Should you buy a bungalow as you get older?

NOWSE

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

youth_leader

Ah what a shame NOWSE, don't be depressed!  A bungalow or single level flat allow you to stay at home and maintain your independence for longer.  Your wife is wise as she realises the longer you leave it, the less able you could be.  

RHemmings

Dustyevsky said:

Everyone's different. We bought a bungalow because it came with the land we wanted. That was 16 years ago, when I 'retired.' The land is much more of a consideration than having no stairs to climb.

One reason for buying land was knowing I'd never go to a gym or be disciplined enough to go walking regularly. It forces me into the outdoors to work, especially in winter, when I'd otherwise look for indoor activities. There are many jobs that may only be done in autumn and winter.

The idea we must get old and frail after retiring at, say, 60, isn't something I buy into. While there are some with physical infirmities which can't be beaten, the majority of us can expect 20 years of good  health after retirement, if we put the work in. Having a sport, hobby, or regular physical activity of some kind helps so much.

 As I'm now heading towards the end of that golden retirement time, various options are possible in the future. We could sell off the land and keep our bungalow + enough garden, we could ignore the land and return it to nature, or we could move when it gets too much. At the moment, the option chosen is, “Keep going till we drop!”

As a good friend said to me when she'd just purchased a large, new, detached house at the age of 68. “I can't bl**dy downsize when I get old, if I don't upsize first!” 

Very much agreed. One of my siblings was advising me to get a bungalow as I would become frail when I get older and the stairs may become a problem. However, my theory is to keep on using all my mobility as long as it lasts. I've been reading up on 'bungalow legs' after reading this thread, and I'm even more motivated now. 

HillStreetBlues

NOWSE said:

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

I'd rather die in a bungalow than die in a care home.

Albermarle

NOWSE said:

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

Although maybe a bit strangely in this area , probate bungalows are also on the radar of younger/first time buyers.

Tabieth

HillStreetBlues said:

NOWSE said:

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

I'd rather die in a bungalow than die in a care home.

They’re not really equivalent! 

Hoenir

My late Grandmother lived in her 1930's semi detached with just an upstairs toilet for 66 years. Walking up and down stairs did her no harm. Passed away peacefully in her sleep in the house at the ripe old age of 99 years 4 months. Never once complained or considered moving. 

HillStreetBlues

Tabieth said:

HillStreetBlues said:

NOWSE said:

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

I'd rather die in a bungalow than die in a care home.

They’re not really equivalent! 

I think you missed the point.
Some people move from a house to a bungalow as finding it hard to cope, then often the next step is either death or move to a care home, and I'll tale the former.

Tabieth

HillStreetBlues said:

Tabieth said:

HillStreetBlues said:

NOWSE said:

I started to read this thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm now stopping as it has made me depressed.
My wife and I have just turned 70 and my wife has been going on about moving into a bungalow for about four years. I hate the idea. Both sets of parents ended up in bungalows so I'm familiar with the "feel" of living in one.We only downsized to our present house 7 years ago, having lived in our previous house for 28 years.
We have been to view over half a dozen and all except one of them was for sale because the homeowner had died. They were all dated and depressing. Also they were all far more expensive than a house with the equivalent accommodation would cost.

I'd rather die in a bungalow than die in a care home.

They’re not really equivalent! 

I think you missed the point.
Some people move from a house to a bungalow as finding it hard to cope, then often the next step is either death or move to a care home, and I'll tale the former.

No, I haven’t missed the point. I understand exactly what is being said here. My point is that there’s a very big gap between being unable to cope with stairs in a house and needing care home care. There’s an even bigger gap between being unable to cope with stairs in a house and death! You’ve missed out an awful lot here to make your over simplistic point. 

booksandbikes

As someone who is a foreigner, the attitude towards bungalows in this country baffles me. 😂 It is as though you only move into one when you are at death's door. Surely it is just like any other house - if it suits you and you like it, then buy it, regardless of your age. My first house in this country was a bungalow, and I was a bit surprised by the comments/jokes as we bought it when we were in our 30s. Our next house was a two storey house, and finally we have moved again in my late 40s to a bungalow. No thought of age has crossed my mind - we loved it so we put an offer in. 

I wouldn't be depressed about it - I love my bungalow far better than my previous 2 storey house. 

What I would say is that I have found moving house gets so much harder as you get older. Maybe it is because you have accumulated more stuff or maybe you just get fed up with all the crap you have to do to get the process sorted. So from that point of view, then I would move sooner rather than later. But I think it is more important to find the right house, whether it is a bungalow or not.