Why I think people moving in middle age should seek accessible housing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just listen to OP and other PPs, talking about converting first floor offices into bedrooms.

It's the real estate equivalent of "Let Them Eat Cake".

The majority of Americans cannot afford to build their own homes. They have to buy or rent already existing homes. And most of those are NOT accessible.

Shame on you. If you want this to change, push for legislation to make more new homes accessible.

NP. You don’t seem to know what you’re talking about. I don’t know about the rest of the DMV, but in MoCo, my friend’s landlord was required to make the apartment in downtown Silver Spring accessible. This included modifications to the door, taking out the oven (because she couldn’t bend over from her chair to use it and the empty space helped her roll under cabinets they installed above the oven), and more.

You're the clueless one. What about homes? Do you know how many affordable homes are accessible in this area? Practically none.

Middle aged people usually have school-aged children. They don't want to live in apartments. They want to live in SFH. Very, very few of those are accessible, or easily converted to accessible.

I've been looking for exactly this type of home, one that I can convert to have a bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor, with a main floor without steps, and outdoor entry without a long flight of external stairs... and it's really difficult.

[Anonymous]

I want a house with a master suite on the main floor, just in case. I even want that now, when I’m not that old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just listen to OP and other PPs, talking about converting first floor offices into bedrooms.

It's the real estate equivalent of "Let Them Eat Cake".

The majority of Americans cannot afford to build their own homes. They have to buy or rent already existing homes. And most of those are NOT accessible.

Shame on you. If you want this to change, push for legislation to make more new homes accessible.

NP. You don’t seem to know what you’re talking about. I don’t know about the rest of the DMV, but in MoCo, my friend’s landlord was required to make the apartment in downtown Silver Spring accessible. This included modifications to the door, taking out the oven (because she couldn’t bend over from her chair to use it and the empty space helped her roll under cabinets they installed above the oven), and more.

You're the clueless one. What about homes? Do you know how many affordable homes are accessible in this area? Practically none.

Middle aged people usually have school-aged children. They don't want to live in apartments. They want to live in SFH. Very, very few of those are accessible, or easily converted to accessible.

I've been looking for exactly this type of home, one that I can convert to have a bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor, with a main floor without steps, and outdoor entry without a long flight of external stairs... and it's really difficult.

Same. We did think about this and looked and looked and it’s extremely hard to find in this area. We ended up in one with stairs on which I think we could install a chair lift if needed. We could have kept looking but our kids are getting bit and at some point you just need a house for now. I do wish they’d build more of this here but land is so expensive hard to build one level.

[Anonymous]

They aren't any houses like this!

[Anonymous]

I tried to seek "accessible" housing in the greater DC metro area as a 40 something with a knee issue.

Guess what? Unless you are willing to move into a condo or a retirement community, it mostly doesn't exist here. And there is a huge scrum for the one level sfhs that do exist.

OP, I plan to move out of the DC area in order to find accessible housing when I retire.

[Anonymous]

OP is right on the money. I’m 57 and I can completely testify that there has been a significant difference in my physical ability in the last 5 years alone despite being healthy and active. You better believe that when we leave this area after my youngest graduates high school next year, I will be looking for a house with at least the master on the first floor. That way there is already 1 large bedroom with adequate room in the bathroom on the first floor if a wheelchair is needed later. Also low enough to the ground on the outside that a ramp can be put in if steps are a problem.

Those suggesting an elevator or chair lift don’t seem to understand the serious consequences of that plan. The person is stranded if they are upstairs and the electricity goes out, or if there is a fire and they can’t get to the elevator.

OP is not saying the house HAS to be completely on one level, and leave it to DCUM to jump to extremities. They are saying keep the potential future in mind and have at least 1 bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, with accessibility modulations available for the outside. Saying “oh I’ll just add a bathroom” is very costly and unnecessary if you pick a house that already has one.

[Anonymous]

Also have you priced an elevator?? We have for my father, and they’re about $30k, break down more frequently than the money is worth, and most houses are not constructed to retro-fit one in.

[Anonymous]

If you think long term, its better to secure one before you need it. I think late 50's-early 60's is a good time to make these decisions.

[Anonymous]

I don't care for elevators or stairs, I would rather be on ground floor and at a short walk to a cafe, a pharmacy, a small grocery store, a library and a park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the whole thing funny. As if 55 is old. I bought my current home at 55. I had a wife a 10, 15 and 17 year old and three cars.

45-55 is trade up time. Not ranch one level living. And retirement age is 67 in United States.

I am an empty Nestor at 67 and will retire. But then I want to maybe travel, figure where to live. Maybe downsize but more likely buy a second home one level as a vacation home to see if I like it.

My neighbors many are 60-85 and live in large homes and walk all the time. My 80 year old neighbors across the street walk three miles every day.

My house literally of old would only need to go up and downstairs twice a day to just to sleep.

Also where do kids and grandkids stay in your magically one story home. None of my kids are staying in DMV it appears.

They come home Xmas and Thanksgiving they expect their bedrooms. Come marriage will be bringing spouses and then grandkids.

And I WFH I can’t imagine how horrible that is on one level. And what about hobbies?

And who is cleaning out these big houses. Kids are lazy. Is my 80 year old neighbors supposed to empty a 7,000 sf house on their own and pack up?

[Anonymous]

My parents bought a house with a main bedroom on the first level when they were both 40. They specifically looked for that kind of house because they were thinking about the convenience factor for when they were older. As it turned out, they were able to age in place and lived there until they had both passed away, well into their 90s.

My parents weren’t rich and they didn’t have PhDs, but they were pretty darn smart about the house they bought when they were 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the whole thing funny. As if 55 is old. I bought my current home at 55. I had a wife a 10, 15 and 17 year old and three cars.

45-55 is trade up time. Not ranch one level living. And retirement age is 67 in United States.

I am an empty Nestor at 67 and will retire. But then I want to maybe travel, figure where to live. Maybe downsize but more likely buy a second home one level as a vacation home to see if I like it.

My neighbors many are 60-85 and live in large homes and walk all the time. My 80 year old neighbors across the street walk three miles every day.

My house literally of old would only need to go up and downstairs twice a day to just to sleep.

Also where do kids and grandkids stay in your magically one story home. None of my kids are staying in DMV it appears.

They come home Xmas and Thanksgiving they expect their bedrooms. Come marriage will be bringing spouses and then grandkids.

And I WFH I can’t imagine how horrible that is on one level. And what about hobbies?

And who is cleaning out these big houses. Kids are lazy. Is my 80 year old neighbors supposed to empty a 7,000 sf house on their own and pack up?

More reason to become an empty nester before 60, downsize and spend money on travel, hobbies etc. It sounds horrible to maintain a 7,000 sqf home in your 80's because kids visit twice a year for few days. Y'all can rent Airbnb to enjoy holidays together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put in elevator. Problem solved.

But of course! (speaking in my Grey Poupon accent)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the whole thing funny. As if 55 is old. I bought my current home at 55. I had a wife a 10, 15 and 17 year old and three cars.

45-55 is trade up time. Not ranch one level living. And retirement age is 67 in United States.

I am an empty Nestor at 67 and will retire. But then I want to maybe travel, figure where to live. Maybe downsize but more likely buy a second home one level as a vacation home to see if I like it.

My neighbors many are 60-85 and live in large homes and walk all the time. My 80 year old neighbors across the street walk three miles every day.

My house literally of old would only need to go up and downstairs twice a day to just to sleep.

Also where do kids and grandkids stay in your magically one story home. None of my kids are staying in DMV it appears.

They come home Xmas and Thanksgiving they expect their bedrooms. Come marriage will be bringing spouses and then grandkids.

And I WFH I can’t imagine how horrible that is on one level. And what about hobbies?

And who is cleaning out these big houses. Kids are lazy. Is my 80 year old neighbors supposed to empty a 7,000 sf house on their own and pack up?

More reason to become an empty nester before 60, downsize and spend money on travel, hobbies etc. It sounds horrible to maintain a 7,000 sqf home in your 80's because kids visit twice a year for few days. Y'all can rent Airbnb to enjoy holidays together.

My neighbors are a retired surgeon married to a retired VP. He even walks one mile to supermarket on nice days. They have no housekeeper. They are in perfect health. They do have a landscaper and handyman.

Empty Nestor at 60 is not a goal for most. My boss used to always say you can’t be 30 at 60. Retire early to do what. Your best years are 18-34.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with you OP.

Family member bought a two story colonial ten years ago, now in their 60s and had to have a knee replacement. Spent more than a month sleeping on a single bed in the LR without spouse, taking bird baths in the first floor bathroom that doesn't have a shower.