Property Dilemma – What & Where?

DairyQueen

nigelbb wrote: »

It's interesting to contrast the situation in France with an abundance of building land that many houses are single storey although villa does sound cooler & more exotic than bungalow.

It's very common to have a house built to your own specifications (chosen from a design book) on a plot of land bought separately so many individual houses are built & there is a thriving industry of architects, builders, masons etc

Are you in France? I ask as I own a plot of land there. Planning consent has now lapsed but it's right on the edge of the village development zone so presumably still viable for development. Events scuppered my then plans to build but the planners were perfectly content to approve a single dwelling on a hectare.

I recall the off-the-peg plans available from various developers. 'Villas' were a popular option.

I paid 30,000 Euros (with outline planning) for the plot in 2005. Even then, an equivalent plot in the UK would have been valued at over £100,000 and much more if a couple of properties had been approved.

Perhaps I should take those plans out of mothballs.

Nebulous2

Slinky wrote: »

Where we moved from there's a seriously huge amount of building going on, all the retirees are expected to want to move into flats if they want single storey living.



There's a former hotel that's been converted into over 55s flats - some of them 3 bedroom, don't know who they are trying to appeal to, but they aren't being very successful. There are plenty still for sale after over 3 years of marketing, but seeing they are the same price as a decent 3 bed house in the area, without the over 55 restrictions, hot cakes, they most certainly are not.

We have some very nice 2 bed flats near us, but as I said earlier they are too expensive when I consider the loss of amenity in moving to one of them.

If we turn out like America the builders / developers you are referring to may have backed the wrong horse.


https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/boomers-want-to-stay-home-senior-housing-now-faces-a-budding-glut-11573554601

happyandcontented

It is a dilemma we are having too. We have been in our current home for 34 years and we love it, but our issue is that it has steps up to the front door. Both of us turn 60 next year and we know that the steps will become an insurmountable problem for us quite quickly as we both have bad knees!!

We looked at downsizing, but although fine in theory, when it comes to it I don't think we could do it. Then we looked at upsizing and we found a new build in a good location, close to a village centre and to one of our sons, but it is really far too big for us now all the kids are grown up and moved out. My OH loved it though, as did I but I had reservations about 'estate' living as it is something we have never done.

Our next thought is that a couple of houses in the same road we live in are owned/occupied by very elderly people (one in a care home and the house rented to cover fees)and that in the near future one or other of these houses will come up for sale. They will need remodelling completely but we love the location and access to amenities so I think that may be the route we take.

I am not a fan of bungalows and could never see us in one, although my OH was brought up in one and it has enabled his 83-year-old mother to be self-sufficient.

Interesting thread.

winspiration

Would there be no way of tackling the steps issue that would be more cost effective than the high cost of moving house and having to renovate the new one?



I'm late 50s too and did seriously consider downsizing a couple of years ago as I'm in a 4 bed house, although I do work from home so my business (now winding down) has taken up a fair amount of space. However I do like the area where I live and my house - moving to somewhere a bit smaller would be expensive and wouldn't actually free up much equity even if I went to a cheaper area. I concluded I'd rather stay where I am for now.

OldMusicGuy

DairyQueen wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed the dearth of new-build, decent-sized, single-storey properties? Retirees must be the most under-served sector of the new-build market.

Not where we are moving to. However, you won't find them on large estates.Like I said in my earlier post, you need to look at small local developers. We are moving to a development of three chalet bungalows, all being bought by retirees (or near retirees). We have also seen two new individual builds going up near where we are, one 3-bed bungalow, the other a 4-bed bungalow. So they are being built, but not on a large scale.

Slinky

winspiration wrote: »

Would there be no way of tackling the steps issue that would be more cost effective than the high cost of moving house and having to renovate the new one?

Where we used to live somebody had installed an external stair lift up to their front door, Google will show the sort of thing.

happyandcontented

Slinky wrote: »

Where we used to live somebody had installed an external stair lift up to their front door, Google will show the sort of thing.

Mmm, I am not sure I would like that, sort of advertising that our knees are knackered!!:rotfl:

winspiration wrote: »

Would there be no way of tackling the steps issue that would be more cost effective than the high cost of moving house and having to renovate the new one?

We did have a quote for around £10,000 to make the steps shallower but that seemed awfully expensive to still have steps. I think we will investigate that avenue more before we fully decide.

JoeCrystal

happyandcontented wrote: »

Mmm, I am not sure I would like that, sort of advertising that our knees are knackered!!:rotfl:



We did have a quote for around £10,000 to make the steps shallower but that seemed awfully expensive to still have steps. I think we will investigate that avenue more before we fully decide.

:eek: Just how many steps it is from your driveway to the front door? :eek: You might as well build a ramp on it with a handrail!

bluenose1

The house we are currently buying at age 53 could potentially do for older age.
We have a ground floor shower room, a room downstairs that could be converted to to a bedroom. A remote control door for the garage that could house mobility scooters:D The village shops are only 10 minutes walk/ ride away.
Can't imagine being in this position, but there again in my 20s couldn't imaginne being in my 50s:o

[Deleted User]

Early 50s. Bought a small farm. Impractical for unhealthy people, so will move at some point, hopefully not for 10-20 years. Lots of projects and fresh air. Enjoying it very much.