Having said that, I don't want to be the old retired couple living in the big house, in the suburbs, in the great school district - instead of our kids! As a growing family who needs the good schools, I would hope to help them out (sell our house, help they buy theirs) and reserve the situation.

We use our suburban house as home base and travel

I always thought we would downsize to a fun condo in the city with a view, etc. We've moved around a lot as a family so I've never felt particularly attached to any of our houses. But I love our current home and this will be the location that my kids think of as 'home' as we're not planning to move again until everyone gets through school. I now see myself hanging onto this house as I love the idea of this being a familiar home base for my kids after they launch. It's throwing me for a loop a bit as I didn't expect to feel this way. Maybe we get a pied-a-terre in another city where we like to spend time...

Anonymous wrote:Depends on where the kids settle after college, but likely downsize to a condo so traveling is more viable.

This is our plan as well.

Single parent of 2 high schoolers. They have asked that I stay in our current home until they are out of college. I am OK with that (I think!). I will likely travel more and possibly even live abroad part of the year (flexible work arrangement).

Last DC just graduated from college. We are staying put for now in our big suburban house but I want to move to a smaller house, possibly in Boston, within the next 5 years.

Divorced Mom of one. I have an in-law 1 bedroom unit that I will move to when DC is out of undergrad. May buy a place near where ever DC lands.

Anonymous wrote:Obviously, if we want our college students to continue to get in state tuition rates, we are at the very least going to need to stay in the same state for the duration of their college.

Ideally we'll continue to be within a reasonable distance of their schools, too.

I’ve had two people with kids in public universities in VA say after enrolling as instate freshman, they have never been asked to prove residency again. Both families promptly moved out of state for work reasons but kept paying instate tuition.

Not everyone needs to rely on in-state tuition ... it is not "obvious" pp

I"m a single parent to an only child. The odds are very good that I will wind up wherever my child settles. I will likely stay in this area until then, although I might move into a condo here.

Anonymous wrote:Condo in the city. Can not wait. So sick of driving everywhere in the suburbs. Selling the cars and uber everywhere or walk. Will have a spare room for DC to come to at breaks, but no way am I maintaining a lawn and 4000 sq ft for my kid to have for breaks! And more internship opportunities for DC in city over summer vs commuting in and out every day, blech!

Same! High rise condo in a lively part of the city. Kids are still babies so I’ve got a long way to go...

My parents moved overseas when I was in college. Not going to lie, it was rough. I was always the third wheel at other people's Thanksgivings, Easters, and those other short breaks when I couldn't fly 8+ hours to my parents place. I also missed hanging out with my high school friends, who I never got the chance to go home and see. For that reason, we'll probably stay put until the kids are out of college.

Anonymous wrote:Ours is to keep/stay in the home until they are a few years out of undergrad (I want them to know they have a home to come home to!). Me and DH: date nights, concerts, theater, travel - esp last minute get away weekends, all the stuff we haven't done enough of over the past 19 years.

Exactly this.

Obviously, if we want our college students to continue to get in state tuition rates, we are at the very least going to need to stay in the same state for the duration of their college.

Ideally we'll continue to be within a reasonable distance of their schools, too.

OP, it's nice if the college kids can come home to -generally- their home area. My parents moved several states away when I graduated from HS. I was coming "home" for college breaks to an area that was not MY home. I did fine though. It did force growing-up a bit. Because of it I was probably more focused, than most, on evaluating where I wanted to live after college graduation, starting my own adult life. I never considered moving back in with my parents, since I had no connection to their (new) area.

That's just a reflection. Among my friends, their parents did very different things, and we all adjusted just fine as young adults. Upshot advice - do what will be good for YOU. You do not need to make decisions based on your kids, not once they are in college, IMOH