Your questions answered

Our 94 year old mother is moving into a retirement home. We want to sell the home but don’t want to deal with disposing of all the furniture and her belongings so it is vacant for the new owners. What can we do? Not up to organizing a garage sale.

Some of your mother’s possessions may be seen as antiques and have some value. A local antique store owner could visit the home and offer you payment for items of interest. Local charities like Goodwill, Teen Challenge, Habitat for Humanity etc, could arrange to pick up the items they want which may clear out much of the remainder. Alternatively, you can simply sell the home “as is”. All the contents are transferred to the new owner and it becomes their responsibility to dispose of the items.

I am recently widowed. I moved recently and find myself without friends as my husband was my life. What to do?

Getting out and socializing is important. You need to take the initiative to search out human interaction. People won’t find you unless you make yourself available. Meeting your neighbours while out on a walk would be a good step. In London there are the Hamilton Road or Kiwanis Senior Community Centers that offer a variety of seniors programs. The City of London through the Parks and Recreation department offers a variety of sports or leisure activity classes though their Spectrum publication. If you have an interest, they may have a related class. You can sign up and meet others with a similar interest. Volunteering is also a good way to meet people and help the local community. If you have a favorite charity, contact them and see how you can get more involved.

I am retired on a fixed pension and want to refinance my home. Can I qualify for a mortgage when I am not working?

When qualifying for a mortgage, lenders are going to look at all your revenue sources such as pension and investment income. You may still qualify for a traditional mortgage, a line of credit that will allow you to draw down on the funds as needed, or if income is insufficient possibly a reverse mortgage where you don’t need to make a monthly mortgage payment. I suggest a detailed review of your current situation by a mortgage specialist so you end up with the right advice and the right product to fit your needs. We are happy to assist with a referral.