can you just hire someone to mow, and to do some of the yard work?

I'm struggling with this very decision. I love my house, but the yard is a lot of work, and the house is bigger than I need. I know of a nice little condo development with beautiful green space. It's just such a difficult change to make.

Have you ever lived in a condo?

I hope to stay in a single family home as long as possible. *I* want to decide what maintenance needs doing and who is going to be hired to do it. I don't want to hear -- or smell! -- a condo neighbor above, below or beside me. I don't want every complex detail from landscaping to insurance decided by a volunteer condo board.

My 'group living' exposure: We once rented a townhome for a few years early in our marriage, and we are now at the condo we own on Maui.

Maybe you just want to move to a smaller house and hire a landscaper?

NEVER get an apartment or condo when you have the treasure of a HOUSE. You'll be at the mercy of rules and regs and policies for the rest of your life and maybe a fat HOA fee. The HOA fees are for the privilege of living in prison. Gardeners??? We rarely have a quiet day, we have the noise and the gassy stench of machinery the gardeners use all day long. Sleep late? Forget it, they start at 8.

Are there any developments in your area where you could still own a house but have the basic landscaping like mowing and trimming done by the development? That's how ours is. We own a single family home, but pay dues for maintenance and the HOA hires a landscape company to take care of the basic yard work. They mow, trim and put out fresh mulch twice a year. We actually find having an HOA to be an advantage because here everyone is required to keep their yards up to a certain standard - no houses next door with unmoved grass or weeds everywhere.

I've lived in a condo and it was ok. I prefer a single home though.

i took the big move from a house to condo13 years ago and never regretted it one bit.

My development has 167 units in a wooded, very quiet area and was built 25 years ago. Fantastic view!

Live in an end unit, with fantastic quiet neighbors. One has been here as long as I have and had another that moved out 3 years ago, and the new neighbor is just as fantastic as the one I have and had.

Ours is well maintained and after 13 years of living here, we voted for a small raise in our monthly condo fees.

Very convenient to everything. I'm here to stay till!!!!

No condos for me, hopefully. I am too picky about OPN (other people's noise), cooking smells, etc. after having been exposed to both when I lived in lots of different apartments before I got married. There will come a day when my house of 20-plus years where we raised our brood will be too much for me. My plan is to then find a small(er) house which will also be a one-story (those stairs get a little tougher all the time). But I will go kicking and screaming.

If you are eligible, are there any senior housing units near you, that is small houses, apts, duplexes, etc where you do pay for yard work, but keep your individual homes. How big is your house? I moved from my house to an assisted living unit, because I could afford it, and the apts in my are are not all that safe. Yes it is a good city, but with all the new influx due to the oil fields, crime has increased quite a bit. But I can cook in my unit (2 bedroom), or eat in the dining room, drive my own car, or have someone take me to a Dr. apt if needed etc.

No,I didn't just wake up one day with a new change of mind. After my DH died (cancer) I was left in our "forever home." An old house on a corner lot in a good location. Large yard, trees, patio, etc. Our two children were grown and on their own. In time, the house seemed to get bigger, and the yard and garden, which was primarily my DH's delight, was way more than I could handle. After six years, I sold the house, bought a small one nearby, remodeled it, did all the yard work myself which I enjoyed greatly, Years passed by, I was getting more arthritic and had to hire the yard work to be done. My decision was: if I couldn't do what I loved doing, why have that yard?

I looked at the possibilities: town home, condo, retirement community. There was a new retirement community just being built, in the rural area outside of town. I looked, several times, talked to the owners and asked a gazillion questions,discussed it with my children, and made the decision, sold the house and here I am.

The choices here are villas, or apartments. I have a villa, the end unit of a triplex; 2 bedrooms, garage, etc. My yard work has become "pot work" and now they are hanging pots. Some residents have small vegetable gardens. All maintenance, inside and out is a treat. I have been here 10 years and plan to stay until I am "carried" out.

This community is owned by two local families who have lived in the area for a couple generations; not fly-by-night folks. It is a family owned business; no HOA or Board. All terms or in writing, so you know what to expect.

I imagine there are other similar communities if you look for them.

I haven't regretted my decision, but, yes, it took years to make it.

Don't be hasty.

Sue

I continue to debate over staying here making the long term commitment or sell this place when husband retires and get a smaller house on some land, preferably with some kind of water view either beach or Lake or river.
This house is huge, way more than we need or use. Husband really wants a nice workshop like he had at previous homes. He wants to be able to do woodworking and mess with the Harleys. We both come from large farms sowe do wwant a little land but it doesn't have to be many acres like we have had. It gets to be too much work.
I know we will never live any type of apartments, condos etc, if at some point we have to go with assisted living that will be a different situation.

I almost daily look at real Estate in Texas and Louisiana in fact I just sent 2 links to my niece to look at.
We both want the same things which really helps.

Good suggestions from all. Will look into yard help, that might help a lot. But I may also visit some condo properties and just look around and check out my options.
There are a few condo properties in Galveston that seem very nice.

It would be helpful if you can talk to people who actually live in the communities. Some have sound proofing and you can't hear neighbors.

Some have entrances set up so you feel that you have privacy. Same with backyards.

The ultimate would be a small ranch style house that is considered a condo. We own something like this in Florida. All the grounds are taken care of and the outside of the house.

If the community has social events, I can see that as a nice way to meet other people.

I am interested in this thread. I lived in a condo for 8 years and just moved back to a single family home. I am dealing with the shock of all the work there is to do. I do not know if I made the right decision. It is agonizing.

There are condos and there are condos. The situation can be very different from one to another. If I move back to a condo I will be much wiser about it.

If you are in Galveston then make sure the condos are for residents and not vacation rentals. You do not want to be listening to people partying all night!

Another problem with the high rise condo buildings that have vacation rentals is that some of them reportedly have bedbugs, which is something I would like to avoid. And yes, I really don't want to live in the middle of a 24/7 party area.
It seems more condo associations are putting together rental programs so that the owners can offset their expenses, because for some owners the condo is a second home.
But problems can pop up- I was researching one of the smaller condos by just googling them, and they are being sued because they rented out someone's condo without his permission, he came out and there was someone living at his place!
I'm not going to be hasty. I think I will look into some yard help. I will continue to research. When it warms up a little I may take a day and just go and hang out in Galveston, not to enjoy the beach but to talk to people and look around.

I own several properties and a smaller one sounds good until I realize.....then make a pros and cons list....

I know a lady, age 77, that complains to me all the time about her allergies, living in a condo. She's in an expensive area in Canada. Says the gardeners make a racket all the time, They're remodeling....the noise, the dust.

Another lady that lives in a corner unit, one level, near a beautiful park and wants to move. She has a fixed amount to spend and wants "charity"/a deal to move into. Always wanting more....

I know another lady that purchased a condo then couldn't sell it for what she paid. First thing to depreciate in a down economy.

Another condo owner that had to take out a loan when they decided to put new siding on the units.

Another thing to remember if you look at a new condo complex is that the starting HOA fees are very low, but they sure will jump higher in no time flat. I lived in a condo in St. Thomas (small 12 units) and for many years it was just fine. Everyone worked together, etc. with the board. Then people who just moved in got on the board & it turned into a nightmare. Fighting, bickering & just general unpleasantness.

Condo boards can attract people to them who get carried away with their power & can make your life hell. I've even seen it here with HOA's that wind up in huge lawsuits & even board members hauled off to jail. If you find a congenial one, that's great but it can change. I'm in a private home now & just love the Mexican tradition of high walls around the house.

While I was in Galveston last 14 days, I kept thinking of how nice it would be to live there.... on the sunny days.

Then on an all day fog day, I was glad, that I live where I do, cause it isn't foggy or cloudy that much here.

Lucille, I wish I had known you were down there.

Moni

I could always just drive to Galveston on sunny days.
I hear and appreciate some of the downsides of condo living, including sudden large assessments.
I checkout out Freeport and there are a number of small homes just a few minutes from water/fishing.

Maybe after all this I'll decide the grass isn't actually greener elsewhere, but it is worth the look.

I started out sharing walls with other renters and am never going there again. Someone asked me "what will you do when you get old and can't take care of your property", my reply was I will hire someone if I can afford it, if I can't I will let it fall to rack and ruin. I will not live in an apartment again. I will rent out a room in my home if I can't afford to keep it.

I know it is very hard to see things that need to be done the way you always have, grass cut every week, watered on a schedule, dandelions have to be gone. You need to rethink your priorities. Those things were not a priority when my husband was to deeply into AZ.

I will mention one thing that is very important in our search, there must be excellent medical facilities and doctors in the area. I have serious medical conditions that will need continued support and care, husband has diabetes also, and of course as we get older things can pop up. So that might be something that others should consider too.

My elderly parents purchased a patio home at a retirement center. They do share a common wall with one neighbor but that wall is very thick and heavily insulated with dead space in the middle. Housekeepers come every two weeks and they are able to have all of their meals provided from the apartment complex. They don't have to do a single thing outside. It's really quite perfect for them.

Flamingo, that sound nice. Did they have to buy in or pay a non returnable deposit.

Do you know of some friends in similar position with whom you might share housing?

There are several advantages - there'd be shared chores, and if two can agree on how a chore should be done, sharing it is more fun than doing it alone.

You'd eat better: more than tea and toast for lunch.

Increased safety: if one falls or needs help, there's someone within earshot to help, and can triage it: we can look after it ... or we call a family member ... or we call "911" - right now!

There's more intellectual stimulation than when living alone ... and some say that it may help to keep certain forms of Alzheimer's at bay ... for a while, at least.

If there were several sharing, there'd be enough savings over living expenses separately as individuals that they could afford a part-time housekeeper.

Two would work - three wouldn't, for two would become friends and the third would be somewhat socially isolated.

Prior to starting, have a prospective sharer move in for a few days, or a week or two, to see how well the system might work ... and if it didn't look worthwhile, they could return home and make other plans.

Had one been in a hospital for a while, and could be released, but not able to function alone for a while, and no person available to help out for a while at home, sometimes they are "bed blockers" in hosp. ... but in this situation the other house-sharer(s) could watch over them, and take care of the chores, until the person were back on her/his feet and able to share work again ... and if that were not going to be possible, other arrangements would need to be made, but there'd be some time to make them.

Possibly some food for thought ... (better than tea and toast for lunch, maybe?).

ole joyful

I would never live in a condo. My daughter and her boyfriend moved into one a few months ago. They've had to listen to the couple next door fight every single day. They finally called the police on them Christmas Eve Day, when my daughter heard the guy yell at the woman, "I WILL KILL YOU!" The police were there five minutes. As soon as they got back into their cruiser, the fighting started again.

And you have to pay condo fees. Forever. And ever. And depending on where you live and the rules they have, there's so much more $$ they suck you dry with. Lucky for my son in law and my daughter, the roof, siding, windows and doors are all covered by the condo fees. But I have two co-workers who have to fork out $$ every time their condo development decides they want to change the siding, windows and doors. And you all have to buy the same product or they make you remove it and buy it again.

I like my single family home. I would like a bigger roomier house, but the thought of packing up 20 years of stuff terrifies me. LOL My house is considered a cottage to many people: only 1000 square feet. But it's home. And homey. :)

I've already had a change of perspective just by deciding to have the yard work done by a service.
I am not going to make any hasty changes and I very much appreciate the thoughtful comments here.