Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog: Hey Baby Boomers! Have You Had Enough Yet?

Gave up on most of this sometime ago. We just need to downsize from our current home to something a lot smaller and lest costly to maintain.

Hi Peggy....great post for baby boomers...now is the time to sell the big home that will be in need of repair in the near future and buy a home in an active adult community.....great post and hope you benefit from this post....active adult community properties are selling.

Good morning Peggy. Excellent post. Your analysis is right on the mark and like you I too have had it. For me it is also about cost and not all places are available to all of us. Oh well.....Suggested.

You are speaking to my generation! Let's spend time doing enjoyable things instead of chores.

Good post!

Baby boomers looking for a change have a choice.  Wait for prices to rise (after they stop falling) to maybe take a little bigger chunk of profit from the old home, or don't invest four to ten more years in a lifestyle you've outgrown.  The right time for a lifestyle improvement is always now.

Hi Jeff and Jane - I think smaller is better too--if only I can get rid of all the junk!

Hi Barbara - There is a huge market out there for people who want to downsize.  They have so many options even if they don't want to be in an age-restricted community.

Hi Sheila - Thank you for suggesting! It depends on your area, but people, builders, and the market have to respond to this huge need.

Hi Deb - Amen! After two weekends of labor-intensive drudgery, all I wanted to do was have some fun!

Hi Mike - Any time you are ready for a lifestyle change is a good time to make it.  It's a tough market to sell right now, but it's a great time to buy!

Peggy- as a card carrying AARP member and aged Baby Boomer I hear you.  When you and I were growing up the standard was the "family homestead".  The house that we would always to for holidays and vacations. Not so much any more.  I personally would love to not have a 2nd story to have to drag these old bones up.  Congrats on the Feature.  

I'm finding that more & more younger people are preferring one-story homes.  Some will only look at a two-story home if the master bedroom (and preferably, an office/den, too) are on the first floor.

As a Boomer I have already made the plunge 4.5 years ago and have never looked back ! Love it ! I cut almost an acre for 25+ years ! No more !

You don't have to be a baby boomer to want freedom!   

Hi Kathy - Thank you! I agree with we definitely need more one-floor living, yet it seems like most new construction here is still two-story.

Hi Leanne - Hopefully, builders will hear!

Hi Mike - That sounds like heaven. Good for you!

I too, am a baby boomer and I know what you mean.  whenever we are out doing yard work, that maintenance free condo is looking better and better

Peggy, this is awesome and exactly how I feel.

FEATURED

Hi Yvette - You are so right! It takes most of us years to realize it though!

Hi Jim - There are plenty of more fun things to do!

Hi Deb - Thank you!

Peggy ~ Great post!  It doesn't all apply only to the aging.  Having been dealt what I was in life, the death of my husband at 40yr. and being a single working mom, I've always focused on low maintenance and simple living.  When my terminally ill husband and I chose our last new home, we knew I'd be the primary maintenance provider and he could no longer do stairs.  It was manageable with a small yard, and on one floor.  It's good when people can focus on living and enjoying life each day and not keeping up all the stuff they have.  If it's all done for pleasure, then it's good.  If it's being done because the resident thinks they should....let it go! 

We moved into our one story six years ago and have not looked back.  The highest step we have is 4 inches for the front porch.    But I have to admit .... we are re-thinking this lawn thing.

Peggy - You are speaking my language! This is a fun post and one that very much describes the lifestyle of the community where I sell townhomes. Nice post. I see you are from Manchester. I have relatives in your area.

Hi Barb - I'm sorry to hear of all your troubles.  You know all too well about enjoying each day you have. Thank you for your comments.

Peggy one level living has been ideal for myself and my husband and I would not want to change. When I look at builders I always wonder why (yes, I really know why) they do not focus on building one level homes for the baby boomer generation.  My husband is a baby boomer and I was the generation before by a couple of years.  That generation no longer can do stairs as they used to and all of the yard work they used to do.  I know it would take a well heeled builder to build the one levels that are quality, and I also know banks these days want the builders to use all of the land they can with more dwellings.  The quality one level homes would sell very well I believe. Sad for us.

Hi Cathy - The lawn thing-yes, indeed! It seems like such a waste of time!

Hi Judy - I am in Manchester! Maybe I know your relatives!

Hi Mary - You are right about the expense of building ranches, especially those with basements.  It's expensive, but they would sell well. I have many clients who want and need ranches and there are never enough!

I'm not quite 50 and would LOVE to move but have dogs.  NO ONE seems to want to welcome them.  They are part of the family so there it is.  There are a few places that will take them, but since I have three - I need to wait until I'm down to a more managable two.  But even then it will be a really tough job to find a place that will welcome them and not be restrictive later on.  So many have gone from pet friendly to NO DOGS!

I can so relate to this. Calgon take me away. I love a garden but not the yard work and maintenance.

Peggy-

Big homes with lots of maintenance are becoming "white elephants". People are slaves to them----every waking minute of free time is spent on house chores. That's not the way I want to live my life either. Seems like such a waste of time-------------when there are so many other things to do, enjoy, create and be a part of. I am 100% with you, and think there are many more who feel this way.....an interesting transition in the housing market I presume!

Peggy -- Excellent post! Do I ever hear you on this, especially after two rounds of storm cleanup the last few months. I still have a stump that has to be removed...by machine.  It's that big and deep.  I'd like to reblog this in a few days as I have a 55+ plan I am working on.. You're really spot on with this post. Thanks!

I will be the rebel! I love raking leaves, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds! Really!  I think the reason is because I spent 3 years living in the Mojave Desert with a yard of gravel.  yuk!  So now I have a yard that I enjoy doing stuff to.  It doesn't control me - I of course have a system in place. 

Hi Ruthmarie - That's too bad! I wouldn't want to have to be down to two dogs in order to move--they are family. 

Hi Sharon - I was a gardener too til the last storm obliterated my yard! Now I want the easy life!

Hi Deborah - We knew this transition was coming a long time ago and didn't pay attention! I think it will make a major change in housing.

Hi Barbara - The last storm was the final straw! I won't be done with this clean-up til spring! Thanks for the reblog! I want to reblog your holiday decoration post in a few days too.

Hi Jo - All I can say is "have fun!"  Nothing is for everyone!  I am hoping someone will want to keep up this yard when I go to sell!

Peggy, What you describe is why the patio home concept is doing pretty well with the Boomers in our market.  It's a niche worth pursuing.

Seriously, Peggy!  I don't even want to THINK about decorating the huge monstrosity for Christmas!  But, alas, we have people still at home for another few years... can't downsize quite yet!

Peggy

I turned 65 this year and my home is on the market too. I have one more year on my office lease and then I am going to travel more and do exactly as you recommended. Plans are to work only by referral and only about 6-7 months a year. Care for an ouzo in Greece, buy you one, cheers cvc

Peggy, here in Florida our yards are already smaller and we have much one-story living, so lots of us here already live in houses we can stay in :)

Sharon

Hi Liz and Bill - That's a term I'm not familiar with, but I get the idea.  It's definitely a great niche!

Hi Linda - I hear you, but it will be time before you know it! Enjoy it in the meantime!

Curtis - You are speaking my language! I will definitely take you up on your offer!

Hi Frank and Sharon - You are lucky that you have so many one-story homes.  Here in New England, they are definitely enamored of their colonials!

Move over baby boomers and make way for gen x and y.

Even if some of them are missing those critical chromosomes.

Good post, thanks for sharing it.

Peggy, I have a one-level home and absolutely love it. However, I'm on 5 acres and not willing to give that up for awhile. I love the peace and tranquility here but I'm only minutes from town.

Hi Peggy. I just wrote two posts that may interest you. What is about reverse mortgages and how that can be a good option but only after you've considered everything you spoke of above. The other is just a really fun Baby Boomer Era test.

Our friend Deb Brooks re-blogged this wonderful, great, fantastic blog. Today I turned 69 and this is what I have been thinking all day. I don't have to mow the four acres any more, I don't have to climb the second story to clean gutters, I don't have to rake leaves, fix the barn door, replace cracked windows. I think its high time to sell this Old House and move on to greener pastures. Guess after my one minute of enthusiasm I best check with Ceil about this.

Carl Winters

Carl

Peggy, I hit that wall a few years ago when it comes to my yard. I still enjoy my lovely home, but I don't ever want to mow the yard again! Great post! We Baby Boomers are facing those choices every day!

Hi  Anthony - Yup - let them have it! And all the fun that goes along with it.

Hi Tammie - As long as you have help with it--five acres is alot unless it's all natural!

Hi Carl and Ceil - Just think of all you can do with the time you save cleaning gutters!

Hi Rose - There are too many other fun things to do!

Peggy - Definitely a lot of things to think about.  I find that many get tired of the yard and maintenance.

My wife loves her yard. We pay someone to cut the lawn. My mower broke a few years ago and I took it as a sign that I should not cut lawns anymore. When my wife tires of caring for her yard, we will move.

Peggy,

Yes the older we baby boomers become, the more burdensome maintenance chores can become.

Peggy,  Tired and bored of chores ... count me in.  Baby Boomer or not, home maintenance and the costs of home maintenance is something everyone needs to consider.  At some point is becomes too much "work" and expense to manage. 

Hi Peggy, Amen to all of that. I will be downsizing too. Let someone else do the ugly chores.         

Hi Peggy,

You are one of the 80 million of us who are restless.

The decisions we make about housing will continue to have a huge effect on the market, just like everything else we have ever done...

Phil

Peggy -

What a terrific blog! After 2 consecutive weekends playing lumberjack following Storm Alfred (I live in Vernon), even my eyelashes hurt! Seriously, I think you've highlighted the thought process that all of us need to go through as we look at our homes, lifestyle, and desire to continue maintaining a large home. 

My thanks for a great article.

Kit Crowne

Right Trac FInancial Group

Manchester, CT

Great post Peggy!  My wife and are are thinking along the same lines, once our last one leaves the nest next year.  I'm also planning on sharing your post with a few of my friends and clients.  Thank you!

So very true and as a Baby Boomer myself...the same thoughts have started running through my head much more often than before.  Really well done blog.

I believe the most important issue to consider was omitted, which is family circumstances. Our children, grandchildren are priceless, so moving out of an area or downsizing may not be an option until the grandchildren reach their teens. Just my opinion and who would consider selling during this economy?

Well done, and obviously you've gotten some attention! I've been saying for some time that if a builder would focus on REASONABLY priced ranch homes with small yards they could sell lots of them. In our area the choices are limited except in upper price ranges.

nice post.  Our housing needs change as we age.  One of my main jobs as a rural lifestyle consultant is to help people ask those important questions.

Peggy, this was very well written and I joyed it very much. As the population ages changes are required, some people are very stubborn and want to live within an environment that they're familiar with while others are willing to try new things. As a sales associate I have found that it is easier to ask the questions up front in reference to their personal habits like, the privacy issues, have you lived in a household your life, … it's also many problems what you asked all the right questions.

Again it was very well written and I enjoyed it very much.

Michael Rasch

Peggy, I am still laughing out loud --- two weeks ago, 3-55 gallon plastic bags later, I was simply exhausted from leaf collection!   I came in and did a search for townhomes thinking of MOVING!    I love my house, love my yard, except this time of year.      Instead of getting to this point, I should remember there are young kids in the neighborhood looking for make some extra money for the Holidays!    GREAT POST!

Good points to consider, even if you don't live in Conn.  Maybe they should start calling us Boomers, fizzlers since we don't have the bang we once did.

I mow my leaves, I can't stand raking them. Yes, I'll be downsizing later in life to something more reasonable for an old lady to handle.

We have lived, raised our 5 children and now our 12 grandchildren, who all continue frequenting our family compound of thirty years, throughout the year. We've had 7 weddings, soon 31 family Christmas gatherings and Easter Egg Hunts, over 20 New Years Eve parties, hundreds of birthday parties, family reunions, super bowl parties and myriad gatherings in our precious home.

Albeit we now own a home at the beach, a few timeshares and trade homes around the world we are hard pressed to ever imagine not having our "family home". It's a large home on a large piece of property with three decades of lush landscape, vegitable gardens and fruit orchards and yes you are correct an ongoing maintenance challenge. 

However, we have made the choice to keep our home until our kids take us out boots up and then they can do whatever they wish with it. So a few years ago we took in a life long employee and his wife who was too old to continue working a rather labor intensive construction job that he had loyally performed for almost 3 decades.

They now live on and do a wonderful job of maintaining our property and home.  So as an alternative those that have a home that they want to keep and the room to accomodate a similar situation may want to consider this as an option. It actually works out quite well for all parties concerned. You're sharing a wonderful home with wonderful and loyal friends and folks who could otherwise never afford to live in such a home and you're freeing up yourself from a life of ongoing maintenance and upkeep. Just a thought.

I can relate - I have a large garden and an even larger yard - and I never get caught up with the weeding, mowing, etc. Now it's snow shoveling.

But... there's no way I'd willingly give up living on 20 acres with wildlife wandering through my yard and the closest neighbor 1/4 mile away. I would not enjoy giving up my privacy and my ability to choose when I do or do not want to see other people. And I sure wouldn't want an association telling me what I could do.

Different strokes for different folks.

My mom sold her house in California last year and decided to join us in NYC.  It was a major change.  She had 2,700sf + a backyard with a pool, a dog run, and a 2 car garage all to herself.  She had a pool cleaning service, housekeeper, and gardner.  She decided to give it all up after 35 years.  

When she moved to Manhattan she was shocked at what you get for the money ($1,200 per square foot can be alarming to newbies!).  Then again, there are so many other benefits.  She moved into a condo with a doorman.  No more maintenance.  She gave up her car and no relies on the subway and taxis.  She has a lot less space, but everything she needs.

Baby Boomers, now days that means the boom sound is listening to the value of our homes go "boom".  I am in Phoenix not North Dakota.

Peggy, I agree with you about not wanting to spend all of your free time taking care of your house & garden. Thank you for listing all of the options with the pros and cons. Both my husband & I are baby boomers & we found that a one story house with a small yard is what makes us happy. We downsized from a 3000sq ft home on a 1/2 acre lot to a 1500 sq ft 2 bedroom condo in a highrise & didn't like it! The 1400 sq ft house on 1/6 acre is perfect.

Peggy:

I vacillate between complaining about the chores we have to do on our 100 year old home and thinking we would never find a home which is so comfortable.  But I certainly feel your pain.

Hi Peggy, Best post I have seen ever.  It may not seem so, but I see it targeted at sellers which is what I want!

Hi Peggy,

Great post. Even though I am a "baby boomer" I have not yet decided to give up my home yet. But, I can foresee me getting assistance in doing my yard work. I love being outside walking my dogs and enjoying the elements. It is very soothing. When the day comes I will opt for a smaller more managable home.

Great perspective! Thank you for the post! Freedom is something we all strive for!