TIREWME Making The Most Of Your Home (NAPSA)—With millions of baby boomers in the midst of or nearing retirement, there is a wealth of information out there about finding the right retirement strategy—whento retire, where to retire and how to make the most of retirement. While there is no one right answer, one fact remains constant for the majority of boomers—one of their largest investments is their home and most likely they have built up a lot of equity over the years. The decision to take advantage of that equity is one way to boost retirement income. By buying a smaller, less expensive home, money is freed up for travel, hob- bies, a new home-based business or additional savings for the future. And, with a new home, the cost and time involved with general upkeep, maintenance and repairs are greatly reduced, leaving homeowners with more time and money to pursueotherinterests. Downsizing to a new,less expen- sive homeisn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds in today’s hot real estate market, which is why many are turning to factory-built housing. Today’s factory-built houses are a far cry from what boomers may recall. Benefiting from advances in technology and construction methods, homes built in a factory can incorporateall the amenities homebuyers are looking for while generally costing less per square foot than homesbuilt onsite. The ability to get a custom home without the custom price is fn E especially attractive to a generation that has been defined byits individualism. “Flexibility in factory-built home design allows a homebuyer to add features that can truly enhance lifestyles,” said Grover Tarlton, vice president of marketing for Champion Enterprises, “whether that’s a designer kitchen, computer room, exercise room, hometheateror all four.” Champion, a leader in the factory-built housing industry, operates nationwide through the Champion family of homebuilders. “As a boomer myself, I know thatit’s all about options and affordability,” continued Tarlton, “from building on the property of your choice— whetherthat’s in your hometown or 500 miles away—to building in less time and for less money thana traditionally built home.” Buying a new home, while still a sizable investment, can make good financial sense. And moving to a home designed with lifestyle enhancing features and costing less each month can be the foundation of a sound retirement strategy.
