Question for those who moved to a smaller home

[SoHumble]

My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV. I believe we would be better off moving into a smaller home for several reasons. Lower cost for the house, lower taxes, utility bills, less cleaning and maintenance, etc. This would give us more cash to truly enjoy our retirement and more time for enjoying all the activities instead of cleaning. She prefers a larger home for more storage, room for more visiting relatives, etc.

My question is for those of you who moved from larger homes and into smaller downsized homes. Do you have any regrets? And, is it easy to adapt to living in a small home?

[Mudder]

We have no regrets at all. Think about it, 90% of the time , it's just you and your spouse in the house. When guests or family come you either squeeze them in or have them stay at a local motel. Why buy a big house that you pay for all year long for the few times guests will be there? Downsizing is great for de cluttering, really you can let go of alot of things because they are only things and not the real important things you carry with you in your heart and soul.

[Pturner]

My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV. I believe we would be better off moving into a smaller home for several reasons. Lower cost for the house, lower taxes, utility bills, less cleaning and maintenance, etc. This would give us more cash to truly enjoy our retirement and more time for enjoying all the activities instead of cleaning. She prefers a larger home for more storage, room for more visiting relatives, etc.

My question is for those of you who moved from larger homes and into smaller downsized homes. Do you have any regrets? And, is it easy to adapt to living in a small home?

Hi SoHumble,
We bought a small 2/2 ranch as a vacation home, thinking we would upsize when we move down full time. However, now that we've had a while, I find that I love the small size! I think I would be quite satisfied to stay with small, though hubby still would like to upsize when we become frogs. That tells you who does the cleaning. :rolleyes:

[2newyorkers]

We have downsized and do not regret it at all. The most positive aspect of downsizing is the smaller yard. We are snow birds, so a smaller home (patio villa) with almost no yard,was perfect for us. If I did live here full time I would still want a smaller home, but I think I would look at the new cottages that have a 2 car garage and golf cart garage. You have more room for storage but still have little maintenance.

[K9-Lovers]

We downsized from 4000sf to 1098sf -- talk about decluttering -- I still have a storage unit full to go through!

We love, love, love our tiny home, a 2/2 CYV on a corner on a preserve. The size is perfect for us. We've arranged the 2nd bedroom with a high-quality murphy style bed that our guests say is very comfortable. Also in the 2nd bedroom is our computer, and my art supplies, all neatly tucked away.

In a pinch, we also have a pull out sofa in the living room (Comfort Sleeper by American Leather) and our guest who slept on it each night for 5 weeks in a row says it's more comfortable than his own bed at home.

We have no complaints, and only praise for our little retirement nest. We bought small on purpose because we don't want to move again to downsize. We are thinking of the future which will be here before we know it, and are planning for the time we are less mobile. We want a small place that will be manageable in our final years.

[duffysmom]

We have a designer with a huge yard and I want to downsize but my hubby doesn't.:grumpy: Our yard needs constant care. When we moved in over two years ago we spent $10,000 on landscaping; now we have to have the grass cut, fertilized, aerated, fed, as well as tons of pesticides poured on it. The sprinklers seem to need adjustment all the time. The shrubs need to be trimmed, flower beds planted each year and new mulch replaced each spring. I was a gardener up north but the Summer's are too hot for me to enjoy gardening. The whole shebang is expensive and tiresome. My dream home is a CYV where my little doggie can roam and I'll have a Koi pond with a very small patch of grass.:kiss: There is a lot of freedom in decluttering and keeping things simple.:thumbup: Oh, we do have a lot of repeat company because we have made their stay here a first class hotel experience. That too makes me grumpy. OK I'm glad I got that off my chest.:blahblahblah:

[Sparky-30]

We lived in a 6 level home in N.Va.(the special way it was built) and I could'nt wait to get out of there. I had retired before my wife had, and had to maintain it, clean it, wore me out.
This one level is 7th heaven!, and no more grass cutting for me down here or any heavy maintenance, I gave all that up.:welcome:

[aljetmet]

We are also considering downsizing. However, are there villas, cottages or ranches that can be built with concrete block?

[collie1228]

I don't know anything about cottages or ranches, but the Savannah series of courtyard villas are of concrete construction (not concrete block) with a cementitious finish. I believe all of the other CYVs are wood frame construction.

[robbie]

we considered the stoneybrook which is part of the savannah courtyard villa series which are all block and stucco... very roomy inside but only has garage laundry:rant-rave: so we decided on a designer instead.... having survived hurricane andrew 18 years ago, concrete was important to us as well... good luck...r

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/gallery/courtyard-villas.asp

[Russ_Boston]

There are CYV's that have inside laundry AND concrete construction.

Check out that link above for models and plans.

[aljetmet]

There are CYV's that have inside laundry AND concrete construction.

Check out that link above for models and plans.

Thanks, If the stock market tanks, this could be a viable option...
On the other hand if it goes wild, we can find a premier next to Gracie....:)

Lot's can happen in two years....

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Ours is a 2bed 2bath cyv made from block and stucco with an inside laundry.
We are moving to Port Charlotte to be near family and it is now on the market. These Villas are very nice....check out mine in my album.

[Vinny]

No regrets at all. No stairs, more convenient and half the cost per month. Less to clean.

[graciegirl]

Thanks, If the stock market tanks, this could be a viable option...
On the other hand if it goes wild, we can find a premier next to Gracie....:)

Lot's can happen in two years....

We are searching for more space than we now have because by a very special contract with the creator we have our treasured daughter with us for always. We are so blessed to have our Helene. BUT there are three of us and a third more STUFF. We haven't made the move to live here full time and sell our house up North yet, but when we do we would like a bedroom for Leenie that is not a SMALL as most second or third ones like the designer we now own.

BUT, I will tell you this.... If I lived in 500 square feet with Sweetie and Helene it would feel like a castle.

I'm a lucky duck...and I would love, LOVE, love to have you live next door to us.

[KathieI]

We have a designer with a huge yard and I want to downsize but my hubby doesn't.:grumpy: Our yard needs constant care. When we moved in over two years ago we spent $10,000 on landscaping; now we have to have the grass cut, fertilized, aerated, fed, as well as tons of pesticides poured on it. The sprinklers seem to need adjustment all the time. The shrubs need to be trimmed, flower beds planted each year and new mulch replaced each spring. I was a gardener up north but the Summer's are too hot for me to enjoy gardening. The whole shebang is expensive and tiresome. My dream home is a CYV where my little doggie can roam and I'll have a Koi pond with a very small patch of grass.:kiss: There is a lot of freedom in decluttering and keeping things simple.:thumbup: Oh, we do have a lot of repeat company because we have made their stay here a first class hotel experience. That too makes me grumpy. OK I'm glad I got that off my chest.:blahblahblah:

D'sMom... I sooo agree with you. I bought a 2000sq ft+ designer because I thought I would have a lot of visitors from up north... Guess what,,, In 2 years, no one has come... so here I am, cleaning, weeding, fixing, painting, cleaning, weeding, fixing, painting.... My dream is to have a lovely corner lot CYV so the puppies and I can enjoy my life here in TV and not worry about cleaning and I can have more time for dancing and socializing...

I'm searching for one now but most of my friends think I won't be happy in a smaller place with no view. I'm willing to try it. Plus I think it will cut my expenses in 1/2.

[JenAjd]

I too have to say that "down-sizing" is a freeing thing. I used to be a collector of "stuff" and when we bought here we down-sized by at least 1/2 the size of house. It was great fun to purge!!!

Once in a great while I will think we "need" some more space....for what?...to add more "stuff"?! Why do I want to do that...just so the kids can go through it and get rid of it?? We have a 3 b/r and it's adequate for company too. Our company isn't abundant and if it's too "comfortable" maybe they'll stay too long. My idea of entertaining has also "down-sized" over the years. I LOVE this retirement thing and my other 1/2 does as well. To have, is to maintain!!!

[2BNTV]

IMHO - Decluttering is a freeing experience. Less junk to deal with. I knew a person that had two hundred nic-nacks that she dusted almost every day. A full time job.

I know as I get older, I do not want to be bothered by having to clean the house to the total exclusion of having fun.

I would not buy a bigger house unless I was sure that people would be coming to stay.

I guess it is a decision based on your needs and what you are use to.

My vote is for less work and more time to play.

[rjm1cc]

Part of the answer is how much of your current home do you use? Probably not every room every day.
Next think about what activities you would like to be in separate rooms in your new home. Maybe both you and your wife would like your own room for your hobbies etc. That room could have a couch that pulls out for a bed if you have company.
My guess is that a 3 bedroom home will meet your needs. Remember the main floor plan is open space so a separate private room maybe desirable. I would also look toward making the garage as large as possible and probably adding a few feet to the width of the rooms if possible.

[SoHumble]

Thanks for all the thoughtful resonses. I guess its about time to start getting rid of alot of stuff.

[rubicon]

Your decision depends on your lifestyle, full time vs seasonal resident, plans for free time party-hardy or homebody who likes gardening, etc.. We were among the unfortunates who looked in 2004 but did not buy unti 2005-l 2006 period. We wanted a premiere but found that the prices about doubled and then at those prices they were telling you what you were going to get. So we listed what we wanted in a house and what we intended to pay resulting in purchase of a designer 3/2. Based on my lifestyle, etc sorry that we didn't purchase premiere because it will cost us substantial to add the addition we desire and with that we are limited. If we were seasonal residents or even if we traveled more might think differently? I also wish I had known about Harbor Hills as the homes there offer so much more for the same or lower prices. We could move to another house I suppose but I won't take the loss. Good luck in your search.

[l2ridehd]

Rubicon, I am not sure what you mean by you "wont take the loss" It doesn't map to what has happened in the market. If you bought a designer that was say 400K and the premier you wanted was 750K. There was a delta of 350K. Now you may only get 300K for your home, a 100K loss, however the Premier you wanted is now down to 550K so the difference is reduced by 200K. And if you look at the market, that is exactly what has happened. The higher end homes have dropped a larger % then the smaller homes. You total cost of buying today even though your current home is worth less, is lower today then it was a few years past. Might want to rethink that addition. :shrug:

[Freeda]

We moved here 3 1/2 years ago from a home over 7000 sq ft to a 1500 sq ft courtyard villa, which was great for a while and gave us the freedom of time to explore The Villages lifestyle without alot of home maintenance, and forced us, in a positive way, to 'purge' our life of alot of things we really didn't particularly need or want anymore, but which we had just kept due to inertia; and then we moved to a designer a few months ago both for more space and to a newer neighborhood. In about two-three years when most or all of the buildout is complete we will probably move again, into a premier, because even though it is true that it is a freeing thing to have less space to care for, now that we have settled into a more normal 'at home' life here, and have made a growing number of friends that we have over regularly, I do miss the roominess of a larger home, especially for entertaining and guests.