Here are some of the sites our readers found to be helpful. If you find a site not listed that you think is really good, please let me know so I can check it out and add it to the listing below and we can share the knowledge. Thanks!
Chapter 1 – Changes in Life, Changes in Living Needs
Glassdoor
https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
Glassdoor has millions of jobs plus salary information, company reviews, and interview questions from people on the inside making it easy to find a job that’s right for you.
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/core-finance/housing/renting-v-buying/
This site contains four videos on different topics comparing and contrasting renting versus buying, including:
1) Renting versus buying a home;
2) The math of renting vs. buying a home;
3) Factoring in appreciation and depreciation in the rent vs. buy decision; and
4) A detailed analysis of the rent vs. buy decision.
Neighborhood Scout
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/
The most accurate, comprehensive, neighborhood-specific crime, demographic, housing, school performance, and real estate trend and forecast analytics available today, with seamless coverage for the entire United States.
Numbeo
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
Numbeo is the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. Numbeo provides current and timely information on world living conditions including cost of living, housing indicators, health care, traffic, crime and pollution.
WalletHub
https://wallethub.com/
WalletHub is the first-ever website to offer free credit scores and full credit reports that are updated on a daily basis. The site acts as the brain of an artificially intelligent financial advisor. WalletHub’s brain performs three primary functions, providing: 1) Customized credit-improvement advice; 2) Personalized savings alerts; and 3) 24/7 wallet surveillance. WalletHub is owned by Evolution Finance, Inc. and is based in Washington, DC.
Sites for the Government Agencies and Government Sponsored Entities
Ginnie Mae
www.ginniemae.gov/pages/default.aspx
Fannie Mae
www.fanniemae.com/portal/index.html
Freddie Mac
www.freddiemac.com
FHA / HUD
portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/buying/loans
Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov
United States Department of Agriculture
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans
Chapter 2 – Beginning to Formulate Your “Finding Home – Over 50” Plan
Calculators: Life Expectancy
Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/lifeexpectancy.html
When you are considering when to collect retirement benefits, one important factor to take into account is how long you might live.
Sites to Help You Prepare Your Life List
Choosing Figs
https://choosingfigs.com/
A blog about going after the life your want and doing those things you’ve always wanted to do.
bucketlist
https://bucketlist.org/
Help 100 million people be on the path to achieving their life goals.
bucket list
https://www.bucketlist.net/
Together we can fulfill each other’s dreams
Bucket List Ideas, Advice And Support To Live Life To The Fullest
Raptitude.com
https://www.raptitude.com/
Raptitude is a blog about getting better at being human.
We never think of “being human” as something you can get better at, but it is, and your skill level is the biggest determining factor in how good your life is.
Drimsa
https://drimsa.com/
Drimsa is a place for inspiration, advice and support. Here you can talk about things you love, share and connect.
John Goddard’s Life List
https://johngoddard.info/life_list.htm
John Goddard is most known for his amazing “Life List” of accomplishments. At the age of fifteen John Goddard listed 127 goals he wished to experience or achieve in his lifetime. The list is impressive and audacious, but the results have been truly incredible.
Chapter 3 – Securing Your Financial Foundation
Sites to Help You Strengthen Your Financial Position
Broke Millennial
www.brokemillennial.com
This blog site by Erin Lowery offers information to increase financial literacy — mostly through telling funny financial tales from her own life and sneaking in actual money lessons in the process.
Podcasts with Farnoosh Torabi
https://podcast.farnoosh.tv
This site features daily podcasts by Farnoosh Torabi. The podcasts bring candid conversations about money with many of the world’s top business minds, authors and influencers.
Learn Vest
https://www.learnvest.com
This site is dedicated to helping real people get a plan for their money, simply and affordably. You tell them where you’re starting, where you want to go, and they’ll fill in the rest.
Suzy Orman
https://www.suzeorman.com
This site is packed with Suze’s advice and resources. Don’t be turned off by a home page that has CDs for sell front and center. Search the site and you will find a multitude of financial advice and resources available.
Think Glink
www.thinkglick.com
This site run by Ilyce Glink offers information on a variety of topics, including: real estate, mortgage issues, real estate investing, personal finance, credit and consumer advice.
Sites Focused on Retirement Income
Medicare.gov
https://www.medicare.gov/
The official U.S. Government Site for Medicare
Sites Focused on Credit Reporting
The Three Credit Bureaus
www.experian.com
www.transunion.com
www.equifax.com
These are the websites of the three credit reporting agencies.
Credit Karma
www.creditkarma.com
This site provides a credit monitoring service.
Annual Credit Report
www.annualcreditreport.com
This site is the only source for your free annual credit report.
Chapter 4 – Decluttering Your Life
9 things a decluttering expert would never have in their kitchen
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/9-things-decluttering-expert-never-100506206.html/
5 Things You’ll Learn From Getting Rid of All Your Stuff
https://financialbestlife.com/getting-rid-of-all-your-stuff/
Sick of eBay? Try these alternative places to sell…
https://www.salehoo.com/blog/sick-of-ebay-try-these-alternative-places-to-sell
49 ways to sell your old stuff for the most money
https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/where-to-sell-your-old-stuff-for-top-dollar/
13 Things to Never, Ever Throw Out When You’re Downsizing
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/organizing-tips/advice/a3173/never-throw-out-when-downsizing/
5 Hip Websites for Selling Your Clothes on Consignment
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/consignment/
10 Articles on Decluttering to Help Simplify Your Life
https://bemorewithless.com/declutter//
How to Make Money Selling on Consignment – Tip, Pros & Cons
https://www.moneycrashers.com/make-money-selling-consignment/
Estate Tag Sale & Estate Auction Info
https://www.shreveportauctions.com/AUCTION%20VS%20ESTATE%20SALE.htm
The Complete Guide to Selling Your Unwanted Crap for Money
https://lifehacker.com/5981335/the-complete-guide-to-selling-your-unwanted-crap-for-money/
How to Declutter Your Life and Reduce Stress
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-to-declutter-your-life-and-reduce-stress.html
The best ways to sell your stuff
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/09/the-best-ways-to-sell-your-stuff/index.htm/
What Do I do With My Parents’ Stuff? How Auctions Can Help Your Sort It Out
https://www.beloitauction.com/what-do-i-do-with-my-parents-stuff/
Chapter 5 – Functional Assessment – Weighing and Addressing Your Needs and Those of Your Older Loved Ones
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Nice to Know
https://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Disability_ADL_e.htm
10 Tips to Keep in Mind While Helping Aging Parents
https://www.longtermcarelink.net/article-2014-8-25.htm
The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale
https://consultgeri.org/try-this/general-assessment/issue-23.pdf
Home Health vs Home Care
https://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/home-health-vs-home-care
Studies of illness in the aged: The index of ADL: A standardized measure of biological and psychosocial function
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/666768?redirect=true
Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/9/3_Part_1/179/552574?redirectedFrom=PDF
Activities of Daily Living: When A Loved One Needs Help Making Sense of ADLs and IADLs
https://seniorcareasia.org/malaysia/activities-of-daily-living-what-are-adls-and-iadls/
How to talk to aging parents about the future
hhttps://www.talk-early-talk-often.com/talk-to-elderly.html
Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
https://consultgeri.org/try-this/general-assessment/issue-2.pdf
Chapter 6 – Housing Alternatives – Independent Living
Home Care and Home Health Care
HomeHealthService.com
https://homehealthservice.com
This is a companion site to Finding Home Over 50 which provides helpful information about topics of interest to seniors and provides a central marketplace of home care and home healthcare products and services.
National Caregivers Library
http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/home.aspx
How to Select a Home Care Company
https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/how-to-select-a-home-care-company-230598.htm
Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25910392
25 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Health Care Agency or Caregiver
https://teamselecthh.com/hire-a-home-healthcare-agency/
Housing Options
Which Type of Housing Is Best for You? – AARP
https://www.aarp.org/home-garden/housing/info-08-2009/ginzler_housing_choices.html
Multigenerational Housing
A record 60.6 million Americans live in multigenerational households
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/11/a-record-60-6-million-americans-live-in-multigenerational-households/
“Granny Pods” Allow Elderly Family Members to Live In a High-Tech Backyard Cottage
https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/a37788/granny-pods/
Home Buying for MultiGenerational Families
https://calgaryhomes.ca/blog/home-buying-for-multigenerational-families.html
Manufactured Housing
Beyond Trailers – Buying Modern Manufactured Homes
https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/residence/beyond-trailers-buying-modern-manufactured-homes
Do You Know The Difference Between Prefab And Manufactured Homes?
https://modularhomeowners.com/do-you-know-the-difference-between-prefab-and-manufactured-homes/
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Supoort for Chattel Financing of Manufactured Home Request for Input
https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/PublicAffairsDocuments/Chattel-Pilot-RFI.pdf
The Pre-cut House
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2011/01/06/the-pre-cut-house
Manufactured Housing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufactured_housing
Manufactured-housing consumer finance in the United States – CFPB Report
https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201409_cfpb_report_manufactured-housing.pdf
Manufactured Housing – Homeowner’s Fact Sheet – HUD
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/rmra/mhs/factsheet
Titling Homes as Real Property
https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/manufactured_housing/titling-homes2.pdf
Manufactured Housing Institute
https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/research-and-data/
2015 – Manufactured Housing Survey Annual Data – U.S. Census Bureau
https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2015/econ/mhs/2015-annual-data.html
Co-Housing
Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves
https://www.amazon.com/Cohousing-Contemporary-Approach-Housing-Ourselves/dp/0898155398
Villages
Beacon Hill Village
https://beaconhillvillage.org/
Village to Village Network
https://vtvnetwork.clubexpress.com/
A Tale of Two Community Initiatives for Promoting Aging in Place: Similarities and Differences in the National Implementation of NORC Programs and Villages
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/53/6/928/636231
NORCs
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J081V03N03_02?journalCode=wjhe20
Healthy Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities: A Low-Cost Approach to Facilitating Healthy Aging
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1483864/
NORCs: Some of the Best Retirement Communities Occur Naturally
https://www.nextavenue.org/norcs-some-best-retirement-communities-occur-naturally/
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities: What Are They?
https://www.hjsims.com/news-views/naturally-occurring-retirement-communities-what-are-they/#.Wp4hq-dG29I
Active Adult Communities
Home Consumer attitudes and perceptions concerning active adult communities: an exploratory study
https://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/11870.pdf
Is an Active Adult Community Right for You
https://www.topretirements.com/tips/Choosing_a_Community/Is_an_Active_Adult_Community_Right_for_You.html
Reasons Why Active Adult Communities Are Getting Smaller
https://www.55places.com/blog/reasons-why-active-adult-communities-are-getting-smaller
The 55 Best 55+ Communities in America for 2015
https://www.55places.com/blog/the-55-best-55-communities-in-america-for-2015
10 Things Retirement Communities Wont Tell You
https://nypost.com/2014/07/20/10-things-retirement-communities-wont-tell-you-2-2/
Retirement Community and Facility Types
https://www.retirementliving.com/
Ten Questions to Ask Before You Buy in an Active Adult Community
https://www.topretirements.com/tips/Choosing_a_Community/Ten_Questions_to_Ask_Before_You_Buy_in_an_Active_Adult_Community.html
Chapter 7 – Housing Alternatives: Semi-Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Nursing Care Options
2018 Veterans Pension Rates
https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/veterans-pensions.html
Adult Day Care
https://www.agingcare.com/local/Adult-Day-Care
Aging life Care Association
https://www.aginglifecare.org/
Assisted Living Checklist: What to Look for, What to Ask When Choosing a Community
https://www.caring.com/articles/assisted-living-facilities-choosing-the-right-one
The Encyclopedia of Housing
https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/housing2ed
The Eden Alternative
https://www.edenalt.org//
The Green House Project
https://www.thegreenhouseproject.org/
Which Type of Housing Is Best for You? – AARP
https://www.aarp.org/home-garden/housing/info-08-2009/ginzler_housing_choices.html
Activities in Adult Day Care – Clients Stay Involved with Adult Day Care Activities
https://www.adultdaycare.org/resources/activities-in-adult-day-care/
Nursing Home Abuse Guide
https://nursinghomeabuseguide.com/
Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA ’87): 20 Years of History
https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/hr172tl.pdf
10 Things Retirement Communities Wont Tell You
https://nypost.com/2014/07/20/10-things-retirement-communities-wont-tell-you-2-2/
Ten Things You Must Know About Nursing Homes
https://www.jimschuster.com/ten-things-you-must-know-about-nursing-homes/
Senior Care Costs / Aging Care Calculator
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/costs.html
Senior Housing 101: Senior Care Types Explained
https://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/senior-housing-options
Services Offered by Assisted Living Communities
https://www.assistedlivingfacilities.org/resources/services-provided/
How to Pick an Adult Day Care Center
https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/how-to-pick-adult-day-care-center-138263.htm
Ten Principles of Eden Alternative
https://www.lifebridgehealth.org/Levindale/tenPrinciplesofedenalternativeG55.aspx
What is congregate housing and care?
https://www.seniorguidance.org/senior-living/senior-congregate-care-living-and-housing/
Evidence Behind the Green House and Similar Models of Nursing Home Care
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/740653
Chapter 8- Should I Stay or Should I Go? – Choosing Your Home Location
10 things to look for a dream neighborhood
https://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/buying-home/10-things-look-for-dream-neighborhood1.htm#page=0
There are so many things to consider when you’re searching for the neighborhood of your dreams: architectural style, safety, amenities and your commute, just to name a few. And knowing where to start can be daunting. But there are 10 essentials you simply can’t overlook. This site help you to find out what those are so you can start your search for the perfect neighborhood.
More than just a house: What to look for in a new neighborhood
https://realestate.boston.com/news/2015/09/23/more-than-just-a-house-what-to-look-for-in-a-new-neighborhood/
Tips on finding the right neighborhood.
6 Things to Look For When Choosing a Neighborhood
https://www.veteransunited.com/futurehomeowners/6-things-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-neighborhood/
6 things to look for in a neighborhood.
10 Things that make make a home a good home
https://www.zillow.com/blog/10-things-that-make-a-home-a-good-home-88384/
he problem is, buyers sometimes don’t take the long view of a property. They’re only looking at a home as a potential buyer — and not as someone who, years down the road, may also have to sell the property. Given that homes are such a big investment, there should be a little inside your head, picking away at your options and decisions. This site lists ten things you should consider when choosing your next home.
Area Vibes
www.Areavibes.com
This site allows you to enter an address, zip code, neighborhood or city. It then provides information on Amenities, Cost of Living, Crime, Education, Employments, Housing, and Weather. It show the overall Livability Score for the zip code, and shows nearby communities ranked in order of Livability Scores.
Neighborhoods.com
www.NeighborhoodScout.com
This site allows you to enter any address, city or state and it will provide you with an overview of the city and information on public schools, home value appreciation raes, and crime rates. It generally reports on various sections of each city.
Researching Crime in Areas and Neighborhoods
Crime Reports
www.CrimeReports.com
This site allows you to compare crime statistics between two major cities.
Family Watchdog
www.FamilyWatchdog.us
This site helps you to locate registered sex offenders in your area. You can search by address (city/state or zip code), name and school/daycare.
Great Schools
www.greatschools.org
This site is your community resource to find and share information about schools.
City Data
www.city-data.com
By collecting and analyzing data from numerous sources, this site is able to create detailed, informative profiles of all cities in the United States. From crime rates to weather patterns, you can find the data you’re looking for.
Floodsmart
www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart
This is the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program. You can enter the address of any home, see if it is on a flood plain, and if so, what its elevation and risk is.
PROPERTY SEARCH SITES
Realtor.com
www.Realtor.com
This is the site of the National Association of Realtors. It contains information on how a REALTOR™ can help you in the home buying process.
Zillow
www.Zillow.com
This is a premier site for doing research on homes.
Redfin
www.Redfin.com
Redfin means Real Estate Redefined. This site features full-service, local agents who are paid based on your satisfaction, not commissions. It combines technology and innovative methods to improve the home buying process.
Chapter 9 – Preparing Your Current or New Home for Aging in Place
HomeHealthService.com
https://homehealthservice.com
This is a companion site to Finding Home Over 50 which provides helpful information about topics of interest to seniors and provides a central marketplace of products and services that will help you to age in place.
Preparing Your Home for Aging in Place: Part 1: The Entrance
https://www.friendslifecare.org/preparing-your-home-for-aging-in-place-part-1/
This article discusses exterior improvements to help you age in place.
Preparing Your Home for Aging in Place Part 2: Stairways & Hallways
https://www.friendslifecare.org/preparing-your-home-for-aging-in-place-part-2/
This article discusses starway and hallway improvements to help you age in place.
Chapter 10 – Mortgage Loans in Reverse
Understanding Reverse Mortgage – Consumer Finance Protection Bureau
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/understanding-reverse-mortgages/
Consumer Information: Reverse Mortgages – Federal Trade Commission
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0192-reverse-mortgages
Disclosure Requirements for Reverse Mortgages
https://consumercomplianceoutlook.org/2009/first-quarter/q1_01/
FHA Reverse Mortgages (HECMs) for Seniors – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hecm/hecmabou
Frequently Asked Questions about HUD’s Reverse Mortgages
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hecm/rmtopten
HECM Financial Assessment and Property Charge Guide
https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/16-10ML-ATCH.PDF
Home Equity Protection Program Fact Sheet: Reverse Mortgage Suitability Self-Evaluation Worksheet
https://www.canhr.org/factsheets/abuse_fs/PDFs/fs_RevMortSuitabilityWorksheet.pdf
How much money can I get with a reverse mortgage, and what are my payment options?
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-much-money-can-i-get-with-a-reverse-mortgage-and-what-are-my-payment-options-en-233/
CHAPTER 11 ORGANIZING YOUR ESTATE DOCUMENTS
6 Estate Planning Must-Haves
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/estate_plan_checklist.asp
Essential Documents for Planning Your Estate
https://www.thebalance.com/what-are-the-essential-estate-planning-documents-3505184