DOUBLE Metro Detroit's Jewish Assisted Living Community Resident Bluma Merzon and her daughter, Bonnie Torgow "Elan Village is a wonderful home for my mother. Since she is my most precious possession, her happiness is most vital to me and all my family. The caring and warm family environment at Elan is what makes it perfect." Bonnie Torgow, Family Member Elan Village's monthly rate includes: • 24 hour Personal Care Assistance • Three Kosher Meals Daily • Housekeeping and Personal Laundry Services • Social, Cultural and Educational Programs Daily • On-Site Licensed Nurse and Medical Services • Medication Management Dementia & Temporary Care Also Available Call today to schedule a tour JANET ANTIN (248) 386-0303 26051 Lahser Road • Southfield, Michigan 48034 Elan Village provides Care that Changes with You Preferred Provider of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit from page A8 pathologist in the Detroit Public Schools, leaving them little time to take advantage of that vacation spot. Instead, they built the home up north, which is a 4.5-hour drive from Farmington Hills. They and their four children and two grandchildren use it over the Memorial Day and July Fourth holiday periods, in October for fall-color viewing, and during the December holidays. We used to rent out the Florida place when we weren't there and we do the same at the home up north," says Dr. Neumann. "Rental income is a big factor in helping to defray the costs associated with owning vacation places. You have to maintain a positive cash flow. We've also spent a lot on many improvements to that home." The Birchwood Farms Estates Realty Co. handles the rentals and inspects the home periodically. "We've always kept top-class furni- ture there because the prospective renters are screened well to help keep out families who may cause damage. And since the place is so close, we get more chances to check up on it our- selves," he says. Dr. Neumann purchased the home for $250,000, and estimates it is now worth $500,000 because of the reno- vations and the escalating property values brought on by the new Bay Harbor golf, shopping and condo development nearby. Owning the home at Birchwood also gives the Neumanns free membership in the association's golf and tennis club. Having three properties and two time shares doesn't inhibit the Neumanns from vacation travel else- where. "We get to Mexico twice a year, go to Aspen, Colo., for some heavy- duty skiing and take trips to Europe and other places," says Dr. Neumann. Sheldon and Elaine Miller of Orchard Lake just bought a two-bed- room condo in the Westwinds devel- opment near Harbor Springs to go with a three-bedroom condo in Aventura, Fla. (North Miami Beach) and a three-bedroom condo in Breckenridge, Colo., near Vail, both purchased 15 years ago. The Millers, in their early 60s, with two children and four grandchildren, share owner- ship of the Colorado place with Sheldon's Southfield law partner. "We bought vacation places in the areas we love the most," Elaine explains. "We had been visiting all of these places for many years, 37 years in Florida alone, and paying a lot of money just to rent, so we figured it made more sense to buy and have equities in these properties. But it's a large responsibility to be a multi-prop- erty owner. You have to keep up with improvements and repairs and just keep tabs on everything in general." The Millers rent out the Colorado place, but not the Florida condo because they spend more time down there. A local management company handles rentals of the Colorado condo, which they've redone three times and is furnished in Southwest style. "Both the Colorado and Florida condos are inspected frequently by the local condo associations when we're gone to make sure everything is okay," she says. Our biggest problem so far has been fixing leaks and other things at the Florida place, which is the oldest of all the properties." The Millers were attracted to Colorado by visits to the Keystone Ski Resort — she skis, he doesn't. "But Colorado is just as much fun to visit in the sum- mer as the winter," says Elaine. "It's warm with low humidity, and we play golf and go biking, hiking and white water rafting." They remain in the Aventura area of south Florida because they have good friends there. They have easy access to the South Beach area and many fine restaurants. They haven't yet decided whether they will rent out the Harbor Springs condo, where they will spend more time this winter and next summer. Harvey and Phyllis Shapiro and Ivan and Connie Fidler, of West Bloomfield, were casual friends for 43 years. They solidified their friendship by buying two-bedroom condos in the Las Brisas section of Scottsdale, Ariz., within the past 10 years. The Shapiros bought first, then video- taped a similar place nearby to show the Fidlers, who mailed a deposit before a "live" visit. The Fidlers have been married for 49 years, the Shapiros for 48, and both owned area homes for many years before settling in to condos. When Harvey owned a furniture and toy store and Ivan was a furniture sales representative, they began flying