Seven years from retirement, Ellen and Charlie face a tempting choice: buy a Florida vacation home now, or wait until their finances are more secure. On the surface, the idea seems idyllic. The couple, both in their late 50s, dream of escaping harsh winters and creating a legacy property they can one day pass on to their only daughter. But the timing is complicated. Their primary mortgage still has $120,000 outstanding, and while they’ve saved $400,000 toward retirement, their nest egg will need to stretc ...