Making Use of the Internet When Selling a Home

Once in a while, I dabble in investment real estate. That is, I summon up all of my nerve, and try hard to forget the range of emotions I experienced the last time I did it.

Three years ago, a friend asked me to go in with her on a condo unit in a brand new building being built about 7 miles from where I live. I liked the town in which the building was located, the building amenities and the view from our unit.

Fast forward 3 years, and we're trying to sell. We're using technology to spread the word about our property. In addition to listing our property in our local multiple listing service, which netted us nearly a dozen showings in less than 2 weeks, I listed the property at zillow.com and craigslist.com.

Now, like every seller, I'm sweating out the phone calls and emails, wondering whether the guy who saw it last week is going to come back for a third showing.

Investing in real estate isn't hard – it just takes time, detailed planning, and guts made of steel.

Helping Aging Parents Plan Their Estates in Another State

You live in Georgia, but your parents live in New York, Florida or perhaps Arizona. They want you to have a power of attorney and be the executor of their will. Can you?

As my grandfather wisely said, at some point in your life, you have to parent your parents. But doing it from out of state can cause some problems.

According to estate experts, lawyers typically draft wills generically enough so that they can be probated in every state except Louisiana. Powers of attorney can also be generic, except in Illinois, which requires its own specific form be signed. You can get generic forms online, but if your parents have substantial assets, it's worth hiring an estate or elder law attorney.

Once you have the documents, make sure everyone has them on file, including doctors, attorneys, bankers, and trustees for any trusts you have set up.

For more information, and excellent explanations of Medicaid's rules, check out elderlawanswers.com and AARP.org.

Knock-off Purses are Identity Theft for Manufacturers

It's always amazes me how designer dresses seen on the runway are copied into nearly identical knock-offs sold at your local department store within a couple of months.

But where copying turns to an art form is in the handbag market.

Why pay $1,500 retail for a designer handbag when you can purchase the knock-off for less than $100?

Buying knock-offs may be a long-standing tradition, but frankly, it's identity theft for manufacturers.

While you used to have to go to New York to buy knock-offs, the Internet has made it incredibly easy to buy knock-off purses from all over the world, particularly China.

A friend swears her Gucci knock-off looks and feels like the real thing. I saw her bag last weekend, and honestly, I can't tell the difference.

But that's besides the point. As you know, I like a deal as much as anyone. Just not enough to steal.

Do you have enough cash to pay for an extended retirement?

In 1950, the average American male retired at age 70, and then lived about another 8 years in retirement. By the year 2020, people will spend 20 to 30 years in retirement.

But imagine what would happen if you retired at 55, like my Grandfather did: You could spend 40 years in retirement. I don't know about you, but that's a lot of golf and shuffleboard.

But today's retirees are traveling the world -- my neighbor's mother has been to India and China in the last 6 months – exercising, volunteering, and taking classes. Or, they're changing fields and pursuing new types of work.

It's like getting out of college all over again. The world is your oyster, but unless you've planned financially for an extended 30-year retirement, your options will be limited.

Take the time now to think about what you might like to do over the next 30 years, and how much money you'll need to fund it.

As Winter Melts Into Spring, Pay Attention to Your Curb Appeal

Spring is here and if you're trying to sell your home, it's time to pay attention to what's been happening outside your front door.

As the Internet has made it easy for home buyers to look at photos, 360 degree virtual tours and now video of houses, improving your curb appeal has never been more important.

Buyers want to see your outdoor rooms, including multiple photos of your backyard, patio, deck and other features. If you're hoping to attract some attention, you'll want to pump up your landscaping and polish your home's exterior.

To start, hire a professional landscaper to come in and give your garden an upgrade: trim the bushes, plant flowers that will carry you through the spring, summer and fall, give your beds a fresh edge and add some mulch.

Does your exterior need power-washing or painting? Do your windows need washing? Is it time to clean your gutters and remove storm windows? Does your driveway need blacktopping?

Eye-popping curb appeal will encourage folks to cross the threshold – and that's how you'll sell faster and for more money.