Decent place to live on disability $150k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the disability something where they can drive? If so I would maybe look in Northern Florida either Tallahassee (but would be a condo) or some of the small surrounding towns. Warm weather and pretty cheap.

I was looking at smaller tier college towns, like Russellville AK — Tallahassee is a big bigger will check it out.

Any ideas how to identify a “nice” part of town?

Kalamazoo, MI could work, but it's Michigan, so it's cold.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live, OP? How about the area just over the border in Pennsylvania, around Gettysburg (but not in Gettysburg)?

[Anonymous]

I'm a bit confused by the details given.

Where is the sibling now? Why does he or she need to move? It costs money to buy/sell.

Is the 150k the budget for a new condo? Therefore the current condo is valued at 190k, leaving you with 150k for the new condo after all expenses?

Are the parents still around and the sibling is living with the parent(s)?

If the disability income is only 750 a month how can you even begin to afford a condo HOA on that? After the HOA you are left with a few utilities, internet, and, of course, groceries.

If no parents and this is the only family member, keep in mind that you (OP) may want to be reasonably close by.

If sibling does not work due to cognitive limitations, perhaps look at group homes or special types of housing?

[Anonymous]

I'd be wary of a condo, since fees may increase over time to a degree which exceeds any corresponding annual COLA increase in income. Condos can also be subject to unplanned special assessments of almost any dollar amount. In other words, a condo entails more financial risk than some alternatives.

It may make more sense to buy something less expensive, e.g., a manufactured home on an inexpensive lot in a rural area, leaving some principal to be invested conservatively as an emergency fund. People on very constrained incomes can easily be in trouble if even a small unplanned or unanticipated expense arises, so consider setting aside a sum as a reserve instead of putting everything into housing.

As to where to move, most rural areas in most states are quite inexpensive. Proximity to larger towns/cities almost always means higher housing costs. With no need to commute to employment, it should be possible to find an affordable place quite distant from urban centers. Of course that also means distant from most amenities and conveniences, but with a limited budget and a limited income the tradeoff is necessary unless shared housing is an option.

[Anonymous]

I imagine the disability itself will play a role in determining what is feasible but instead of a condo, a manufactured home in a small town within two hours of DC is feasible.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Waynesboro/10655-Bailey-Springs-Ln-17268/home/145224952

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Chambersburg/4660-Sycamore-Grove-Rd-17202/unit-83/home/145217088

There's something to be said about keeping the sibling reasonably close by in case of emergencies and eventual elder care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a sibling who lives on disability, currently owns condo worth $190k, only receives SSI so no other assets or income. Unable to work.

We have no other family, so open to live anyplace with nicer neighborhoods, safety, decent housing stock.

Can’t live near us because it so expensive here. Would prefer no snow, lived in Raleigh for a while and loved that. But clearly too expensive.

Any other locations to consider? Moving is very hard. Condo is fine, but condo fees need to be limited since must fit in SSI income.

City in Ohio? Missouri?

NM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a bit confused by the details given.

Where is the sibling now? Why does he or she need to move? It costs money to buy/sell.

Is the 150k the budget for a new condo? Therefore the current condo is valued at 190k, leaving you with 150k for the new condo after all expenses?

Are the parents still around and the sibling is living with the parent(s)?

If the disability income is only 750 a month how can you even begin to afford a condo HOA on that? After the HOA you are left with a few utilities, internet, and, of course, groceries.

If no parents and this is the only family member, keep in mind that you (OP) may want to be reasonably close by.

If sibling does not work due to cognitive limitations, perhaps look at group homes or special types of housing?

Background:

Parents passed away decade ago. Sibling on mental disability so able bodied but unable to work.

When parents died bought existing condo in northern state - Zillow says worth $195k. Condo fee is low, $170/month so with food stamps and Medicare was sustainable.

I actually have no interest in having them close — their illness can cause significant disruption to everyone’s lives and having them at a distance insulates my own family and reduces chances of odd behavior, like coming over for a visit and refusing to leave (this has happened before).

Group home not an option. They would commit suicide rather than live with someone (multiple attempts over the years).

Would love a decent shape home for $150k without condo fee, but honestly a low condo fee $150k condo or similar works because unexpected expenses pop up in SFH too. Just with condos they are often shared.

They can’t set aside money for emergencies— that invalidates SSI. They will roll over all proceeds to a new house, and if it’s somehow cheaper, a newer car since theirs is 20 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a sibling who lives on disability, currently owns condo worth $190k, only receives SSI so no other assets or income. Unable to work.

We have no other family, so open to live anyplace with nicer neighborhoods, safety, decent housing stock.

Can’t live near us because it so expensive here. Would prefer no snow, lived in Raleigh for a while and loved that. But clearly too expensive.

Any other locations to consider? Moving is very hard. Condo is fine, but condo fees need to be limited since must fit in SSI income.

City in Ohio? Missouri?

NM?

Oh that’s a good idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of a condo, since fees may increase over time to a degree which exceeds any corresponding annual COLA increase in income. Condos can also be subject to unplanned special assessments of almost any dollar amount. In other words, a condo entails more financial risk than some alternatives.

It may make more sense to buy something less expensive, e.g., a manufactured home on an inexpensive lot in a rural area, leaving some principal to be invested conservatively as an emergency fund. People on very constrained incomes can easily be in trouble if even a small unplanned or unanticipated expense arises, so consider setting aside a sum as a reserve instead of putting everything into housing.

As to where to move, most rural areas in most states are quite inexpensive. Proximity to larger towns/cities almost always means higher housing costs. With no need to commute to employment, it should be possible to find an affordable place quite distant from urban centers. Of course that also means distant from most amenities and conveniences, but with a limited budget and a limited income the tradeoff is necessary unless shared housing is an option.

You can't be on SSI and have an emergency fund. If you have more than 2k in assets (excluding home and a few other categories), you are ineligible for SSI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a bit confused by the details given.

Where is the sibling now? Why does he or she need to move? It costs money to buy/sell.

Is the 150k the budget for a new condo? Therefore the current condo is valued at 190k, leaving you with 150k for the new condo after all expenses?

Are the parents still around and the sibling is living with the parent(s)?

If the disability income is only 750 a month how can you even begin to afford a condo HOA on that? After the HOA you are left with a few utilities, internet, and, of course, groceries.

If no parents and this is the only family member, keep in mind that you (OP) may want to be reasonably close by.

If sibling does not work due to cognitive limitations, perhaps look at group homes or special types of housing?

Background:

Parents passed away decade ago. Sibling on mental disability so able bodied but unable to work.

When parents died bought existing condo in northern state - Zillow says worth $195k. Condo fee is low, $170/month so with food stamps and Medicare was sustainable.

I actually have no interest in having them close — their illness can cause significant disruption to everyone’s lives and having them at a distance insulates my own family and reduces chances of odd behavior, like coming over for a visit and refusing to leave (this has happened before).

Group home not an option. They would commit suicide rather than live with someone (multiple attempts over the years).

Would love a decent shape home for $150k without condo fee, but honestly a low condo fee $150k condo or similar works because unexpected expenses pop up in SFH too. Just with condos they are often shared.

They can’t set aside money for emergencies— that invalidates SSI. They will roll over all proceeds to a new house, and if it’s somehow cheaper, a newer car since theirs is 20 years old.

The one thing you have left out is why you need/want to move your brother or sister. Can't he or she stay in the condo in the northern state? If the budget is working, don't risk moving for the sake of warmer weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a bit confused by the details given.

Where is the sibling now? Why does he or she need to move? It costs money to buy/sell.

Is the 150k the budget for a new condo? Therefore the current condo is valued at 190k, leaving you with 150k for the new condo after all expenses?

Are the parents still around and the sibling is living with the parent(s)?

If the disability income is only 750 a month how can you even begin to afford a condo HOA on that? After the HOA you are left with a few utilities, internet, and, of course, groceries.

If no parents and this is the only family member, keep in mind that you (OP) may want to be reasonably close by.

If sibling does not work due to cognitive limitations, perhaps look at group homes or special types of housing?

Background:

Parents passed away decade ago. Sibling on mental disability so able bodied but unable to work.

When parents died bought existing condo in northern state - Zillow says worth $195k. Condo fee is low, $170/month so with food stamps and Medicare was sustainable.

I actually have no interest in having them close — their illness can cause significant disruption to everyone’s lives and having them at a distance insulates my own family and reduces chances of odd behavior, like coming over for a visit and refusing to leave (this has happened before).

Group home not an option. They would commit suicide rather than live with someone (multiple attempts over the years).

Would love a decent shape home for $150k without condo fee, but honestly a low condo fee $150k condo or similar works because unexpected expenses pop up in SFH too. Just with condos they are often shared.

They can’t set aside money for emergencies— that invalidates SSI. They will roll over all proceeds to a new house, and if it’s somehow cheaper, a newer car since theirs is 20 years old.

The one thing you have left out is why you need/want to move your brother or sister. Can't he or she stay in the condo in the northern state? If the budget is working, don't risk moving for the sake of warmer weather.

Is in the poorest most crime ridden city in the state. Doesn’t feel safe as neighborhood has declined.

[Anonymous]

They should move out of the country. Their QOL is going to be ultra low on $750/month regardless of where they live in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should move out of the country. Their QOL is going to be ultra low on $750/month regardless of where they live in this country.

What country accepts you as immigrant and gives you disability???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lynchburg, Virginia is the traditional "cheap retirement location with nice weather" place. Plus trains to the DC area.

If you are a conservative Christian.

[Anonymous]

Central NC, central VA, WV. It's shocking how cheap houses get once you get out of the big cities. I bet you could find a place within 2 hours of DC if you wanted. Tons of small towns that are perfectly safe and full of nice people.