Should you buy a bungalow as you get older?

Bobinyorkshire

My MIL recently died and my wife and her brother are going through the process of probate. 

The bungalow is a good sized 3 bedroom home with double garage and large unconverted loft space with a small garden with backs onto fields.
We live in a large family home which is now too big as the children have left home (youngest will start last year at uni in Sept). 

Our dilemma is should we consider buying the bungalow even though we are both in good health and not 60 yet?
Been on and off the idea for months. Was hoping forum users may identified some of the issues over and above the obvious ones friends and family have highlighted
Need to put the home on the market soon, so need to make a decision as we would need to sell ours at same time.
I realise it’s a personal decision, but any helpful advice gratefully received
 

ComicGeek

Location of the bungalow is as important as single level living when you get older. My small village has a higher proportion of retired folk and bungalows, but no amenities or shops within walking distance, and the local bus services are virtually non existent. Elderly neighbours have moved away once they have stopped being able to drive themselves, as it's too difficult to get around and it gets really lonely being trapped in the house all day.

When I retire, I want to live somewhere that has a local shop at least, and a coffee shop or pub that's walkable. 

Albermarle

Often bungalows have limited floor space and can feel a bit cramped compared to a family house.
However this one has 3 bedrooms, a garage and potential to extend upwards, so sounds quite big.
Also they are often in streets which are all bungalows and with quite an old age profile of residents, but this one seems nicely located.
It will be a lot easier moving at age 60 than at 75.
Other things to consider are proximity of local services. Shops, GP,s , local hospital, pubs etc.
That can be at least as important as you get older, as having no stairs to negotiate.
Although...
Over 700 people die each year from falling down stairs in the U.K. — MoneySavingExpert Forum

J63320

When I downsized I didn’t choose a bungalow because I didn’t want to end up with “bungalow legs”. Climbing stairs regularly helps to maintain fitness as you get older. I did, however, make sure my new home had a staircase that wasn’t too steep, and was wide enough to accommodate a stairlift should that become necessary. 

housebuyer143

Suppose it depends what you want. I think when I'm much older I would want to live in a flat in a city or very large town so that you have everything you need on your doorstep. 
I'm not sure you need a bungalow though. Stairlifts are a thing and you probably wouldn't need it assuming you are healthy until much later into your life. 

FlorayG

Yes. Absolutely yes. I'm not going to be moving again when I'm old so I've bought a bungalow in my early 60's. I've seen so many people in their 80's having to move and just hating the process.
On the other hand, I do have a knee injury so I KNOW I'm not going to be able to cope with stairs; I struggle sometimes even now

Section62

Bobinyorkshire said:

My MIL recently died and my wife and her brother are going through the process of probate. 

The bungalow is a good sized 3 bedroom home with double garage and large unconverted loft space with a small garden with backs onto fields.
We live in a large family home which is now too big as the children have left home (youngest will start last year at uni in Sept). 

Our dilemma is should we consider buying the bungalow even though we are both in good health and not 60 yet?
Been on and off the idea for months. Was hoping forum users may identified some of the issues over and above the obvious ones friends and family have highlighted
Need to put the home on the market soon, so need to make a decision as we would need to sell ours at same time.
I realise it’s a personal decision, but any helpful advice gratefully received
 

Might be cheaper to have a lift installed in your current home when the time comes, rather than pay the cost of moving now.

This is likely to become more of an issue in the future as most developers are not building bungalows, and the existing stock of bungalows is gradually being 'upgraded' with loft conversions, or demolished and replaced with a 2/3 storey house. So there will be proportionately fewer single-storey dwellings in the housing stock (excluding flats and apartments with communal lifts) going forward.

The planning and building control processes are also encouraging/requiring the provision of new homes which are accessible and/or adaptable - which in turn means many new homes are built to make retrofitting of a stairlift or vertical lift far easier than it is in older homes.  Access to a toilet/bathroom is a particular issue.

So in the future I'd expect the idea of moving into a bungalow as you get older to become more of a choice rather than something of a necessity, and in consequence the retrofiting of a (temporary) vertical lift to become more of a norm (and consequently probably less expensive).

I'd echo ComicGeek's point about location - it is more important to have the facilities (and support network) you want and need, rather than move to a place you don't want to be, purely because that is where you can find a fully-accessible home.

Instead look for a property you like in the right area, then consider what adaptations* might be needed for accessibility reasons.  If you are already living in that home then there is no need to move.  (*and anyone doing a two-storey extension on their 'forever home' would be wise to incorporate convertable spaces for a retrofit vertical lift)

incus432

Just to reiterate many of comments above - location and access to shops and amenities is at least as important as the house itself.  I am now in early 70s and my wife has mobility issues so it became critical to move sooner rather than later from our last house on a big sloping drive with a large difficult garden. 

 (The whole hassle of moving also seems worse with age.)

We are now big fans of small market towns where it's possible to walk in and you don't need a car to go everywhere. Supermarkets, GP, dentist, vet, pub, restaurants and cafes. We love it.

It is hard to find bungalows full stop, but even more so any that are not awful, and/or overpriced (prob not relevant to you) and we chose a detached house where one of the downstairs reception rooms could be converted into a bedroom and ensuite when necessary. Also level access.

Bobinyorkshire

Thank you. That’s all really helpful. It’s on a fairly busy road (30mph) but does have cafe, bars, docs and dentist all with 15 min walk and has 2 storey homes either side so don’t think application (if required) to develop the loft will be an issue. It’s slightly further from kids (10 mins) but not sure if that’s a good or bad thing!! 😂

daveyjp

The bonus of bungalows is ground floor living.  If you are buying a bungalow and are then looking at opening up the loft thereby converting it to a house just buy a house.

Cairnpapple

There's an argument for moving somewhere accessible while you're still youngish and fit, it's going to be much less painful than having to do it in a crisis. But it sounds like you're maybe not feeling it? If you hadn't inherited and you were looking to downsize, would this be the property you would pick?

You could always sell the inherited property then take a couple of years to do a leisurely browse of all available downsizing options.