Senior-friendly development with small houses in DMV

[Anonymous]

Well, some people won't care. And it won't be so expensive. NP here

[Anonymous]

OP, don't sleep on the suggestions here about focusing on a community with an arc of care rather than a small house in a random neighborhood - as it will feel random if thing all start go awry.

Check into some of the good suggestions here. There are options. Your parents are lucky to have you.

[Anonymous]

My parents are at Courts of Clarksburg. They like it, nice community of elders who help each other.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why there are so many naysayers on this thread. There are a lot of neighborhoods in this area that fit the bill. I'd look for a townhouse with a small deck or patio and minimal yard -- some outdoor space but with hardscaping and minimal upkeep requirements. I think if it were me I'd look at Columbia, MD -- lots of small townhouses like this at good prices, the town has a lot of good outdoor spaces for older focus, plus little commercial areas that are often walking distance from the townhomes or where you can find most of your services all in one spot. But Columbia is pretty close to where we live -- if you are in Virginia or DC, it might feel too far away. But there are other options in VA. You need to look for places a bit further out or look for close in suburbs with dense housing, low crime, but bad schools. That last part is what will keep the prices down. There are parts of PG in MD and Arlington in VA that fit this bill.

And if they are in good health and relatively young (60s, even 70s if in great health), it makes more sense to buy a small house with low maintenance (a small two-level townhouse with no yard is perfect for this) that can be an appreciating asset, or at least hold its value. Presumably they are selling the home they currently live in and using sale proceeds to buy this one? Buy something relatively inexpensive, and make sure they have weekly cleaners and regular maintenance on major systems (like having someone do maintenance on an ac unit ever couple years, paying someone to come clean gutters, etc.). Then if/when the time comes that one or both of them needs in-home care, they have an asset to leverage. In some cases they may be able to get in-home care in this house -- sometimes you just need someone to come once or twice a day for physical therapy and meds, supervise diet. If they need more, they can sell the house. If they are young and in good health, these decisions are at least 7 years away, perhaps a decade or more off. I would not try to jump the gun on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why there are so many naysayers on this thread. There are a lot of neighborhoods in this area that fit the bill. I'd look for a townhouse with a small deck or patio and minimal yard -- some outdoor space but with hardscaping and minimal upkeep requirements. I think if it were me I'd look at Columbia, MD -- lots of small townhouses like this at good prices, the town has a lot of good outdoor spaces for older focus, plus little commercial areas that are often walking distance from the townhomes or where you can find most of your services all in one spot. But Columbia is pretty close to where we live -- if you are in Virginia or DC, it might feel too far away. But there are other options in VA. You need to look for places a bit further out or look for close in suburbs with dense housing, low crime, but bad schools. That last part is what will keep the prices down. There are parts of PG in MD and Arlington in VA that fit this bill.

And if they are in good health and relatively young (60s, even 70s if in great health), it makes more sense to buy a small house with low maintenance (a small two-level townhouse with no yard is perfect for this) that can be an appreciating asset, or at least hold its value. Presumably they are selling the home they currently live in and using sale proceeds to buy this one? Buy something relatively inexpensive, and make sure they have weekly cleaners and regular maintenance on major systems (like having someone do maintenance on an ac unit ever couple years, paying someone to come clean gutters, etc.). Then if/when the time comes that one or both of them needs in-home care, they have an asset to leverage. In some cases they may be able to get in-home care in this house -- sometimes you just need someone to come once or twice a day for physical therapy and meds, supervise diet. If they need more, they can sell the house. If they are young and in good health, these decisions are at least 7 years away, perhaps a decade or more off. I would not try to jump the gun on them.

Speaking from experience is not naysaying, especially when the OP specifically indicated that the parents were in the 70s. Those with a professional focus on this phase of life talk about the importance of familiarity, especially when one spouse may start to decline earlier than the other. It can become isolating very, very quickly if one partner is no longer really mobile or has a steep decline in cognitive skills and the other spouse must remain at home nearly 24/7 to care for them. And transitions for an individual from one living setting to the other can be difficult if they have cognitive challenges.

70 is not necessarily the new 60. And great health in the 70s can change quickly if there is a fall, etc.

I don't think people in that age range should all now abandon their homes if they are living independently. But if they are going to make a change, then it makes sense to weigh the various options, especially if money is tight as they are not going to recover their transaction costs.

[Anonymous]

Townhouse has stairs. Lots of stairs
No townhouse

[Anonymous]

With all the aging people and their wish to downsize, you'd think there would be a market for smaller, one-level homes with small yards. And I don't mean living in a 55+ community. I know some people are into cookie cutter houses all looking the same, but I am definitely not. If I had the bandwidth, I'd buy a lot and build my own small, one-level house on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Townhouse has stairs. Lots of stairs
No townhouse

Not always. Depends on the unit.