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Old 09-16-2014, 03:27 PM
 
11,181 posts, read 10,480,815 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LookingatFL View Post
A huge factor for us is that we have no children or relatives that will care for us when we are infirm.
If it's any consolation, many of us with children and family can't or don't expect them to care for us. You're right, it's a major factor but it's far from an uncommon one.
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Old 09-16-2014, 03:33 PM
 
174 posts, read 589,193 times
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I've always been in the SFH camp, until recently. Now I'm starting to wonder. We moved to a different state with the intention of buying our "last" SFH. We're renting a townhouse now, while we look.

The place is very spacious and has an associated pool and workout room. The HOA has strict noise and maintenance guidelines, so it's very quiet and well attended. The townhouses seem to be well built because we never hear our neighbors. Everything is included in rent except electric and phone. The other day, an appliance went out and the property management company took care of it while I went golfing.

Hmmm, can someone remind me again why I want to spend half my life at Home Depot buying paint and repair items, or, mowing the lawn, trimming trees, or worrying about termites and leaky roofs?
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Old 09-16-2014, 03:49 PM
 
Location: Near a river
16,042 posts, read 21,913,861 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newt View Post
Hmmm, can someone remind me again why I want to spend half my life at Home Depot buying paint and repair items, or, mowing the lawn, trimming trees, or worrying about termites and leaky roofs?
You got that right, 110%.
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Old 09-16-2014, 04:34 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,845,729 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Q44 View Post
Not there yet but I think I've learned a lesson or two from watching my grandparents, mother and my in-laws and even some of my neighbors. SFH over 70 is fine, it can be great. But keep it to one floor of living space. Nobody I know over 70-75 ever uses their 2nd floor, just a heating and cooling trap with endless stairs.
I turned 70 about five months ago, and I use my second floor - will always use it. There is no bedroom or full bathroom on the main floor. The main floor contains a combined living room/dining room, a kitchen, a half-bath, and a fairly large closet. The second floor has two bedrooms, each with a full bath which can be entered only through its respective bedroom.

If I ever get to the point where I cannot easily go up a flight of stairs, I will consider myself already dead at that point. I do not consider that "living".

If you had written, "Nobody I know over 85 ever uses their 2nd floor", then I would consider that a credible statement. But what is it with the age range you actually gave (70-75)? I do not understand that at all. How is that the people you know are all prematurely disabled?
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Old 09-16-2014, 04:41 PM
 
Location: Near a river
16,042 posts, read 21,913,861 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider View Post
I turned 70 about five months ago, and I use my second floor - will always use it. There is no bedroom or full bathroom on the main floor. The main floor contains a combined living room/dining room, a kitchen, a half-bath, and a fairly large closet. The second floor has two bedrooms, each with a full bath which can be entered only through its respective bedroom.

If I ever get to the point where I cannot easily go up a flight of stairs, I will consider myself already dead at that point. I do not consider that "living".

If you had written, "Nobody I know over 85 ever uses their 2nd floor", then I would consider that a credible statement. But what is it with the age range you actually gave (70-75)? I do not understand that at all. How is that the people you know are all prematurely disabled?
My late mother did stairs till age 90, only ONE () bathroom in the house and that was on the second floor with the bedrooms. Laundry was a flight down, in the basement. She didn't eat quality foods but that exercise kept her alive with great legs.
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Old 09-16-2014, 05:11 PM
 
31,672 posts, read 40,921,372 times
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Great question, not done with SFH and the future is open.
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Old 09-16-2014, 06:03 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,303,842 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LookingatFL View Post
Why am I going into a CCRC at a relatively "young" age? The reason is because there are usually health screenings and a qualification process to get into a CCRC. I want to make sure that we are qualified.

and

Sometimes waiting too long can be a mistake. It can mean that we won't qualify. It can mean someone else makes the decision for us and we wind up someplace not of our choosing and where we wouldn't want to be.

and

A huge factor for us is that we have no children or relatives that will care for us when we are infirm. Therefore, we need a place that even if we run out of money and are reliant upon only what Long-Term Care insurance or Medicare will pay for our future health care needs, the CCRC endowment gives us a “Life Care Guarantee.” We will be taken care of for life. It is one less worry on my mind, and one more form of insurance for my needs.
Very good assessment here.
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Old 09-16-2014, 07:45 PM
 
22,310 posts, read 11,811,079 times
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I'm 61 and my husband is about to turn 69. A few years back I had one of those light bulb moments. I thought of all the older folks who had to give up driving and then became dependent on others to get around. Also, I thought of the single family house that we've now lived in for 17 years and wondered just how long we would be able to shovel snow and mow the lawn. We bought this house new and picked the location so that our daughter wouldn't have to change schools (she was in middle school at the time). At the time, we thought that we would just age in place, figuring that our daughter would want to stay in the area.

But...how things change in 17 years! Our daughter is out on her own, married with kids of her own and doesn't want to live in this area. Actually, I'm glad about that as our area is declining and the once good schools she went to are no longer good (long story as to what caused the deterioration---won't get into it as it could derail this thread). Plus the COL is high here.

My husband's health could be better. In the last 3 years, he had mini-strokes, then a mild stroke. He's on meds and the Dr. thinks he shouldn't have any more problems. However, last year he had minimally invasive back surgery, then the polar vortex hit---and I alone had to to the snow shoveling. Fortunately, our nice next door neighbor and his 2 teen sons came by a few times with their snowblower.

It's things like this---home maintenance and the concern about not being able to drive any more at some point---that got me to realize that, for us, life in a city condo would be best. One level living for when the time comes that we can't handle stairs. Public transportation when we can no longer drive.

My husband plans to retire next year. Now...all we need is for things to come together so that we can make it work!
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Old 09-16-2014, 08:27 PM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,340,931 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmyhoss View Post
I would stay put until you start having physical issues.
However the real estate market now is good for sellers.
So you have to weigh the risks of staying versus selling in this
Better market.
We are staying here SFH for another 10 years. Same ages.
Everything else works until...

One day I was hale, hardy and fine at 66. Over the course of three days I was felled by a severe neurological disorder. That was two years ago.

You're never guaranteed those 10 years of robust, good health. Plan accordingly!
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Old 09-16-2014, 09:16 PM
 
Location: Simmering in DFW
6,952 posts, read 22,617,183 times
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With our present 4300 sq ft SFH and $12K annual property taxes and $3500 homeowner insurance -- plus we really only use 3 rooms - it hardly makes sense to continue living in our house. We can't decide what the plan should be for our domicile, tho, because we are going to head out on a Great Adventure and do short term living in 3-6 month increments wherever the spirit moves us. Our great debate is -- if we have an anchor -- should it be a condo or patio home or just a SFH. Likely, it will be a townhouse in an HOA community just to have a place to land from time to time.
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