getting a mortgage based on alimony payments.

[SheilaT]

7. If you simply hadn't worked for thirty years,

even though you are sixty, I'd point out that you could still get a job. It would be something entry level, but it would at least be money coming in. I went back to work at age sixty after a divorce, and it's honestly not hard to get entry level work. But the chronic health problems rule that out, unless you can occasionally do temp work of some kind, but I'm going to assume you can't.

You will be able to collect SS at some point, against his account. The current rules are that as a divorced spouse you can collect half of what his full amount would be. If he dies before you, you become his widow (even if he's remarried) and then collect his full amount. Here's a link to the SS page about that http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dfamily3.htm

If you live near a Social Security office you might also want to go in and discuss this with them. Please do plan all this very carefully, and don't put yourself into a place where if he stops paying your alimony you can no longer make the payments on the land or the house and get foreclosed. You'd be much, much better off to sell in the first place and put that money somewhere else.

One small thing. I'm slightly confused about the 2flat you talk about. Is that a duplex?