To Have and To Hold? Or Sell That House and Go Fulltiming

It's a question that a lot of fulltime wannabees have: Should we sell the house and go fulltiming, or fulltime and still "hold onto" the house. Well, maybe the answer lies in crunching numbers.

Rick and Orinda, who participate in the Escapees Club RV forum put together a clever spreadsheet that you can download an stick your own numbers into. By taking into account variables like the cost of insurance, maintenance, and all those other goodies that stix-n-brix owners have to deal with. But what about "appreciation"? Is there such a thing in today's bloated, foreclosure-infested real estate market? Rick's taken that into account as well.

Check out Rick and Orinda's thinking--and you can download the spreadsheet and crunch the numbers yourself. Click here.

Looking for a Southwest Fulltiming Base? Watch the Market

Some fulltimers or fulltime wannabes feel more comfortable having a "fall back" position: A piece of property or another home where, if and when they need to, they can go and get off the road. Many snowbirds and fulltimers have found the desert southwest an ideal place for their home base.

We've watched the prices of land and homes in Arizona skyrocket over the last few years, but it seems that 'the fat lady has sung.' A real estate agent friend in Lake Havasu City tells us that the market has definitely taken a hit--many real estate sales folks are taking on second jobs to support themselves while the market holds its breath.

We have to agree with many that greed got the better of the market. People bought properties, many holding them only for a short time, then put them back up on the market looking for huge profits. For a while, it worked. But the whole game has come to a screeching halt. In Quartzsite, Arizona, we've watched real estate signs go up all over town--and stay up--until the desert sun has faded the lettering, or disgusted owners have simply taken them down.

What do the pundits say? Real estate insiders tell us that if you're thinking about buying southwest property, hold onto your cash for a while. They don't look to see things turn around until the presidential election. Meantime, like the Burma Shave advertising representatives used to say, "A minute of your patience," "A moment of your time," "Pardon me buddy," "But can you spare a dime?" Roll up those Versachi shirt sleeves fellas, washing dishes ain't good on real estate salesmen's cuffs.