If you are nearing retirement and plan to sell your home, buy a new home, or downsize, it’s a smart idea to pay attention to the housing market and educate yourself in order to make the best financial decisions. Paying attention to pending home sales, building permits, new home sales, existing homes sales, home price indexes, and housing starts may help you understand when the best times to buy and sell are. Right now the housing market is making a comeback from the recession and current long-term trends are positive, job growth has increased, there are fewer distressed sales, and homebuilder confidence is up, making it a good time for retirees or soon-to-be retirees to sell and buy. More here