In another scenario, buyers can use proceeds from a 1031 exchange to fund purchase price or down payment on a retirement home. To qualify for this tax exemption, you must rent your retirement home out for a couple of years. That fulfills IRS requirement that you move money from one investment property to another property intended as an investment. At that point, or any thereafter, you can sell your primary dwelling and "convert" your investment property from a rental into your new primary dwelling – thus avoiding any tax on entire transaction. If you use equity from your existing home, or proceeds from a refinance to fund down payment, you get into your dream retirement home without any significant outlay of your personal capital. And if you rent property until you are ready to retire and move, your renter’s money helps pay for home.

What should investor’s look for in a retirement home that they intend to rent before occupying? Again, location is a priority consideration. Most retirement homes are located within an hour’s flight from buyer’s previous, principal residence. Most are located in areas that have a mild climate; outstanding recreation, cultural resources and health care facilities; and, are easy to get to – like many parts of Southern and Central Florida, known for their retirement communities, and like Ashland, Oregon – where Mt. Meadows is located. Ashland is home of Tony Award-winning Ashland Shakespeare Festival, Southern Oregon University and Mt. Ashland Ski Resort.

A mountain-side college-town, Ashland has been named one of Top 10 Small Art Towns by John Villani in his book The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. It boasts some of best restaurants in Northwest. The area is close to nine lakes and three major rivers including wild and scenic Rogue and Klamath Rivers. And, there’s a major airport served by three airlines just minutes away in Medford. Wal-Mart and a host of other shops, from outlet stores to boutiques and galleries, are just five minutes away.

In addition to location, buyers should consider their own unique financial circumstances. Purchasing a retirement home is a strategic decision with implications for future. It is important to maximize flexibility and minimize financial burden of such a purchase. Resort retirement developments that allow residents to purchase their properties provide superior flexibility and a number of creative ways to allocate costs.

Sometimes adult children of a retiring couple will fund purchase price or down payment for a Mt. Meadows condominium – and their parents pay a monthly "rent" that covers mortgage payment and fees. In this scenario, kids share depreciation of unit for tax purposes – as well as appreciation in real dollars for future profit.

In another version of this model, well-off parents gift their adult children and wives with maximum $10,000 allowed – tax free – on an annual basis. The children then use these funds to make down payment on retirement property – which they own. In other cases, residents have "loaned" their adult children funds necessary to purchase a Mt. Meadows unit, then left property to their kids in their wills. The value of property in these cases is calculated based on day of death, and thus heirs avoid any previous profits or appreciation.

However you decide to fund your resort retirement home, time to start looking for a premier property that offers you and your family maximum in flexibility and investment potential is right now. In fact, savvy buyers can get into a retirement home in a number of creative ways and even leverage rental income to help make monthly mortgage payments until they are ready to move in.

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