Talk of The Villages Florida - Can anyone help this woman?

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- - Can anyone help this woman? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/can-anyone-help-woman-313990/)

None of us know the true circumstances behind her troubles. For all we know her financial troubles could come from being taken advantage of by family members or other shysters. This is where a visit from a social worker would be appropriate.

It's truly a sad situation.

I am in the same situation. Lost my husband's Social Security because of GPO (married 66 years) over $24,000 a year, but bills keep on. Reverse mortgage could help, but if she owes more than $100,000 on her house, I think she has to come up with whatever she owes over that amount to get the reverse mortgage (not sure of this ). I expect she lost all or most of her husband's pension when he died. I could sell my house, but may not, and get a smaller house, but I have animals and other considerations, so probably won't. We don't know the whole situation her (other bills, car loans, etc.). I do feel sorry for her, and she may not have all the mental abilities to conduct whatever needs to be done. If she has family, they should step in and advise her.

I think it would a be a good idea for oine of her neighbors or a friend to set up a meeting at a nearby rec center to help her out. The meeting could be folks who want to donate money to help get the home fixed up for sale or even folks who could volenteer to work on the home. But she would have to sell the home. This would be a one time fix for her so shee can find a place she could afford.

If any such meeting is evr set up.... COUNT ME IN! Gator Bill

Well I am very serious, I am very experienced in these types of situations and I am more than happy to help out a woman in distress. If someone has her contact information, please give her my phone number 978-476-1342. If not, I suppose I can knock on her door and if that is the way it goes, I will keep you all posted on the outcome! Have a safe and happy Holiday season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DON10E (Post 1873097)

I read this story and it’s been bothering me all day. Her husband was military till he died and she needs help to bring her house up to standards. She seems like a great candidate for a Go Fund me page but I have no experience with that. Do you? Any ideas? There but for the Grace of God...Merry Christmas?

A Villager is claiming her loss of supplemental income is making upkeep at her home too expensive for her to afford.

The home of Ingrid Rickard at 16558 SE 77th Northridge Court in the Village of Calumet Grove was the subject of a public hearing Friday before the Community Development District 4 Board of Supervisors.

A complaint about missing lanai screens and weeds was lodged against her property Oct. 13 with Community Standards. The violation was verified the following day.

Rickard’s husband, a retired Air Force colonel, died in 2012. They moved to The Villages in 2003. The house in Calumet Grove was built in 2004 and they were its first and only occupants.

In the years since her husband’s death, Rickard has fallen on hard times.

She said her supplemental income from retirement has been depleted

“I have no other way of making any money,” the 76-year-old told the CDD 4 board.

She had to trim back on her landscaping budget to save money and friends from her church have been helping her pull weeds.

On Tuesday, she signed an agreement with a contractor who can replace the screens in her lanai. But the contractor is “backed up” and can’t get to her job for 12 to 14 weeks.

Rickard said she understood she could be fined if the work isn’t performed in a timely manner.

“I had to borrow money to have the screens replaced. I cannot afford a daily fine,” she said.

Supervisor Don Deakin urged Rickard to get other competitive bids and potentially use them to spur her chosen contractor to move up the job on his priority list.

CDD 4 Board Chairman Jim Murphy reminded Rickard that she has a responsibility to “keep up the property.”

By a unanimous vote of the board, she was given 45 days to bring the property into compliance. If she fails to do so, she will face an initial $150 fine followed by $50 daily fines.

Life is full of mistakes and hardships we can't save everyone. Currently according to Zillow, there are 16 foreclosures in The Villages area who do you want to save next.

She should sell her home and move to a more affordable home.

retired military pension stops at their death. Social security is probably minimal. She needs to fix her house in order to sell it. This might be too much for her to do alone. Maybe she has children or family members she can ask for help.

There are a lot of missing details but it does seem pretty clear that the house has gotten to be too much for this lady to maintain. The longer she defers maintenance, the longer she lets things go, the more expensive the repairs will be and the more that will need to be done. She should sell that house and downsize. Maybe she should look at some of the available Independent Living apartments where she wouldn't have to worry about doing any repairs or yard work. She was only in her late 60's when her husband died 8 years ago. Maybe staying in the house made good sense at the time but it doesn't seem to be a great choice for her now. But, again, there are a lot of missing details, this is just based on what we do know about her situation.

If they opted out of the Survivor Benefit Plan, they get zero military retirement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RanTrac713 (Post 1873283)

If they opted out of the Survivor Benefit Plan, they get zero military retirement.

If that was the case then her income would have dramatically changed 8 years ago when her husband died.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pbthrockm@msn.com (Post 1873179)

Shame on you if you suggested she sell her house. This is not merely her house but her home. Being military it probably is the only one she has known. Did you notice her name. She maybe from Europe and married military man. And military pensions are not automatic the military person has to signup for it at time if retirement for their spouse and there is a monthly premium to be paid that is not cheap.
The residents of the villages many have a great deal of money and it would be the right thing to do to set up a fund to help her Having her move will add to her already difficult situation. Emotional and financial as moves are not cheap.

OH PLEASE. It is the correct advice. Large house with a pool in a prime location, and she can not afford to pay someone to mow the grass. This is a no brainer.

Any sympathy should be directed to the neighbors who have to live next to this woman's choices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mydavid (Post 1873164)

A lot of advice, but no real help, welcome to Florida's friendliest hometown.

The real help is the advice given: sell the house and downsize. Her problem: she can't afford to live in her current home, and it requires updates and upgrades and repairs she can't pay for and will not be able to pay for in the forseeable future, or ever.

You don't put outside money on that kind of situation. You reduce the expense in that kind of situation. And the #1 way to reduce her expenses is for her to sell her house and downsize.

Her current home can fetch close to $400,000 on the current market. She needs someone to help her sell her home, and that won't happen until she reaches out to a licensed realtor.

The only thing we, on this forum can do, is make that suggestion. Especially since she isn't even the one posting asking for advice, and the person who did ask, doesn't even know this person.

First of all, when they bought in '03 they had to qualify for their mortgage, if any. If they paid it through his death in '12, they have considerable equity. She needs a social worker who can recommend a financial advisor and any other assist she may need. It is likely this will do little good since the government intervention thus far has not motivated her. I sure would not like to live next door to what is depicted in the photo. In other cases that I have seen like this, physical or mental issues were involved and a social worker may help, if she is even willing to accept their assistance.

As has been stated, she would only receive about half of what his pension was, if he opted for the Survivor Benefit Plan. And, she would have had to sign that IF they were married when he filed that and/or retired? I'm wondering if that wasn't the case, and this is a second marriage? I signed mine(prior to second marriage), and it cost me about 10% of retirement(for both military and federal civil service). And I just had my house appraised(for refi), and it increased significantly since I purchased it 2yrs ago, so I'm sure that home is worth a bunch!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimaquintana@aol.com (Post 1873244)

As long as you're considering being financially responsible until she dies, it sounds like a marvelous idea. But if you're not prepared to go that far, you could just be harming her.

She has no money to pay for FUTURE expenses. She can't pay the current ones, she can't pay the ones in the future.

So if you help her out today, you'll be fixing today's problems. Who is going to bail her out for the next set? Who will buy her hot water heater when it needs replacing? Who is going to clean her house when she's physically unable to do all that bending and mopping herself? She can't afford to pay $50 a month for someone to mow her lawn. Do you really think she can afford to pay someone to clean her house every week? With what money, if her income is depleted?

The #1 best possible thing she can do right now is downsize. She can still live in the Villages. Just not in that house. In her situation, at this moment, that house is a money sink. It will ultimately lead her to bankruptcy. A $400k house - will put her in the poorhouse, so to speak. She can make enough profit from it through downsizing to afford everything she needs. The additional money can be used, if she's prudent, to supplement her social security payments, in covering bills for years to come.

She can still live in a lovely house in the Villages, and enjoy whatever amenities she's able to enjoy. But the house has to be worth less, so that she can net that cushion of profit in the sale of her own.