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Smaller home for retirement?

clisbyclark

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Just curious what those who have been retired a while think about the concept. It's on the horizon for my wife and I so I'm trying to sort some things out. We know some people like us who've recently upsized their homes and it seems like we want to head in the opposite direction due to less cleaning, maintenance, yard, etc. I guess bigger is good if you need the space for entertaining but we don't. I don't want to move into a condo but I'm thinking a smaller , simple home will do well for us until it's time to roll us out. What's your take?
 
Absolutely, go smaller. I retired in 2004 and bought a 5 bedroom home, with almost 5000 square feet for me my wife and 2 dogs. Its to big. The only good thing is that the Master Bedroom is on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms and , a play area for my dogs. If, I had to do it over again I would buy a small ranch with a fenced in yard. I have a Hugh yard.
 
We meant to downsize when I retired. Oddly enough, without trying, we upsized. But…we went from a 2400sq ft four bedroom, two and a half bath, two story on a basement to a 2800sq ft five bedroom, three bath with an in-law suite in the walk-in basement. We needed it on two occasions to house my wife’s folks for nearly a year and then my mom while she convalesced from back surgery. We rarely go into the finished basement, it’s for guests. It stays clean. Upstairs, we love living in the 1400 sq ft ranch style main level…with no need to climb the basement stairs unless we have guests.

We have a detached two car garage that I love but my wife hates when it’s raining 😂

I don’t own a lawnmower. We’re covered in hardwoods and the one acre yard is kept natural on purpose. I do not rake leaves in the fall either. I just use round up and weedeat a few times a year….no effing HOA to harass us! Also my electric bill runs about $120-150 in the summer and we keep it at 72° during the day and 68° at night….love the trees to keep the bills down and the neighbors out of view!
 
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