Are you planning to downsize when you are older?

[D20]

What age/life stage are you aiming for? We’ve always assumed at some point we will downsize (physically) when we retire. Our Mortgage will be paid off, kids will be well on their way into adulthood. Both of our neighbours are now in their 70s and in failing health but no plans to move so I wonder if we’ll end up the same.

We have our horses and other animals at home, so while they are still alive we wouldn’t consider moving. Realistically by the time we are early 70s the animals will all have died so we won’t have the commitment to them anymore. We will consider moving then although our house itself would adapt well to elderly living as it’s a new build.

friends of ours moved to a sheltered flat scheme once they hit 60. Big mistake. They sold their quite run down house which the builders took in part exchange and got their lovely new flat. All good until they realised the heating in communal areas was in full 24/7 and the communal bills were extortionate. They have been trying to sell for a year now and keep dropping and dropping the sale price. No takers.

Yes actively planning to do this soon in our 50s.

Trying to future proof old age so looking for a home that won't require as much maintenance and in a place with suitable amenities as well as releasing equity.

I think most people leave it too late then find themselves struggling to maintain the house and garden or have homes that are not suitable for old age.

We will prioritise a bungalow but if we do end up in a house looking to make sure there is a bath room downstairs as a lot of people I know have had to move downstairs to sleep/live with ill health and having a bathroom downstairs made that so much easier. Also looking at how we would get around if we cannot drive anymore.

I think I remember reading somewhere that most people who think they will downsize leave it so late that by the time they need to they don't because the upheaval is too much for them at their age.

If DH and I are eaten by lions tomorrow, someone could go through our attic in 15 minutes because, even though it's fairly full, everything is sorted and labelled.

🤣🤣Beware of predators, @MissLucyEyelesbarrow !

I agree in theory but my family’s experience is that the more space people have, the more stuff they hang onto. My in-laws, whom I’d describe as organized people, have still put an extra shed on the garden that’s full of “stuff”. As for my FIL’s workshop-I’ve never seen so many tools, he probably doesn’t know what he’s got in there after 50 years in the same house. 😂

They’re managing fine atm but a four-bedroom house with a large garden is a lot to manage for a couple in their early 80’s.

Ime most people don't downsize as they find they need the bedrooms for family and that family soon takes up a lot of space once grandchildren are in the mix. Plus they're settled wrt neighbours and, as they get older, services etc. It's as hard if not harder to move home in your sixties as it is at any other age previous, and once you are in your seventies it can get really difficult.

As well as leaving it too late, another difficulty is that often there isn't enough of the right kind of place to downsize to. A lot of newer housing now seems to be flats by arterial roads, no storage, not that near a decent high street - so really no good for older downsizers.

My parents never did. My mum had a stroke in her 70s but wasn't left with mobility issues and my dad is still active in his late 80s. He can afford help so no struggles there.

My grandparents moved to a bungalow in their 70s, from a large country home. My grandmother lived for many years after her husband died, well into her 90s. She never liked the bungalow but was able to keep up the large garden until her last few months which were spent in hospital.

I said earlier we have no plans to downsize (and kids still with us and likely to be for some time) I can't actually think of any friends our age (60s) or older considering downsizing.

As for retirement flats for the over 55s....ugh!!

I'm in the process of downsizing now. House sale going through and onward purchase offered on.

I'm 55 and had breast cancer in 2021. Have still got some health issues. My teaching job is getting harder and harder so I'm downsizing to pay off the mortgage and hopefully be in a better position to retire.

We're going from a 4 bed 3 storey house that is approx 20 years old to a 3 bedroom 1950's semi.

DP and DS don't want to move. But I do so we're going.

As a GP, I have seen both sides of the coin. I certainly have patients who should have downsized, and didn't, but I also have plenty who downsize - usually to move closer to a child - and find themselves isolated and adrift.

I think the area where you live tends to be more important than the house you live in. Most houses can be adapted, if need be, but you can't change your town or village.

I agree with PPs that it is nuts to move to a remote area in older age (though people already living in rural areas tend to have developed social support structures that can be better than those in towns). You need a plan for when you can no longer drive. But you also need to think about quality of life generally, and that may mean staying in the house where you are happy.

And the best laid plans may not play out. You could move from somewhere you love, to somewhere you have no friends, to future-proof, only to find you have developed a terminal diagnosis in your 60s or early 70s.

I will youngest will be uni age in ten years so maybe 15 years or so, I’ll be 60. Quite a lot of money in the house so will give dc deposit for own house buy a ground floor flat (futureproofing).

Im rural and there are a number of Neighbours who are stuck in too big poorly maintained properties. They struggle to get cleaners or carers or handymen as would need to pay people to come from nearest city. I know someone quoted neatly £100 for a 1/2 hour care visit as needed two people plus travel time

We already have, due to my health, downsized from a very large 5 bed, 3 bath detached to a 3 bed 2 bath detached bungalow, best thing we ever did tbh.

That's what I want to do @BoneshakerBike , Whereabouts did you go (are you able to say)?

We have been here for 25 years, every inch of the place has been renovated to exactly our taste. I have a properly kitted out sewing room, spare rooms for grandchildren We have a productive veggie patch and chickens. The flower beds are glorious. We grow apples, plums, figs, raspberries, strawberries and miracots. We have 2 supermarkets, a post office, doctor and dentist within walking distance. There is money put away for a stairlift when we need one. There is a beautiful riverside park at the end of our street. Only way I'm leaving is in a box

The dream @BoneshakerBike! I’ll be following you in about 30 years fingers crossed!

We're about to move from large split level house with very large garden. New house is more modern with much smaller garden but with 2 downstairs bedrooms and bathroom. Although there are stairs there is space for a stair lift and shops/amenities are closer - it's a small town so more going on than in our current village.

Maybe. We could stay here forever (chalet bungalow) but would potentially like a slightly different layout bungalow with no upstairs at all.

Basically retirement homes/flats are pretty rubbish despite the fact that some offer communal facilities, sports complex, restaurants etc. the business model is poor, the resale value derisory and the maintenance fees extortionate, I will never consider moving to one. As PPs have said, you need more space when you retire, not less. You also need more space for visitors to be able to accommodate adult children and their partners, grandchildren etc. My current house has a downstairs study that I could use as a bedroom and also a downstairs shower room. I would like to move nearer to DC but I will struggle to find a house with the same ground floor facilities. So I don't think I'll be going anywhere soon.

I live In Westminster- near Tate Britain.
Would have chosen Barbican but I have a dog

It's a good idea but I suspect I won't want to leave the garden

Well I've just googled miracots - never heard of them. Something new to learn every day.

Yes I didn't know that about the Barbican (which was high up my list) until I read this thread! I have 2 dogs....

I didn't. I'm single and retired in a three bed/loft conversion house with large garden. I love it here for lots of reasons and couldn't see any advantage to moving elsewhere. I own it outright now.

Anyway I did future proof it somewhat by installing a walk in shower on the ground floor. It's wired and plumbed ready to go but I didn't install it yet, instead I'm using the small area as a Futility room and it's great, shoved the W/M in there and put a pulley line dryer from the ceiling. If I need to I can put in the shower fittings and a cubicle, but I don't need it yet.

I am planning (or thinking) of taking in exchange students during the university terms as I live close to two unis that participate in this program. They are always looking for digs for the kids lol. Several older people on my road are doing it, and it works great, the students are gone all day (and half the night), and cook for themselves too, thems the college rules! Haven't fully decided yet, but the extra income might come in handy together with the company and language/cultural exchange too. They are gone for the college hols which means I get the full house back for Summer and Christmas/Easter too.

Anyway, I'm enjoying reading the thread.

Basically retirement homes/flats are pretty rubbish

@OddityOddityOdd I completely agree with you for mobile, relatively healthy people, I wouldn’t consider moving into one until I needed supported living. But for my Dad (86), who moved into a supported flat last year, it’s been great. The staff and management are lovely, he’s got emergency cords in every room, and if he ever needs additional care, they can help him arrange it-loads of residents have carers coming in.

Mind you, he’s a sociable type and they have lots of activities so it works for him. But he can shut his door if he’s feeling grumpy!

We know that he won’t make any money if he has to sell it, but he feels safe and happy so that’s what’s important.

Agree.
We are about a year behind this time line ( couple of bathrooms to sort ) but could have written this very post !

I’m nearly 60 and still teaching full time. That seems very young to be thinking about all those things to me.

I ended up being the person who persuaded my GM to move from the house she and her sister had lived in together since 1951 and had owned from just before WW2 after my great aunt's death. It was beautiful, and ancient, so totally unsuitable for a widow; the garden covered several acres and required a FT gardener/handyman/farm labourer. Great Aunt's son inherited, and was incredibly fair. When the handyman died, very suddenly after a bout of flu, he bought a house, of her choice for my GM, who was not sure about moving at all, I took her to view a modern estate house (only three miles away) because it was in the little town nearby. GM who was then in her 70s, suddenly enjoyed being warm all day, being close enough to a supermarket to get her shopping on foot, and having a garden small and sunny enough, and always having hot water.

Then, my DMs partner (a lot older) died, we suggested DM move to another smallish market town 25 miles from GM, so she was close enough to help but not next door. She has been in the house she bought in her early 60s ever since; she got a PT job and worked until she was 77. DM is now 89 and bits of the family have settled locally, which works. DSis and BIL are five minutes away. Niece and great grandchildren are in the same town. I'd move there but DH doesn't know what he wants doesn't fancy it. I am searching for a house that ticks all his boxes within a 15 mile radius.