual hotel.

Courtesy of MardiGrasNewOrleans.com

And, bonus, it’s also on a few of the parade routes, but not every parade route.

The 509 square foot home is in the lower residential end of the Quarter, and is one of five Greek Revival buildings in the area that are considered architecturally significant, listing agent Wayne Wilkinson with French Quarter Realty said. (more…)

Chartres Street, French Market, French Quarter, Greek Revival, Historical Shelters, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, NOLA, second homes, second shelters

Historical Shelters

11/11/18 9:00am

Amazing Galveston Home Housed Texas Retail Royalty

It’s not often that the home of what many would consider to be Texas retail royalty comes up for sale — which is why this week’s historical shelter in Galveston immediately caught our attention.

The Victorian Robert I. Cohen built in 1896 is a half mile from the beach and a little more than a mile to the Strand.

If Cohen’s name doesn’t sound familiar, perhaps the store he bought will. In 1917, Pat and James Foley sold their Houston store, Foley Brothers, to Robert, who then turned the day-to-day running of the dry goods store to his son George, who then grew sales to almost $1 million by 1919.

Foley Brothers Store, 1906, Historic Houston Photographs, Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries, accessed November 10, 2018.

By 1922, the Cohen’s moved the store to a three-story building on Main Street in Houston, becoming the city’s largest department store. (more…)

Foley Brothers, Galveston, Historical Shelters, Houston, second homes, second shelters, Texas real estate news, Texas Retail

11/10/18 9:00am

Gulf of Mexico Second Homes Easy on the Budget in Cape Coral