Lincoln-Sudbury Adult & Community Education

Deciding how and when to claim Social Security is one of the most critical financial decisions a person will make in his or her lifetime. By not understanding the many complex rules surrounding Social Security, you could leave thousands of dollars on the table. In this class, you will learn when you should file for Social Security benefits? What are the advantages and disadvantages of filing at age 62 or deferring to age 70? How does the November 2015 change in the rules affect me? How can I make sure I am taking advantage of available spousal, survivor or divorced benefits? How much of my Social Security will be subject to income tax? What potential changes are in store for Social Security and how might they affect my claiming decision? These questions and many more will be answered in this very important class. No Senior/Staff Discount.

The high cost of long-term care can wipe out a family’s life savings in a short period of time. Unfortunately, many families are faced with this situation, finding themselves at the mercy of an under-funded government Medicaid system with limited choices. Recent legislative changes have created many questions surrounding planning techniques: How can I protect my home? What is the penalty for giving assets away? Are my assets protected if I put them in a trust? When is long-term care insurance worthwhile to consider? What if my loved one is already in a nursing home, can they still protect their assets? All of these questions and more will be clearly answered in this very important class. NO DISCOUNTS.

Real estate investing can be lucrative if you know what you are doing, but it can also set you up for failure if you don’t. The trouble is that many new investors don’t know where or how to invest. Participants will learn how to find a property that can be an additional income stream and how to avoid getting into trouble with tenants. Along with learning how to buy an income-generating rental property in this competitive market, we will discuss MA laws that every landlord needs to know to protect themselves. We review proven tips on being a thoughtful and respected landlord and financing and property maintenance costs.

You will learn how to hire and find the right agent and be an advocate for yourself in the home buying process. Buying a home is likely to be one of the biggest investments you make in your lifetime, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into and how to prepare. The class will focus on the home buying process from beginning to end including your mortgage options, lawyer info and fees, the offer process and negotiating techniques, what you would expect to pay for closing costs, and what to look for at open houses.

You will learn how to hire and find the right agent, what’s necessary to fix or not fix before putting your house on the market, tips on home staging, how to price your home and different techniques to generate more interest and offers. The class will also focus on the home selling process from beginning to end including the offer process and negotiating techniques.