Keep big suburban house or get a condo in city

[Anonymous]

Depends on where your kids live and if they intend to come back home with their family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

There are a lot of us NYers here since Urban Baby and its progeny disappeared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Sigh. This is a DMV website. Why are you here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Does your house in the 'burbs have a pool and a gym?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

There are a lot of us NYers here since Urban Baby and its progeny disappeared.

Yeah, well, it's weird.

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of earmarking lawn and landscaping abd snow plowing money for lodging for kids and their broods in a hotel or airbnb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

There are a lot of us NYers here since Urban Baby and its progeny disappeared.

Yeah, well, it's weird.

We have a city and suburbs here, too.

[Anonymous]

I say keep the house for a bit and start staying in the city on hotels or Airbnbs to see how much you’d actually be in the city. If it turns out, you spend a lot of time in the city, then start looking around. My thought also is you could bounce from city to city for different events if you stay in your house. NYC for broadway plays, DC for whatever, Philly to meet another interest or need. Maybe Boston for lobster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

There are a lot of us NYers here since Urban Baby and its progeny disappeared.

Yeah, well, it's weird.

We have a city and suburbs here, too.

Not PP, but sure you have City and Suburbs in NY....however, your perspective is completely irrelevant/different to those living in VA/DC/MD.

What we call Suburbs in the DMV is completely different to the "burbs" in NY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you in a DC (DMV) forum?

There are a lot of us NYers here since Urban Baby and its progeny disappeared.

Yeah, well, it's weird.

We have a city and suburbs here, too.

Not PP, but sure you have City and Suburbs in NY....however, your perspective is completely irrelevant/different to those living in VA/DC/MD.

What we call Suburbs in the DMV is completely different to the "burbs" in NY.

Agreed. The New York thing is really irritating. There's a sub forum on this website for New York. Stick with that. All you're doing here is mucking up the discussion.

NYC is an entirely different animal not only than DC but every city in the USA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d downsize and put the money saved on yard care, gas, and utilities into a savings account earmarked for family hotel stays or holiday travel to to ur kids’ places.

Consider that there might not be any money saved at this point. Would it still be worth it?

[Anonymous]

I’d lean towards condo but I recently had to help my dad with damage in his unit. The back and forth with the condo association regarding an insurance claim on the master policy gets tiring.

[Anonymous]

The idea of a condo in the city is great. But the reality less so.

The fees are ridiculous. And you can't budget for them, because it always changes, and it's alway toward the upside.

And that's a shame.

The nature of ownership of a condo is very different than owning a house. It's a problem.

[Anonymous]

Never a condo in the city, especially as you get older.