Posts Tagged ‘community’

As you age, you may decide that less is more. When you downsize your home, there can be less to pay for, less to take care of and less to worry about. Although the decision sounds simple, there is a lot to consider before you put your current home on the market.

Finances

Depending on where you live and where you intend to live, it may not be financially possible to relocate. For instance, you may have a large house in the Midwest, but a desire to move to a smaller property with an ocean view. There’s a chance you won’t make enough money from the sale of your house to buy a new home without the help of a mortgage.

If you’ve lived in your home for some time and are looking for a newer house, you may not be able to afford the home of your dreams without financing. Even if an even swap is possible between your current and new homes, there may be association fees or higher property taxes that exceed your budget. Be sure that you know the financial details well in advance of the move.

Family Size

As you age and children leave the nest, you may think that you no longer need as much room. But what if the children come home again? The Pew Research Center found that in 2016, 15 percent of millennials were living in their parents’ home. This is nearly double the number of people of the same age group living in their parents’ home in 1964. The job market, college debt and the rising cost of living all contribute to this change. Keep in mind that it may not just be your children moving home—they may also bring their partners and their children.

Location

Location is important for more than just resale value. If you want to travel, or if you want to be easily accessible to friends and relatives, you probably want to live in a town near an airport. Also, give great consideration to the community that you’re interested in moving into. Choose a community that has the resources that are important to you; these may include houses of worship, community centers or public transportation.

If you’re considering a gated community, look into the services offered. You’ll likely want to continue doing activities you enjoy and maybe even find new hobbies. If you love gardening, don’t move to an association that won’t let you plant outside. If you’re a fan of woodworking, some associations have hobby rooms with tools available for you to use. If you’re a card shark, it might be hard to find people to play cards with during the day if most people in your neighborhood are younger and at work.

Layout of the Home

There’s a lot to be said for a two-level house, including privacy and the small dose of exercise one gets from going up and down a flight of stairs. But what seems a minor inconvenience when you’re 55 years old might be a major difficulty when you turn 70. If you decide to get a home with more than one level, choose one with a bathroom on the same floor as your bedroom. Or, look into whether the home can be outfitted with assistive devices, like chair lifts.

Other things to consider include easy access to a washer and dryer, outdoor access and parking.

What You’ll Take With You

If you’re moving from the home where you raised a family, you’ll likely have many things to contend with. You may need to decide what you can live without. Sure, you can take pictures and all of your children’s middle school awards, but are you prepared to let go of other cherished belongings if you move to a smaller home? Give thought to whether you can truly downsize your life and still feel at home.

Finally, realize that if you haven’t found exactly the right setup for your lifestyle, you can always move again. After all, if a home is a person’s castle, shouldn’t you be happy in yours?

If you think you are ready to downsize check out these amazing NEW CONSTRUCTION homes that may be a downsize that fits all of your needs!  http://soldbuysea.com/dunetops/

Kupka, Nancy, Ph.D., RN. “Getting Ready to Downsize? Factors to Consider” RISMedia’shousecall.com. 4 April. 2018. http://blog.rismedia.com/2018/getting-ready-downsize-factors-consider/

Filed under: Blog by Callie Smith
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A better neighborhood comes with a lot of advantages for your family. Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a nice place to settle down, neighborhoods with a rich historical background carry many benefits for yourself and for children that grow up there. Here are some of the great things that you may experience by living in an historic neighborhood:

Potentially Lower Crime Rates
Finding a neighborhood that’s safe is important to anyone seeking a new home. Neighborhoods with a rich historical background have clearly been around for a very long time, often resulting in older, lifelong residents that are invested in the maintenance of their neighborhood. Regular maintenance of the streets, as well as implementation of effective crime-prevention programs by the local police, are all something that these folks may have voted for in local elections.

More Educational Opportunities
Another benefit of living in a well-established, historical neighborhood is that the schools tend to be better funded. Generally, residents have been there for a long time, allowing them to build up financial stability that would contribute to taxes that fund public programs like schools, libraries and parks. They may also have local events held to celebrate the heritage of the neighborhood, giving you and your family a peek into history and a greater understanding of what brought about the place you live in now. Live reenactments of historical events, fairs and artistic performances are frequently found in cities that carry their history with them.

Improved Neighborhood Dynamics
Homes for sale in established neighborhoods are often more sought-after because of the ability to form connections with your neighbors. Tight-knit neighborhoods can be safer in general because, if a disaster hits, you’ll be surrounded by friends who know you and will help you through hard times. This can also give you greater peace of mind when allowing your children to play in the neighborhood on their own, because you know the people living in it. With the decreased turnover, you have the opportunity to form lasting friendships with your neighbors, and be a part of a familiar community and culture that’ll really feel like home.

Grand Architecture
An established neighborhood tends to have a higher density of older homes maintained to preserve their historical appearance. Depending on the area and history, these homes are likely to have arching ceilings, pillars, decorative awnings, towers, balconies and other features that will make even a small home feel like something out of a storybook. Living in an artistic structure will remind you on a daily basis of the history of your home and neighborhood, as well as give you greater satisfaction in general in regard to your living situation.

If you’re considering moving to a historically-rich neighborhood, whether alone or with a family in tow, you’ll reap many benefits from the culture and the stability that comes with it. Don’t turn away a home solely based on the year it was built, but rather, consider the possibilities that come with superior architectural design and living in a safe and stable neighborhood.

No matter where you live, your house is only a home if it’s where you love to be.

Belnap, Meghan. “History and Housing: 4 Benefits of Living in an Historic Neighborhood.” RISMedia’shousecall.com. 30 Nov. 2018, http://blog.rismedia.com/2018/history-housing-historic-rich-neighborhood/.

Wilmington’s rich and extensive history has plenty of these advantages to offer for those looking to buy or re-locate to the area! Search for your historic home today!

Filed under: Blog, Uncategorized by Callie Smith
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