Keep big suburban house or get a condo in city

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Condo in the city hands down! They can stay in a nearby hotel or something. You don't keep a huge house in the suburbs for the three times a year your kids visit you. That's not smart.

Not all houses in the Suburbs are HUGE. We have a 2,300 sq. feet home. Condo will limit us to a 1,200 or less for the same price or more.

And there's a reason for that -- the space is more desirable. Why do 2 people need 2300 square feet? 1200 is a lot of space especially if the space is efficient.

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

1. you will have to give up the condo in your 80's, but you would have to give up going up and down the stairs in your 80's too.
2. My brother rents an Airbnb for holidays.
3. Could you do both?

[Anonymous]

Condo in city! But I would get 3 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

I always thought that we would run to condo once our kids went to college. If we were still in the Montgomery County burbs, we probably would have done this. I loved living in a condo or co op in DC.

We’re on the west coast now and not considering a condo in SF but looking for a 2000-2500 square ft 3/4 bedroom 2/3 bath home instead. Smaller would be fine but we want one that is already renovated/remodeled and almost all of these convert the ground level from a large garage unfinished area to a a very small one car garage area and finished living space with 1-2 bedrooms,1-2 bathrooms, and living/family room area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Condo in city! But I would get 3 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.

This. You will need the space. My kids still like to visit and they're bringing their girlfriends. It's nice to all wake up and have breakfast together. I also stay up and we talk with until 2:00 in the morning after they get back from going out. I'm thinking of buying another place in a warmer climate too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Condo in city! But I would get 3 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.

This. You will need the space. My kids still like to visit and they're bringing their girlfriends. It's nice to all wake up and have breakfast together. I also stay up and we talk with until 2:00 in the morning after they get back from going out. I'm thinking of buying another place in a warmer climate too.

If you enjoy hosting and they are good guests, it sounds great. I hope my kids grow up to be helpful and responsible, so when they visit, they are more of a joy than a burden. If they do, I'd consider their interests when we pick out our empty-nest home, but if they are difficult, we'll do what works for us and enjoy whatever time we have left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Condo in city! But I would get 3 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.

This. You will need the space. My kids still like to visit and they're bringing their girlfriends. It's nice to all wake up and have breakfast together. I also stay up and we talk with until 2:00 in the morning after they get back from going out. I'm thinking of buying another place in a warmer climate too.

If you enjoy hosting and they are good guests, it sounds great. I hope my kids grow up to be helpful and responsible, so when they visit, they are more of a joy than a burden. If they do, I'd consider their interests when we pick out our empty-nest home, but if they are difficult, we'll do what works for us and enjoy whatever time we have left.

Yes, mine are very helpful. I have a list of things to be done around the house and they help out when they can. My place is new so not much is needed. They wash the sheets and towels and take out the trash before leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Condo in the city hands down! They can stay in a nearby hotel or something. You don't keep a huge house in the suburbs for the three times a year your kids visit you. That's not smart.

Not all houses in the Suburbs are HUGE. We have a 2,300 sq. feet home. Condo will limit us to a 1,200 or less for the same price or more.

My house in DC is 1200 sq, my 2 boys grew up in this house, and it was fine. Small, sure, but we managed fine. It's 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 bathrooms and a basement. I could see how it would feel difficult, though, if you're used to having double the size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stay in our suburban house - we don't want to downsize and the kids still like coming home to our house. We like our neighbors and it costs a lot to get a condo - we figured we would be better off paying for ubers if we want to go downtown rather than the cost of moving.

Dumb.

You're missing the whole point. Having to take an Uber every time you wanted to go downtown makes going downtown a hassle and something you're going to have to think about and plan every time. If you're already living downtown you can just walk out the door any and every day on a whim. It changes everything.

And, sure, your kids still "like" coming home to your house but how often do they do it, how long do they stay, and for how long will you put your own life on hold for your adult kids? On top of that, what makes you think they won't "like" having you downtown just as much and probably more because of all of the things you could all do together and all the time without an Uber?

You’re also missing the point that for many of us, we don’t want to go downtown all the time like we did when we were younger. We don’t go to bars and restaurants multiple times a week. So it’s truly no big deal to take an uber when we go into the city because it isn’t often.

[Anonymous]

Their partners would gladly stay in hotel rather than in your house or condo. You can keep the grand kids and put mattresses down for them in 2nd or 3rd bedroom.
I never left the city or never bought a house.
It's very individual. Nobody can tell you. You didn't even say which suburbs, which city, and how many kids. Did you ask the kids?

[Anonymous]

A condo in the city can work very well and be comfortable for kids to visit if

1. You are able to find and afford a 3 bedroom condo with amenities like a pool, a gym, common area etc.
2. You embrace massively purging your furniture and mementos. No one enjoys staying in a box filled room.
3. You are not pouncers. In a smaller space you have to let your guests sleep, retreat to their rooms etc.
4. You not pack other extended relatives into the visit.

The above set up is deal for retired people with money who travel, like to go to the theater, museums, try new restaurants. It is not deal for retired people who are into crafting, hobbies, gardening and collecting stuff or enjoy hosting large holiday dinners, decorating for holidays etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stay in our suburban house - we don't want to downsize and the kids still like coming home to our house. We like our neighbors and it costs a lot to get a condo - we figured we would be better off paying for ubers if we want to go downtown rather than the cost of moving.

Dumb.

You're missing the whole point. Having to take an Uber every time you wanted to go downtown makes going downtown a hassle and something you're going to have to think about and plan every time. If you're already living downtown you can just walk out the door any and every day on a whim. It changes everything.

And, sure, your kids still "like" coming home to your house but how often do they do it, how long do they stay, and for how long will you put your own life on hold for your adult kids? On top of that, what makes you think they won't "like" having you downtown just as much and probably more because of all of the things you could all do together and all the time without an Uber?

You’re also missing the point that for many of us, we don’t want to go downtown all the time like we did when we were younger. We don’t go to bars and restaurants multiple times a week. So it’s truly no big deal to take an uber when we go into the city because it isn’t often.

You'd go out more often and to more things than bars and restaurants if you actually lived in the city. You don't do it because you have to Uber.

We literally walk out the door to everything. Sure, bars and restaurants. But also grocery stores, pharmacies, coffee shops, doctors offices, post office, banks, shops, parks, museums . . . everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A condo in the city can work very well and be comfortable for kids to visit if

1. You are able to find and afford a 3 bedroom condo with amenities like a pool, a gym, common area etc.
2. You embrace massively purging your furniture and mementos. No one enjoys staying in a box filled room.
3. You are not pouncers. In a smaller space you have to let your guests sleep, retreat to their rooms etc.
4. You not pack other extended relatives into the visit.

The above set up is deal for retired people with money who travel, like to go to the theater, museums, try new restaurants. It is not deal for retired people who are into crafting, hobbies, gardening and collecting stuff or enjoy hosting large holiday dinners, decorating for holidays etc.

Why do you need a pool and a gym?

[Anonymous]

We never left NYC, and I am really enjoying being an almost-empty-nester here. We are finally getting to do the things that were more difficult to do when DCs were young . . . eating out more often, going to shows and plays, impromptu meet-ups with friends, catching a pilates class, shopping for fun . . . and there are no worries about getting home to relieve our nanny or a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A condo in the city can work very well and be comfortable for kids to visit if

1. You are able to find and afford a 3 bedroom condo with amenities like a pool, a gym, common area etc.
2. You embrace massively purging your furniture and mementos. No one enjoys staying in a box filled room.
3. You are not pouncers. In a smaller space you have to let your guests sleep, retreat to their rooms etc.
4. You not pack other extended relatives into the visit.

The above set up is deal for retired people with money who travel, like to go to the theater, museums, try new restaurants. It is not deal for retired people who are into crafting, hobbies, gardening and collecting stuff or enjoy hosting large holiday dinners, decorating for holidays etc.

Why do you need a pool and a gym?

To be healthy and get regular exercise. Finding a building with a nice pool or gym is great IMO. It saves you the expense and hassle of traveling somewhere.