navigating life after the kids have grown
Treadstone Funding, one of my recommended mortgage lenders, publishes a magazine which has several great articles geared toward our local real estate market and interest rates. I encourage everyone to take a moment to read it, especially if moving is one of your goals for 2023. Bottom line, don’t wait.
There are condominiums available in the Grand Rapids Metro area ranging from $100,000 to over $1,000,000. Depending on your needs and your budget this could be a great option if you want to leave exterior maintenance behind you and live in a community with like minded neighbors. Some offer amenities such as swimming pools, community centers, walking paths and exercise facilities with their association fees.
There are all types of architectural styles. Top left is a 2 bedroom 1 bath condo in a manageable 1,050 sq. ft. setting. Priced in the $150’s it’s a good alternative to apartment living in that you still own your own home.
Top right is a totally different choice of lifestyles. It’s for social people who would love to live where things are happening downtown. Walk to restaurants, Broadway Grand Rapids, events in DeVos Center, concerts in VanAndle Arena and museums. This particular condo has 1 bedroom and 1 bath and under 1,000 sq. ft. and priced in the $250’s.
The one in the middle on the right is new construction, townhome style in the suburbs with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and over 1,500 sq ft. It has an attached 2 stall garage. It may not be your choice if aging in place is your top concern, since bedrooms are upstairs, but a great choice for newly empty nesters that travel and don’t want to worry about a home while they are away. Prices starting in the mid $320’s
Finally, the lower home is a stand alone condo, which is much like single family living without exterior maintenance. This is a popular option for many of my senior clients. They like the idea of their own home, with neighbors in the vicinity to form friendships with, and still have beautiful landscaping that they don’t have to be concerned about. This particular home is $414,900 with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths in an open floor plan with a 4 season room for gatherings. The lower level is unfinished so if you frequestly entertain family that stay overnight, you can finish that so that they have their privacy, but all of your living is on the main floor.
You don’t always need a huge bank account to make a big change. This is my guest bathroom with globe lighting, dark woodwork and cabinets and an old drab vinyl floor I painted the walls and all of the old dark cabinets, doors and trim with KILZ followed with several coats of paint, changed out the light fixture, the door knobs, and cabinet hardware, and had someone install some new waterproof engineered hardwood flooring and it turned out great. It’s much brighter and ready to welcome guests.
Let’s talk about what “home” means to you. Over the years most of us senior citizens have had many homes. Some of us have grown up in one home, others moved one or more times while young. After high school some of us went to college, some of us went into an apartment to begin adulthood. Then some of us married and moved one or more times as we raised families. Well, now we have somehow fast forwarded to 2023 and we are not alone. The Alliance for Aging Research asserts that by 2030, over 71 million people will be over the age of 65, and over 33 million will be over the age of 75. We are finding ourselves making decisions on retirement, downsizing or preparing to age in place in our current home.
In this series of articles, Part One has me talking to fellow Seniors about getting your home ready so you can “age in place”. I encourage you to do this in your EARLY senior years so that you can formulate a plan BEFORE you need to make a snap decision. I’ve worked with Seniors who delay and delay this step, then out of nowhere they or a spouse have a health crisis which they are unprepared for. So, this is designed for healthy individuals anticipating that their needs will change as they age. Is your home going to be Senior friendly as you age? How do you decide? If you live in a 2 story home with your main bedroom on the second floor, really put some thought into evaluating if this is where you want to age in place. As you age, you very well may have difficulity managing the steps every day. Check into an elevator or a stair lift now BEFORE you need it to see if it’s a possible fit for your home. Stair lifts are the less expensive choice especially if you have a straight stairway to the second floor. If you have a curved or stairway that has a landing and a turn half way up it may be a bit more involved requiring structural changes. There are also small elevators that require less space than you’d think. They use a pressurized air system, and remind me of a much gentler, vertical system that we use at a drive up bank. In the bathroon, adding grab bars in the shower or tub is a somewhat easy fix. Make sure you have handrails on stairs both inside and outside where needed. Check out Seniors at Home to get other ideas. If your current home isn’t adaptable, you might consider choosing a different lifestyle for your older self. In Part 2 we will cover selling your home and downsizing into another single family home with one level living
Last fall my husbands newly replaced knees were giving him some trouble climbing up onto our lift station and then the big dive down into our fishing boat. It was time for a change … pontoon boating here we come!! We sold the boat, sold the lift station and this spring we had our Slyvan delivered. Easy in, easy out, on the same level as the dock. It’s also a safer place for our 11 year old Golden Retriever, and a safer place for our 14 month old great grandbaby as it’s pretty much a playpen with sides all around and secure GATES. It’s also a great place to sit and entertain guests and of course treat them to a sunset tour of the lake.
How about summertime running a Bed and Breakfast in Mackinaw City and winters, well, wherever you want!? Summers are amazing and there is so much to do in beautiful Northern Michigan. Here is a historical home built in 1913 known as Deer Head Inn. It has 6 bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths, solid wood flooring, a welcoming front porch. It’s perfectly maintained and updated while keeping with the time period. Walk to downtown Mackinaw, hop a ferry to Mackinac Island, sit at the park and view the bridge. It’s a gorgeous house priced at $699,900. and definitely worth your consideration, especially if hospitality is right up your alley and something you’ve always wanted to do, or hire an onsite manager. Call or text me today for more information or an appointment 616.292.3712
Where do you really want to be today, are you living in the home you want or is it time to review your plans and simplify your lifestyle? When we are in our 50’s and even 60’s and 70’s there may yet be other steps in our journey. Other places to land. So is where you want to live now the same as where you might want or need to live when you’re 85? We have a lot of life to live yet, so explore your options and be free, do what you want to do. One step at a time, enjoy your journey.