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Making a decision about retirement housing can be very challenging. The good news about retirement housing in this day and age is that there are many and varied options available to accommodate every lifestyle and income level. The bad news about retirement housing in this day and age is there are many decisions to be made to make the best choice from among the many and varied options available.

Factors to be considered include whether you plan to rent or own, the state of your health and the long-term outlook for your health as well as whether you will be living with a spouse or are widowed, whether or not you feel comfortable driving or will need transportation, whether or not you are allowed to take your pet(s) with you and a host of other questions to be answered.

The easiest and most sensible way to make the important decision(s) about you're the retirement living is to simply make a list. What are the factors that will help you make your decision of where to live? Initially, creating a list via brainstorming is probably the easiest. That means just write down everything you can think of as it comes to you, in no particular order. After you feel you've listed everything, begin to prioritize your list.

Cost How Will You Finance Your Retirement Housing?

Will you rent or own? Do you have equity in an existing home that can be applied to a down payment on a home in a retirement community? If you decide to rent, will you use the proceeds from a home sale to pay monthly rent or do you have enough cash reserves to pay rent for as long as you will be living or until you transition to another home?

Lifestyle How Much Do You Want to Do Yourself?

After you have determined your financial ability to fund the type of retirement housing you desire. The next question to ask is what level of independence you expect to have? Do you want to live in and maintain your own home? If the answer to this question is "yes," you'll probably begin your search at gated retirement communities.

Do you want a no-maintenance lifestyle where you pay a fee for exterior maintenance, yard or lawn maintenance and other services? If the answer is, "yes," you will want to investigate retirement housing in an apartment or condominium retirement communities.

Are you able to drive to the store, social events or church or do you want/need transportation provided? If the answer is "no," rest and retirement homes or apartment retirement communities will be a good option.

Amenities What is your Level of Independence?

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