Dogs, Retirement and Foreclosure

One of my favorite places to lurk is the New York Times. In particular, the Real Estate section offers interesting articles on what renters, homebuyers in highly urbanized areas must contend with for access to limited space. Sure, California’s home values are high but rent is manageable and our dogs typically don’t have to go through the interview process to rent an apartment as this article illustrates. I am very glad I’m not a New Yorker. I don’t think I can deal with rats and high rents at the same time. Plus, my unruly dogs probably wouldn’t pass the co-op board test.

Scott Burns’ new column on retirement realities is a good read. Summary: Americans don’t save enough and have overly optimistic expectations. Although saving for a house is a top priority, the need to put money away for the future also pulls at the purse strings. I’d rather pay the piper today when I’m young and healthy than later when I’m 80.

If there is a mythical god in charge of retirement, it would have to be Janus. Best known as the Roman god with two faces – one looking forward, one back – Janus was the master of beginnings and endings.

You and I see this every month in magazines: advertisements for luxurious retirement condos in Florida and Arizona, world-girdling cruises and mind-boggling automobiles being enjoyed by energetic silver-haired seniors.

Editorial content looks the other way. It warns us of dementia, incipient poverty and the inevitability of long-term care.

Is it possible that retirement – for most people most of the time – is somewhere in between?

The LA Times also had an interesting story today about a newbie trying to buy a foreclosed home. The auction arena is competitive with seasoned professionals who make a living off buying foreclosed homes. The process sure sounds intimidating.

Many see trouble in falling home prices and rising foreclosures. Karen Krynen sees opportunity. So after dropping her two children off at preschool one day last month, Krynen headed for Los Angeles County Superior Court in Norwalk, where foreclosed houses were being auctioned on the steps outside.