Sell the House to Full Time?
One of the key critical issues for those considering the fulltime lifestyle is whether or not to sell the "land locked" home. It's not only a financial and physical question, it also touches deeply on the heart. After all, you may have raised the kids here, cultivated friendships, and seen important milestones. Much must be weighed in the balance.
Many have found "selling" to be helpful. They point out they no longer have property taxes and insurance to pay, no worries about maintenance and upkeep while on the road. They don't fret what vandals or burglars may do in their absence. Sale of the house for some makes the purchase of a traveling rig possible.
On the other hand, some point out that keeping the home has its advantages. If good quality renters can be found, keeping the house can serve as an investment and provide needed income. Others leave the house empty, but for their furniture or other possessions they have no room for in the rig. Some feel safer, always having a "home base" to return to if something doesn't pan out on the road.
Making the move to the fulltime lifestyle is not something to be considered lightly. Individual circumstances vary. Some take a middle-of-the-road approach and hang onto the house for some time, seeing how they adjust to road living. Then, if things are going well, they eventually sell their old homestead and stick with the road life, tucking away the proceeds from their home sale in a safe investment, hedging against life's uncertainties.
3 Comments:
My wife and I decided to retire in 1997. We sold our home, give the furniture to the kids and sold the stuff we had accumulated on E-Bay and bought our RV all in 1998 and headed out on our grand RV Adventure in 1999.
We absolutely love being on the road, meeting new friends and seeing all the wonderful places we never had a chance to see during our working years. When we visit our families, they always have a room for us to use and a place to park our RV.
Dave & Tania George
By Dave, at May 12, 2007 1:30 PM
I retired, sold my condo, bought my motorhome and began RVing last year. I will travel south in the winter and spend my summers in Portland, OR where my daughter and granddaughter live. My RV park is close to their home and I can work part time at my old law firm. I wouldn't consider doing anything else at this point in my life.
By Marilyn Brown, at May 24, 2007 3:20 PM
I just can't see a better life than traveling this great country with all the comforts of home. You couldn't give me 12 mansions all around the world instead.
By Don, at June 23, 2007 1:07 PM
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