Retirement home search started

[EscapedSuburbia]

One day, we realized that 95% of what we own is just not worth anything

It's probably worth something, it's just not worth the effort needed to sell it. Some people seem to enjoy all the work involved in posting/replying/shipping things via Ebay or Marketplace. I'd rather take it to Goodwill or pitch it.

 

[dmccarty]

The past couple years we have been looking at where we want to have our next home ( retirement location ) We have been looking primarily in the North East Fla area.. Fla is a weird place.. Unless you are in a HOA.. You may have a beautiful place but next door may have 15 broken down cars, boats and rv in the yard that are surrounded by 1k pounds of empty bud light cans.. The HOAs are a pita .. and can be expensive..but they keep that type of stuff in check. .. But I don't thing I can cope with neighbours 6 feet away. Insurance is also difficult in Fla now..as well as property taxes.. So the search continues for us right now.

As you said, the problem with Florida is the HOA, HOA fees, property taxes, and house insurance if you can even get covered.

The property tax should sorta even out since there are not state income taxes.

I have a family member who pays in house insurance what we pay for house insurance and property taxes. HOA rules, fees, and assessments can be a real problem. One of the reasons for Florida's housing crises is that the condos were not funding up keep or future issues. So they had the disaster. Now, to catch catch up, the fees are higher than they needed to be if they had been properly funding the HOA in the past.

We have been comparing condo prices and fees in GA, FL, SC, and NC. One place we really like in FL is cheaper per square foot than a similar condo in NC but the HOA fees are about 30% higher in FL. The FL condo is really nicer but the long term expenses of HOA fees and property tax is very high. AND no matter the state, the HOA might need an unexpected repair, just like a house, and here comes a very high assessment. Unlike a house, you don't really have a say in the matter. You might have a vote, but it can be one vote out of hundreds....

In some/many areas of Florida, housing prices are falling, so we will just wait and see. Florida always has boom or bust real estate cycles.

 

[dmccarty]

It's probably worth something, it's just not worth the effort needed to sell it. Some people seem to enjoy all the work involved in posting/replying/shipping things via Ebay or Marketplace. I'd rather take it to Goodwill or pitch it.

Actually, I don't think our stuff is really worth much. We don't spend money on furniture. The last stuff we bought was from IKEA. It is and was affordable and just as good as what was in the furniture stores.

We had trouble getting rid of a perfectly good couch for free. Took months for someone to take a good quality couch free of charge.

We have a few things that someone might want but the time and effort to sell it is not really worth it. We might get some buyers but if one can't give away a perfectly good couch for free....

We do give things to the local charity shops and that is what will happen with my family's stuff when they pass. It is what they wanted, and want, so that is what I will do. Their area has lots of retirees so getting rid of estates is very common. There are auctions that are held all of the time to handle the estate as well as the thrift stores.

 

[Tomtint]

As you said, the problem with Florida is the HOA, HOA fees, property taxes, and house insurance if you can even get covered.

The property tax should sorta even out since there are not state income taxes.

I have a family member who pays in house insurance what we pay for house insurance and property taxes. HOA rules, fees, and assessments can be a real problem. One of the reasons for Florida's housing crises is that the condos were not funding up keep or future issues. So they had the disaster. Now, to catch catch up, the fees are higher than they needed to be if they had been properly funding the HOA in the past.

We have been comparing condo prices and fees in GA, FL, SC, and NC. One place we really like in FL is cheaper per square foot than a similar condo in NC but the HOA fees are about 30% higher in FL. The FL condo is really nicer but the long term expenses of HOA fees and property tax is very high. AND no matter the state, the HOA might need an unexpected repair, just like a house, and here comes a very high assessment. Unlike a house, you don't really have a say in the matter. You might have a vote, but it can be one vote out of hundreds....

In some/many areas of Florida, housing prices are falling, so we will just wait and see. Florida always has boom or bust real estate cycles.

Im fairly familiar with the east coast of Florida and I won't go get myself into a HOA situation as it never ends well. Property within 2-3 miles from the coast is pretty speedy. For not a lot of property. And taxes are crazy high. If you get inland 10-15 miles, Property is available but the chances of having a junk collector next door is very real. Were still looking...not in a giant rush but if the right one comes up we are ready to go.

 

[ultrarunner]

My parents and my father in law were/are clear on what to do. MIL, well, that is/was a nightmare but not about getting rid of things.
Some people just can't let go. It is hard. The wifey and I have been talking about this for years. One day, we realized that 95% of what we own is just not worth anything. We have some things that some in the family MIGHT want. I hope they want soem of it since it is stuff from my grandparents. Our stuff is really a who cares. Except for maybe a few things.

I think some people think there junk is treasure that others will treasure. Or they hold on to stuff because to get rid of it a sign the end is near. And then some people are just hoarders.

The end is near describes a few I know… it’s like giving up and resigning themselves the dreams and plans ain’t going to happen and time remaining spent getting affairs in order…

 

[HawkinsHollow]

My parents wanted to move closer to us but the idea of packing up and moving was overwhelming for them. It would not have cost them that much to move with a moving company but the idea of moving was just too much. Just the idea of moving their stuff. The idea of *** us *** packing up and moving is not something I like to think about.

My parents moved from Chicago to be closer to us 2 years ago. Mom was 76 and dad was 97. Mom had plenty of time to prepare while her house was being finished here, still wasn't quite ready when the time came. Mom LOVES being closer to her 2 sons and out of the Chicago winters. Dad was bitter, he was ready to die there. He just turned 100 4 days ago, so he is pretty bitter most days anyway. What's important is that we are here to help them now, not 10 hours away. It was not fair to my mom to have to take care of dad all by herself up there.

I still harbor bad feelings about my parents and in-laws regarding their stuff.

Neither addressed their collections of stuff. It left bad feelings between some family members in addition to lost time and money on others.

Part of any home search should include the right sizing/downsizing aspect of the stage of life and the property itself.

Brother and his girlfriend went to help them a couple of days before the movers got there and they ended up throwing out A LOT of stuff. But in the end that is a good thing. Not bad to purge 40 years of stuff in your late 70's, definitely was good for us. Their new house is smaller so mom will be hard pressed to fill it up with more crap before she goes.

 

[ultrarunner]

Purging sometimes works better after getting settled in the new place… more than a few realized the wisdom if pairing down a garage packed to the rafters with moving boxes at the new place once settled…

You pull what you need and reality takes over about what you don’t.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

When I did our addition/Reno this past year I definitely did it with the idea that we could age in place here. Ground level entrances, no stairs except 4 into the bck yard, no thresholds into any rooms, 36" doors/entryways for most rooms, large showers with benches, etc. Not sure we will make it here that far as we are only 50, but it is nice to know it's an option. Good luck with your search. I like Eddie's advice, don't rush it, get what you need/want.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Purging sometimes works better after getting settled in the new place… more than a few realized the wisdom of a garage packed to the rafters with moving boxes at the new place after getting settled…

There is some wisdom to that, but moving trucks are only so big.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think of the poor nephew with the heart of a saint that resettled his aunt to be near him… she was ok going but the sticking point was a lifetime of stuff… it wasn’t until he moved it all and got rid of a lot over 12 weeks that she realized she didn’t need all of it…

I saw her a few days before she passed unexpectedly… she said she had too much and was selling things.

When she passed it only took 3 weeks to clear everything…

Her husband had retired and had dozens of antique phones she just could not part with… just the phones brought a very good price as did other antique collectibles…