General
Not necessarily related to a particular state or location, but valuable information nevertheless.
Getting over selling your house at a loss
In 1984, my wife and I bought a house in the suburbs of Hartford, CT. We paid $129,000 for a faux colonial style home with vinyl siding. After spending a couple of thousand dollars to rip out the...
Builders' houses on fire sale
Crazy Eddie, a former discounter of electronics equipment in the New York City area, used to advertise "Prices so low, we're practically giving them away." Last week, the huge residential...
Know thy neighbors...before you buy
A feature in the Wall Street Journal today is an ironic reminder why, no matter how much research you do on a choice of a community, you should still try to live there for a month or two at least...
Back online, and in Austin
Sorry, yesterday was the first day I haven't posted something in months. I was traveling to Austin, Texas. I will be in Austin this week, with planned visits to some of the area's best communities and one...
FedEx Cup runneth over for me
Count me among the apparent few who think the FedEx Cup is just fine so far. As a fan I am not insulted that Tiger in Week One and Phil this weekend stayed home with their kids. Many of us complain...
Caveat emptor
The Cliffs Communities is excluded from Where to Retire's rankings. We wonder why, given that The Cliffs appeals to retirees, has plenty of property for sale and a grand buffet of amenities,...
Headed for Austin, TX
I am on my way to the Texas Hill Country for a week of visits to local golfing communities. Austin, which is home to the University of Texas, has been a favorite destination for retirees over the last...
Small Alabama towns hit a few high notes
I awoke this morning to find that I live within three miles of one of the 10 "coolest" small towns in America, according to a report from Frommers, the travel guide. Collinsville, CT, was chosen...
Day of rest...kind of
We celebrate Labor Day today in the U.S. in praise of all workingmen and women. Except for those in critical jobs that serve the public, it is supposed to be a day of rest. But after I came home...
Comparing living costs city by city
In response to a question at the Carolina Living message board a couple of weeks ago, I suggested that some people focus too much on tax rates when considering where to live. Taxation is just one...
Handy(wo)men specials
No one can predict how deep prices will fall in the housing market, or in which markets. We would never recommend trying to time the stock market, and the same holds true for the housing market. But...
Restaurant: One Block West, Winchester, VA
So many golf courses, so little time. With a little planning, you can build yourself a pretty nice personal golf trail along virtually any U.S. interstate. Along I-81 from Pennsylvania to Virginia,...