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I wonder if many of those 20 and 30 year olds buying single-story homes (the folks the OP was so critical of) are doing so in part because they think that as the overall age of the population increases, those houses will be more desirable, appreciate more in value, and be easier to sell than multi-story properties?
Location usually sets the price of a property. Unless it is a 55 and over community I don't think it matters.
Location usually sets the price of a property. Unless it is a 55 and over community I don't think it matters.
I disagree. Single story homes are much more popular and desirable recently around here. When we were buying 20+ years ago, hardly any single story homes were available. I'm seeing a good amount of "ranch style" homes as new builds here. And not all limited to over 55 neighborhoods by any means.
I disagree. Single story homes are much more popular and desirable recently around here. When we were buying 20+ years ago, hardly any single story homes were available. I'm seeing a good amount of "ranch style" homes as new builds here. And not all limited to over 55 neighborhoods by any means.
I agree with this. Multi-story houses will still sell, of course, but the baby boomer generation is huge and many of that cohort will want single story living but not necessarily 55+. There will definitely be a big market for single story homes.
Planning for a secure, safe living space as one ages is hardly being lazy. On the contrary, it's an intentional, well-crafted decision as we transition from one stage of life to another.
You are, obviously, uninformed about what causes joints, knees and muscles to weaken over time, and you have, clearly, not read through this thread. Your post comes off as arrogant and self-righteous.
Oh please! Get off of your high horse. You go to other countries and see how there's an expectancy to climb stairs. How many times have I watched HGTV and see the in shape and out of shape U.S. Americans complain about having to climb a few flights of stairs with many of them saying it's a deal breaker. This mentality starts from a young age.
No love, I'm quiet informed. When you have a horrible diet consisting of a lot of soda and other foods/drinks that weaken your bones, and/or are overweight and the weight bears on your knees, or you work in retail and have to stand up all day, all these have an effect on your knees. I feel sorry for the people who work in retail but for others who choose to not exercise and eat junk food every day, that's on them. I know people who are in their 70's and don't have a problem climbing stairs. You know why? Because they exercise and they don't get into the "I can't climb stairs" mentality when they are much younger. It's one thing if they are so old and their bones are brittle but if you take care of yourself, you shouldn't be having that problem so early on in life, yet a lot of people do.
By the way, I'm not including people who have/have had cancer or any other diseases that prevent them or make it hard to climb stairs. It should go without saying I would not include them in my post as being lazy.
I'll admit I didn't read all 13 pages of this thread, but thought I'd share anyway. My mother's in her 60s and had been having a lot of pain in her right knee for over a year while living in a place she didn't have to manage stairs. Going up and down stairs was painful, so she avoided it. Then she moved into this three-story house with me, and within a month her knee pain was 90% gone.
Also, I'm only 30, but had been having some stiffness in my knees before I moved here (again had been living in a place without regular stairs). That vanished and I also lost 15lbs just from going up and down so many flights of stairs every day. Stairs are awesome.
Well good for you and your mom. You two obviously did something right. When I get stiffness in my knees, it's my body telling me that I need to exercise because usually that means I have been doing too much sitting and not enough walking.
One person's experience proves nothing, but here is mine anyway:
Early 50's. Out of town with no bicycle. So I did some jogging instead. One knee was hurting after about 10 minutes on day one, so I stopped jogging and walked. But I just kept on jogging, every other day, pushing gently into the pain, then stopping (no heroics). Sure enough, after four or five days there was no more knee pain! It was a question of use it or lose it.
Fast forward a decade or so. Had let things go. Same experience: knee pain went away after a week or two of continuing to jog. It was a question of use it or lose it.
Two years ago, age 71. Had let things go once again. Walked four miles to an art house cinema, which I had been in the habit of doing. Watched the film. Started for home, and one knee was painful. Took a bus most of the way home. It was really bad. But the next day, there was no trouble with the knee! I had simply pushed beyond what I was used to. Still planning to work up gradually to walking to that cinema then walking home after seeing the film. I normally walk, quite briskly, a mile or two each day - now I need to increase the distance.
Use it or lose it. I live in a townhouse on four levels. Glad of it. I take stairs in public whenever possible.
What about the people who live in high rise apt bldgs like in NY and have to climb stairs with bags of groceries...sounds like a tough challenge to me. I am not driving now and get food delivered and have friends in the apt complex buy me things when they shop but I know of one gal in her 60's in a high rise apt and no elevators and she's got a problem back. I believe there are a lot of older bdgs in NY with no elevators. Just throwing this one out...and yes I agree, use it or lose it.
Oh please! Get off of your high horse. You go to other countries and see how there's an expectancy to climb stairs. How many times have I watched HGTV and see the in shape and out of shape U.S. Americans complain about having to climb a few flights of stairs with many of them saying it's a deal breaker. This mentality starts from a young age.
No love, I'm quiet informed. When you have a horrible diet consisting of a lot of soda and other foods/drinks that weaken your bones, and/or are overweight and the weight bears on your knees, or you work in retail and have to stand up all day, all these have an effect on your knees. I feel sorry for the people who work in retail but for others who choose to not exercise and eat junk food every day, that's on them. I know people who are in their 70's and don't have a problem climbing stairs. You know why? Because they exercise and they don't get into the "I can't climb stairs" mentality when they are much younger. It's one thing if they are so old and their bones are brittle but if you take care of yourself, you shouldn't be having that problem so early on in life, yet a lot of people do.
By the way, I'm not including people who have/have had cancer or any other diseases that prevent them or make it hard to climb stairs. It should go without saying I would not include them in my post as being lazy.
Well, first of all, my husband and I have zero problems climbing stairs at this time. As I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread, we work out, lift weights, hike, etc. We also eat an organic diet so we don't fit your 'profile'. We chose a single story home, this time around, because it will, most likely, be the last home we purchase and we are well into our senior years.
Regarding travel, I'm married to a European and I also worked internationally/cross-culturally. Needless to say, I've seen a fair bit of the world and know something about how other cultures live. It's true that many people living outside of the U.S. eat closer to the natural food chain with less preservatives - but they do eat plenty of sugar, unhealthy fats, pastries, etc.
Soda is not as common but alcohol is quite plentiful.
In most of Europe, smoking is very common, even in the elderly.
Weight management is better but illness is no less prevalent, nor is disability or other limitations. I will say that in the rural counties I've visited, I met very hardy seniors who thought nothing of walking miles every day for a few grocery items, returned home to work in their gardens, then prepared a sizable meal. My husband's 90-year-old mother fit this profile.
I don't usually argue with people on CD so I read a couple of your other posts. You seem like a nice guy, so not sure why you're coming off so aggressive and opinionated here. I'm pretty sure you're not even in our age group...
My grandparents moved to a ranch in their 60's, and lived to 89 and 91...they were all capable of climbing stairs up until maybe the final year or so of their lives. The thing was, they had to move THEIR parents when their health failed in the final few years, and the stairs were a problem. And the thing is, when you're looking at moving because of the stairs, your at an age where the kids are likely pushing you hard to an ALF.
I've also had to move an elderly relative out of her home in large part because of the stairs. My mom was the one that had to essentially bully her into moving. It wasn't fun for anyone.
My boss moved to a house that had been outfitted for a disabled person. He moved for the neighborhood, but shortly afterward fell ill. He required a few operations, and was extremely thankful for the layout of his house afterwards.
Which leads me to this: people may move at 50 or 60 with a 30-40 year game plan. Moving is miserable. Moving because of health circumstances (I imagine) is even more miserable. Being able to recover in your own home and not in a nursing home from a knee or hip surgery at 60 or 70 or 80 is a big deal for many.
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