Housing for retirees (generation, senior, mobile, places)

[LittleDolphin]

I grew up in a small house, too. Quite cozy--we couldn't get away with anything. Only problem as I recall was the demand on the bathroom when 3 kids and Dad tried to get ready in the morning. Mom, smart woman, slept in...

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by cousinsal

I never heard of that "minimum square foot" requirement - that's insane. Who can tell you how big the place has to be? What's wrong with a small house next to a big house? That's the government going too far.

That is rarely a govt. requirement. Such a requirement would be levied with covenants which are imposed on properties by developers. What it really is is private enterprise run amok.

[cousinsal]

Originally Posted by Tesaje

That is rarely a govt. requirement. Such a requirement would be levied with covenants which are imposed on properties by developers. What it really is is private enterprise run amok.

Even worse, I guess. Of course, to me, developers are about the same as the government, since our government favors them over We The People.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by cousinsal

Even worse, I guess. Of course, to me, developers are about the same as the government, since our government favors them over We The People.

I think most developers just want the most bang for the buck. I detest large homes, but we design some awesome ones for those that do love them and want to wander around lost in them. We love small space and do not feel the need to have lots of stuff any longer. We desire only a workshop/studio and a nice little 900 to 1,200 square foot home in the next 5 years. The minimum size requirements for most of the nicer lake side lots we found, want over 2,000 square feet. I am sure it is to keep the property values high. What can you do?

[knoxgarden]

I see housing adervtised for "empty nesters" here in Knoxville. Everything from sleek new lofts downtown to smaller, rehabbed historic houses and detached condos.
We have some very nice condo developments here, actually small houses but with maintenance and yardwork taken care of by someone else.
The old buildings being turned into condo lofts downtown are very popular with the post-kid set and retirees. Convenient to everything, no maintenance and spacious but not too big.
Seeing a lot of smaller, one story condos with attached garages being built. Small patios, screened porches, but 1200 to 1800 feet.

[in_newengland]

I'm glad there are others who want a small, manageable place. They don't seem to exist here in Massachusetts. We don't want a big house with a big yard, we don't want to live in a condo building either. All they seem to build for seniors are luxury condos and, even if you like them, the $400,000 and UP prices plus fees and taxes are not acceptable.

We're always discussing the housing idea and have just about decided to look for a 55+ mobile home park -- maybe by the beach in NH. At least you get a little yard to plant your flowers and grow some tomatoes if you want to and you usually get a large screened in porch. Sometimes you get a community swimming pool. We don't want to leave New England.

I guess there's just a lot more $$$$$$$$$$$$ in building luxury condos than in building something seniors actually want.

[brightdoglover]

I was just up in Hollis, NH, and looking at real estate books. Plenty of smaller houses (older) and some fair number of nice mobiles on their own land. There are also some nice 55+ mobile home parks, but for me, that would mean no multiple rescue dogs, so... There seemed to be some nice stuff around Brookline/Milford (southern NH, easy access to highway and Mass.
Nashua also had some small ranches, but I don't know the neighborhoods up there.
I'd look for a lake area community (small cottages, small lake) or use realtor.com and look for small ranches or mobiles.

[texdav]

There are plenty of lake front communties here in Texas that have small homes .Talking about housing;I have always noticed that in the old communtities there are alot of very large double story homes . My guiesss is that is because families were bigger than and of course it was common for two or more generations to live together. Especailly before social security. It seems that many smaller homes were built after WWII than in the years prior.

[cousinsal]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

I'm glad there are others who want a small, manageable place. They don't seem to exist here in Massachusetts. We don't want a big house with a big yard, we don't want to live in a condo building either. All they seem to build for seniors are luxury condos and, even if you like them, the $400,000 and UP prices plus fees and taxes are not acceptable.

We're always discussing the housing idea and have just about decided to look for a 55+ mobile home park -- maybe by the beach in NH. At least you get a little yard to plant your flowers and grow some tomatoes if you want to and you usually get a large screened in porch. Sometimes you get a community swimming pool. We don't want to leave New England.

I guess there's just a lot more $$$$$$$$$$$$ in building luxury condos than in building something seniors actually want.

You'd think in this current market, they wouldn't build ANYTHING. They're just bringing down the values of the current houses, because they always seem to overbuild, and then watch the prices plummet. Stupidity.

I live in Salem, MA, and I have a condo in a Victorian house, and I like that alot - there are a lot outside Boston. They're not all "luxury" condos - I looked at both kinds and the Victorian was much nicer. They also have condos in the colonial houses in Salem.

[Lakewooder]

You could buy a larger home with a guest house -live in the guest house and rent out the main home for income.