Downsizing Your Homes Part 6 - 1 of 6

While you might already be highly motivated to sell your current home, others may need convincing. I can imagine that many of you reading this blog already have in place a long list of reasons you wouldn’t consider “uprooting” yourself and leaving your current home for another, potentially smaller, one. (If you are happy where you are, why make a change?) I can give you plenty of reasons to consider moving at this stage in your life (but we’ll get into that soon). For now, I want to recognize that those of you who are hesitant, or even resistant, to the idea of moving, are completely justified in your reasons. But my guess is that you haven’t taken the time to fully consider the potential positives of doing so. Here are six of the most common objections longtime homeowners have to selling for the purpose of downsizing. For every common objection, I will address an upside.

1. “I don’t want to deal with the stress of moving.”

Moving, regardless of when, where, and why, can often be a stressful process. Downsizing is no different. There are many different steps involved, which can be overwhelming and time-consuming. The stress of moving often boils down to decluttering. After all, moving from a larger home — one that has collected many memories and belongings — to a smaller one requires getting rid of a lot of stuff because you literally won’t be able to take it all with you. And remember, many of today’s Baby Boomers have millennial adult children who prefer minimalist lifestyles and don’t necessarily want to inherit their parents’ stuff. The thought of having to sort through all of your possessions, keepsakes, and knick-knacks that you’ve collected over the years can be daunting. What to keep? What to toss? What to give away? What to recycle or donate? What to sell? What to do with family heirlooms? Plus, just the idea of packing everything up and moving it out of the house can make potential sellers postpone selling. But think long-term gains vs. short-term hassles. Sure, decluttering can be stressful, but it’s something you’re going to have to do at some point, so why not now? Also, some people actually really enjoy the process of decluttering, and find it both rewarding and freeing. Further, moving from a larger home that you no longer need to a smaller space will likely lift major burdens off your shoulders and give you a less stressful life — physically, emotionally, and financially.

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Downsizing Your Home Part 5

If none of the options we’ve discussed thus far appeal to you when you picture your life and your future, then perhaps you might consider community living as an option.

However, some homeowners nearing retirement and entering their senior years balk at the idea of community living or senior housing. “I’m far too young to consider moving to a retirement community!”

Maybe you’re thinking the same thing. Maybe you’re worried about losing your independence and freedom. Maybe you’re worried about losing your uniqueness and sense of self.

If this sounds like you, then you probably have some misconceptions about everything a retirement community can offer. 

As I’ve said before, you can look forward to the future with hope, anticipation, and even excitement! You’re entering a new stage of life, which can be very rewarding, and downsizing into retirement community living can get you there! But if you hold common misconceptions about senior housing, then prepare to be pleasantly surprised. These aren’t your mother’s senior living arrangements!

In fact, there are many different types of community living options available, and what you choose will depend on a variety of factors, such as your health and activity level, how much or how little independence you seek, and what types of leisure and social activities and environments interest you the most.

LEISURE AND ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES

Leisure and active adult communities offer homes that are mainly geared toward empty nesters, although often both younger and older adults are welcome. These communities are designed for those who enjoy more active lifestyles, and offer leisure activities and amenities with that in mind. If you like to keep active and enjoy activities such as golf, tennis, yoga, swimming, hiking, etc., then this might be the perfect type of community for you.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITIES

Independent living communities are another option, designed more for older adults who prefer or require additional services, such as central dining facilities, housekeeping services, maintenance, transportation support, etc. There are also age-appropriate leisure activities available, such as adult classes, gardening, games, and social events or outings. These communities are usually age-restricted with noise level limits, which is a big attraction for many people in this stage of life. They offer rental or ownership housing options with additional features that improve accessibility for those entering their senior years.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer a combination of an independent living lifestyle with assisted living and nursing care. Essentially, they’re semi-independent living facilities for those who don’t need continual health care supervision, yet offer a continuum of care — housing, services and supports, and nursing care — all in one convenient location. You would be able to maintain some level of independence and privacy and enjoy various activities and friendships, while having access to the supports and health care you might need.

Another benefit is physical and financial security, allowing you to enjoy your post-retirement years comfortably and pursue your interests and goals. Finally, CCRCs come in a wide variety of housing options, anything from apartment style to campus style to individual homes, with many of them offering various amenities for you to enjoy.

ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITIES

Assisted living is designed for people who need help with certain activities and household management. It’s not full care — hence the term “assisted” — so residents are still technically living on their own, but they still offer varying levels of assistance. Some communities offer all three of the above types of living arrangements/housing — leisure, independent, and continuing care.

BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY LIVING

Regardless of which type of community living arrangement would best suit your needs as you look forward to the future, there are many benefits to choosing community living over purchasing a small house or townhouse, or over moving into your own condo or apartment. Here are some of the most notable benefits of community living.

1. You don’t have to worry about home maintenance or yard work.

Looking for a simple and stress-free lifestyle in your future? Consider moving into a senior housing arrangement. While this also applies to condo and apartment living, not having to worry about home maintenance or yard work is a significant benefit of community living. 

Every time there’s a problem that needs to be dealt with, it’s someone else’s problem.

Say farewell to making small repairs around the home and keeping up with landscaping, gardening, snow removal, and more. These services are provided as part of community living, and are included as part of a monthly fee. Depending on where you choose to live, you might even have the added benefit of adding housekeeping services on top of home maintenance and yard work. While some people think of moving into community living as a loss of independence, they don’t consider all the freedom it brings — freedom from regular home maintenance, in this case.

2. Pay one monthly fee for your expenses.

Community living is probably more affordable than you think! While I certainly won’t lead you to believe it’s inexpensive, when you compare the monthly fee to what you currently spend a month on everything across the spectrum — think property taxes, utilities, and entertainment — they’re pretty much on par. Keep in mind that you probably won’t need a car — or use it very much — because you will have almost everything you need on site and have access to carpooling and public transportation services. You can save a considerable amount on vehicle-related expenses (gas, maintenance, repairs, insurance).

3. Enjoy nearby amenities and explore new activities.

While there are certainly cost savings related to having so many services, activities, and attractions, there is also the sheer convenience. Healthy and high-quality dining options staff by professionals? It’s there. Fitness options, adult classes, hobbies, community outings, special events, and entertainment (speakers, comedians, musicians, movie nights) are onsite too. You can take up a new hobby or activity that you’ve never tried before but have always wanted to, whether it’s gardening, golf, hiking, yoga, woodworking, or arts and crafts classes.

“It takes more intentional effort to be bored in a retirement community than it does to stay entertained” (SeniorAdvisor.com). 

4. Make new friends who share your interests.

Community living offers a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Some people find that their social circles grow smaller as the years go by, but you can look forward to enjoying the benefits of new friendships within a community living environment through many of the available onsite activities and events. You might even end up forging a close bond with someone who shares similar life experiences or interests.

5. Reap the rewards of safety and security.

Concerns of safety and security tend to grow as people age, particularly when they consider their next homes. Worried about falling and not being able to get up when you’re older? What about catching the flu or developing any number of conditions or ailments? If an older person lives alone and falls, or develops an illness quickly, the results can be devastating. But you can basically throw these worries out the window if you decide to join the ranks of seniors who have decided to embrace all the benefits of community living. There will always be people around to help, helping you to live as safely and securely as possible. 

6. Avoid moving in the future.

Picture your life with the peace and security that comes with never having to move again! This can be your reality if you choose community living in your retirement to enjoy your golden years without stress. 

As people age, it becomes increasingly difficult to go through the process of downsizing, regardless of where they choose to move. If they are experiencing changes in their physical and mental health, then it becomes even more challenging, and the burden of selling and moving might fall on someone else’s shoulders, most often their adult children. 

But if you choose to move into a retirement community before you experience any decline in your health, you’ll be ahead of the game, and you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits and perks of community living without the hassle of worrying about selling, buying, and moving down the road.

7. Choose your independence.

One of the best things about community living in your senior years is that you have flexibility in choosing how much — or how little — independence you need and want.

Many people mistakenly link senior living directly to assisted or nursing home living — and those certainly are great options if you’re looking for an increased level of care and dependability. But you can choose to start out as independently as you would like, then, depending on your situation and your changing needs, you can usually transition to more dependent living in the future, as many communities offer these types of facilities.

This way, you don’t have to move (a bonus, as discussed previously) or start all over again, and you can keep your social circle, the staff you’ve come to trust, and the activities you’ve been enjoying. 

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to live in a retirement community. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. You are able to pick and choose whatever works best for you! 

For example, maybe you’d like to keep your independence in the kitchen and prepare and cook your own meals. That’s entirely possible! There are independent living apartments with full kitchens, yet you can still be part of a community and make social connections and enjoy new hobbies and interesting activities. However, if you don’t want to cook — whether it’s matter of never wanting to cook a meal again, or being unable to, then choose a senior housing situation where you can eat meals prepared by staff on site.

Key Takeaway:

Retirement community living is a fantastic alternative to moving into a smaller house, townhouse, condo, or apartment for many homeowners nearing retirement, offering many benefits you might not have considered before. Today’s community living options offer much more than they did decades ago, allowing you to have less stress, more time, and opportunities for social connections, leisure activities, and amenities. 

First, there are fewer indoor chores to manage since you have less space and fewer rooms to clean and maintain regularly, including tidying, dusting, sweeping, wiping down, and scrubbing.

 Second, most condos and apartments include homeowners association (HOA) fees that cover maintenance of the grounds and community amenities. You won’t need to worry about mowing your grass, weeding your garden, shoveling snow off walkways, and other landscaping issues.

Third, if you rent, whether it’s a condo or an apartment, you won’t need to worry about common maintenance issues. Property owners are responsible for taking care of their tenants, so most of them will pay to fix leaky sinks, handle plumbing issues, replace broken appliances, and repair a malfunctioning furnace or air conditioning system, among other issues.

 2. These homes offer increased accessibility.

 Condo or apartment living, particularly if you’re centrally located, can offer more accessible living, as you’ll be closer to amenities and services (groceries, doctor’s offices), as well as entertainment and social activities (dining, concerts). It will be easier to walk to these places, or, if it’s something you enjoy, cycle. There’s also better access to public transportation so you don’t have to worry about driving as much.

 3. You’ll have even lower monthly utility bills.

A second and important benefit of downsizing into a condo or apartment is that you’ll be able to save even more on utilities and reduce your monthly bills — more than by purchasing a smaller house or townhouse. Most condos and apartments take up less square footage than a single-family home or townhome, and considerably more than the larger family home you’re leaving behind, so you’ll pay much less to heat and cool your space, especially if you can find a good deal.

“You’ll use less electricity, heat and water in an apartment, and some monthly bills may be eliminated altogether,” reports Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. “For instance, the monthly cost to rent a water softener to manage hard water is unlikely inside an apartment. Some of your utility costs may be included in your rent, too, such as your waste management or water bill.”

 Besides saving money, you’ll also be making a good choice in sustainability, both environmentally and financially. For example, many modern condo and apartment buildings are being built with an eco-friendly, more energy-efficient, and “greener” approach.

 4. You can meet new people.

 While some homeowners in the process of downsizing prefer to move into a small house so they can maintain their independence, enjoy privacy, and reduce the possibility of dealing with annoying neighbors, other downsizers hope to meet new people, get to know their new neighbors, socialize, and make connections.

 If this is you, condo or apartment living would make a fantastic choice — especially if you’re looking for a sense of community without moving into senior housing or an official retirement community.

 Living in close proximity to your neighbors means there is ample opportunity to meet new people — and even try new activities. You can easily walk down the hall to drop by and say hello, catch up over a cup of tea, ask for an ingredient you’re missing for dinner, play a game of cards, go out for a nice stroll, or take up a new leisurely activity together.

 Nearby neighbors are also handy for things like feeding your cat or watering your plants when you’re away, or keeping on hand a set of spare keys. These are all much easier and more convenient to do in a condo or apartment than if you lived in a house.

 5. You can take advantage of amenities.

 Many condo complexes and apartment buildings include access to fantastic amenities, akin to what you might find in some hotels. Think game rooms, party rooms, swimming pools, fully equipped gyms and wellness centers, tennis or basketball courts, and club houses. Some more upscale options include libraries, rooftop pools and hot tubs, rooftop terraces, outdoor kitchen facilities, and concierge services. Upscale amenities alone can attract downsizers who want to live a relaxed, leisurely lifestyle.

These extra amenities can be included in the price of purchasing or renting the unit — or will be included in a monthly HOA fee. It’s important to find out if there are any additional costs before you buy or sign a lease, and also to check whether those amenities are regularly maintained. Also, if these types of amenities are important to you, make sure you do your research to find out which condos and/or apartments within your budget offer the ones that are most appropriate and realistic for your lifestyle.

 6. You can save money on “things.”

 By downsizing to a condo or an apartment, you can save money by avoiding unnecessary purchases. Simply put, having less space means you’ll be less inclined to accumulate stuff, because there’s really nowhere to put it. However, with a smaller space, you will naturally make more intentional decisions and purchases, focusing more on what’s needed and what makes sense and what works in your new home, rather than buying impulsively.

 A condo purchase, or renting a condo or apartment, will most likely set you back a lot less than a typical house purchase would, which leaves you with extra funds for things like leisure activities, travel, and investments. And don’t forgot those all-important utility bill savings (see #2). People consume much less energy in apartments and condos when compared with their energy consumption in houses (factoring in the same usage by the same number of people).

 7. You get to start fresh.

Finally, choosing a condo or an apartment can give you a new outlook on life, especially if you’ve never lived in a condo or apartment before.

 “The apartment represents a new beginning without home burdens such as high property tax payments and larger mortgage or rent payments, depending on the location of the apartment. It can feel liberating to start a new life chapter, and it may inspire you to make other freeing decisions, too” (Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company).

 Key Takeaway:

• Price: In general, townhomes and carriage homes are less expensive than single-family houses. But they still offer much of the space and flexibility you’re probably looking for. But keep in mind that most townhomes also include monthly HOA fees to cover things like landscaping, plus any other amenities in the community.

• Flexibility: Besides the price factor, townhome living tends to give you more flexibility. It has the added benefit of the low-maintenance lifestyle that comes with condo or apartment living, but generally includes more space, as well as more flexible options when it comes to function (such as parking spaces) and leisure (backyards for private or semi-private entertaining).

• Practicality: Sometimes, it’s the more practical option. For example, a downtown three-bedroom townhouse might actually be a better investment option than the little two-bedroom house down the street.

• Community: Townhouse living can also offer a similar sense of community to an apartment, but generally with more privacy and fewer neighbors.

Thinking About Moving to Allen Tx?

If you’re planning on making a move sometime soon then have a look at one of the best cities in the DFW area, Allen TX. It’s one of the best times to think about moving to Allen TX with its beautiful neighborhoods and fantastic real estate opportunities. It’s one of the best places in the area for so many different things so let’s have a look at a few good reasons to make Allen TX your new home.

Dubbed as the fastest growing city in the US in 2017, Frisco is an up-and-coming area that attracts visitors and people who are looking for a new place to call their home. Frisco is a city located between Denton County and Collin County in the state of Texas. With an estimated population of 200,000 people and an award-winning school district, it doesn’t come as a surprise why a lot of people are interested in moving to Frisco, Texas.

Located just 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco is the ultimate place to live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  Frisco has an award-winning school district and is considered cheaper compared to the bigger cities in Texas. The city offers a plethora of recreational activities, things to do, world-class restaurants, and the natural Texan charm.