Retirement Living
- Thread starter Al
- Start date
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I get it that taxes and insurance can get out of control even if you own your own home as a senior, but at least your chances of getting kicked to the curb for one reason or the other, are less. Probably just paranoia on my end. I have trust issues relying on a landlord to keep a roof over my head. "Associations" with condos/town homes isn't much better. I have a retired brother who lives in a townhouse. His fees were reasonable some years back. Not so much now.
We signed on the dotted line. We will be moving in in April. Our apartment is on the first floor with a porch.
I retired in May (2024) at 60 (now 61) with health issues and would like to move to my dream home in the woods. I have a relapsing/remitting disease that allows me good days/weeks to get stuff done. Even if it is just for a time, I like the idea of remote living and doing it while I still can. What interests me most is building or finding a house that has no stairs, no difficult entries and where a motorized scooter or wheelchair fits everywhere. Especially the shower.
My maternal grandparents did this and lived in their well laid out retirement home in the NJ pine barrens into old age. My grandmother was able to truck all around the ranch style home using her walker. She lived into her mid 90's.
This is my current house in FL, and it is easy living. But it does have some stairs, ugh. When I am not feeling well, my legs don't work all that well. I put a ramp on the front concrete entryway. But the garage is lower than the house with 4 stairs, and I can't configure a ramp there due to the layout.
My maternal grandparents did this and lived in their well laid out retirement home in the NJ pine barrens into old age. My grandmother was able to truck all around the ranch style home using her walker. She lived into her mid 90's.
This is my current house in FL, and it is easy living. But it does have some stairs, ugh. When I am not feeling well, my legs don't work all that well. I put a ramp on the front concrete entryway. But the garage is lower than the house with 4 stairs, and I can't configure a ramp there due to the layout.
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No question at all, owning the property that you live in is the most secure. Best part is, as you state if taxes or insurance get out of control since you own, you could always sell and move to a place they are in control. (paranoia is good in your case)
In some ways much can be said for apartment living. If you have the funds from the home you sold untouched and the apartment doesnt work out, you could branch out and buy something. Like EVs no one size fits all.
Meaning either move should be done in a smart way and smart enough to be paranoid for an escape plan.
Is this an equity place or do you just pay monthly fee? Considering options for my mom as she gets older.We signed on the dotted line. We will be moving in in April. Our apartment is on the first floor with a porch.
I know in Florida some neighbors of my in-laws are selling their home and moving to a place where you buy in but what you pay for the unit varies depending on if you want your heirs to get 0%, 50%, or 80% back when you “move out”. I’m not sure how the RE taxes work there though.
@Al I'm looking at this site. With regard to costs, it says monthly services fees range from $2,140-$5,053. It also says, "Residents living at Masonic Village pay an entrance fee followed by monthly service fees. If living in a rental apartment, they pay only a monthly service fee. Monthly service fees cover utilities, lawn care, 24-hour security, transportation, activities and meal plan, among other benefits."
Not being a whiz in math, what this means to me is maybe $5k a month for 1,100 sq ft apartment with meals. Assuming I'm living a life where I'm not going anywhere, including to the super market, then I'm stuck with the meals, whether it's gourmet food or army food.
Is the (basically) correct?
NOTE: If you'd rather not discuss costs, please feel free to ignore me. I don't mean to be gauche.
Not being a whiz in math, what this means to me is maybe $5k a month for 1,100 sq ft apartment with meals. Assuming I'm living a life where I'm not going anywhere, including to the super market, then I'm stuck with the meals, whether it's gourmet food or army food.
Is the (basically) correct?
NOTE: If you'd rather not discuss costs, please feel free to ignore me. I don't mean to be gauche.
Cujet…
You can buy an electric chair lift… Fits easily in a garage space.
They are big enough for person in a wheelchair and it will lift you even with your house.
My step father purchased a used one for 2,000 about 17 years ago. It still works just fine and it was a great purchase. And… When my step father and my mom moved to a new house… They brought it with them there too.
That lift was $5,000 brand new in 2007.
While I understand and may think differently in 10 years I think I would be bored if staff did everything and there was nothing for me to fiddle with.
And I am still working full time for another few months. And while I will find plenty to do when the weather is warm, an a little concerned I might be bored in the winter.
And I am still working full time for another few months. And while I will find plenty to do when the weather is warm, an a little concerned I might be bored in the winter.
You must have cried when you had to get rid of your 200 gallon stash of motor oil. 
My wife died last year. At 77, still in our oversized home on 3.5 acres. As an amateur radio enthusiast, need space for my antennas. Retirement communities usually do not allow residents to put up elaborate antennas.
My wife died last year. At 77, still in our oversized home on 3.5 acres. As an amateur radio enthusiast, need space for my antennas. Retirement communities usually do not allow residents to put up elaborate antennas.
My wife and I have been helping our aged parents (not acting as their caretakers) for around 15 years. Her dad passed 12 years ago, my mom 6 years ago and my dad 5 years ago. Her mom is still alive at 93 yrs and living in a very good residential living facility in Cary, NC, albeit in skilled nursing. We have interfaced with a multitude of senior residential homes, memory care units, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, doctors, etc over the years. When I visit her mother now it depresses me deep to my core. I am sick to death of these places and hope I never need to go into one until I have lost my marbles. Most of these place are money making machines, with high staff turnover, with the occasional great person working there, but always poor communication between departments, old and infirm residents as you would expect, etc. I could go on. I know I may have no choice to be in one someday, but I will resist to the bitter end.
May you live a long and happy life in your own home.You must have cried when you had to get rid of your 200 gallon stash of motor oil.
My wife died last year. At 77, still in our oversized home on 3.5 acres. As an amateur radio enthusiast, need space for my antennas. Retirement communities usually do not allow residents to put up elaborate antennas.
