by Alan Lipka
I do not consider myself the adventurous type. Quite honestly, going to the movies qualifies as a risky venture for me. So how in heaven’s name could I ever have found myself in three different countries in three consecutive days and poised to walk across mountain, meseta (plateau in Spain) and countryside to [...]

We’ve heard a lot in the news lately about Main Street vs. Wall Street. The term “Main Street” evokes visions of Norman Rockwell’s America, a kinder, gentler place of charming small towns, where neighbors watch out for one another and mom-and-pop businesses anchor the local economy. Main Street is such a powerful symbol of old-fashioned [...]

With its ribbons of sandy beaches, swaying coconut palms, translucent warm waters, and coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, Saint Lucia (pronounced LOO-sha) is a quintessential Caribbean paradise. It has evolved over the years into one of the region’s most popular vacation destinations—particularly for romantics enticed by the island’s striking natural beauty, splendid resorts and [...]

In the days after the recent historic U.S. presidential election, two words were etched in the minds of many Americans: hope and change. Those same two words best describe the psyche of today’s real estate agents and developers, many of whom are hopeful the housing market will finally change for the better in 2009.
National Association [...]

Gone are the days of the McMansion, where bigger always meant better and square footage was automatically equated with luxury. Nowadays, it’s about smart growth rather than sprawl: making the most of what you’ve got, while still living well. Homes that employ innovative use of space, energy-efficient appliances and green building materials, located in communities [...]

Several years ago, when Mercer Reynolds wanted to build the first members-only golf course at Reynolds Plantation, a resort-style development between Atlanta & Augusta and site of the 2009 Ideal Home, the developer wondered how he could make his prized property more compelling. Situated on 10,000+ pristine acres and featuring 80 miles of scenic Lake [...]

If you are searching for your ideal home in your ideal destination, look no further. Master-planned communities changed the housing market when they began to be developed more than 50 years ago. The most popular and desirable new homes today are being built within master-planned communities. Tour top amenity communities in the Southeast by exploring [...]

Rumor has it that the real estate market may finally be hitting bottom. What with low interest rates, developers who need to shed excess inventory and the wide variety of homes from which to choose, there couldn’t be a better time to move south—if you can afford it, that is. The good news? From Florida [...]

***UPDATE: JULY 29, The Live South Shows have announced new international exhibitors from Mexico and The Caribbean.  Also, each person who RSVP’s to attend the shows is automatically entered to win a 3 day/2 night stay at Reynolds Plantation, home of the 2009 Ideal Living Home. For details, visit www.livesouthshows.com.
In a little less than 2 [...]

Ideal living wants to feature you and your stories on retirement/relocating on the web and in upcoming issues. If the current economy has changed your position on retirement, then this forum is for you.
Send us your stories on retirement, finding a second job, your search for your second home, building your dream home, green living, [...]

Special Thank you to Willis Williams and Scott Barfield for contributing this story.
Burnsville, NC – Laurie Andrews, the “Queen of Hospitality”, manages the Buck House Bed and Breakfast and cabins at The Preserve. Also known to us as the Buck House Mom, Laurie paused recently to talk about her B&B, hospitality at The Preserve, her [...]

It is impossible to think of East Tennessee without thinking of the Smoky Mountains. They frame the region’s eastern border in a haze of blue, with the streams and rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest feeding the area’s many lakes and reservoirs. These mountains have been the inspiration for [...]

Ideal Living magazine’s Teresa McLamb searched the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas for top new green innovations.
Green is definitely the color of new-home construction as more Americans realize the energy- and cost-saving benefits of being kinder to our planet. Technology is making older concepts less expensive and easier to incorporate in construction, but it’s [...]

It’s no surprise that walking is good for you, on a variety of levels. For one thing, it burns calories and helps to maintain a healthy weight. It gets your heart rate up, lowers your blood pressure, decreases your risk of cardiovascular disease and strengthens your body. Beyond the purely physical benefits, walking is a [...]

I recently escaped “South of the Border” to Puerto Vallarta, to attend a destination wedding—my first, actually, and one which we at Hideaways InternationalTM played an important role in organizing.
It had been a long time since I’d visited “PV,” as it’s known to habitués, and I was anxious to see how it had changed. Nuevo [...]