What is the reason you HAVE to buy real estate and move now? These answers will probably narrow down what areas of the Country you need to be in.

Aren't you in the process of planning a major remodel of your current home? Did you decide to move instead?

Hi Weedyacres, yes, we have to remodel regardless. Unfortunately, we are also in need of an in law space, which would be in addition to the current renovation project. We're not sure which is going to be financially feasible, building on to our detached garage, or moving into something all ready set up for an in law space.

A website is not going to help if you have no idea where you want to go or what places interest you. Sit down and write out what in your life / lifestyle matters to you most and then match these to places that can offer them.

If it's not feasible to build an in-law space in your existing house, I'd skip the renovations you're planning and just buy a new place.

For house-shopping, look on realtor.com or zillow. They pull all the MLS listings in and zillow also has FSBOs.

NCREGuy - I'm starting with what is familiar close to home because we have family here. If that doesn't work out, I'll have to give it some more thought.

Weedy Acres - I understand your reasoning, but we had water damage over the winter that has to be repaired in one of the bedrooms any way and the insulation has to be updated to prevent more ice dams next winter. Plus both baths are way overdo for an update. And we're not sure we would sell our house to move, we might try to do two houses, with a relative moving into our present house. So at the least, we have to do some remodeling. It just means, either we do the bare minimum to maintain resale value, or we plan on staying and making it fit what we need.

We don't really want to move out of state. I think about it sometimes, but we do have family in this state. I just looked in some communities we are familiar with on Zillow and we're just not going to be able to meet those prices. So, I'll keep looking and try to find different communities to look in. Real estate in our area is really expensive.

Thanks

Right. Don't spend all that money just to put the house up for sale. You will not be getting it all back. Maybe only 60%...depending. If you are selling then just do what needs to be done to get a fair price. Then move on.

Exactly, what if the perspective buyer hates your choice. Fix it the best you can and offer it at a discount to move it. Let the new guy worry about bringing up to his tastes.

For your original question of where to start, I would start with a list. I would work on articulating my wants, hopes, needs, absolute dislikes, etc. I would write them down so I can refer back to them and revise them as new information becomes available or I have thought about it more. Then, I would start evaluating options according to that list. I would also have others who are involved in the decision making or those who will be impacted directly by the decision make a list just so I could at least consider other vantage points.

Evaluate what you have, why you think you should move or remodel, distance between relatives, relationship with them, and as for relatives possibly need additional care check to see what is around that has assisted living, adult care etc. Contact the relatives medical staff, and see how much help is needed and financial responsibility. Moving someone into your home is very emotional, and takes much planning. Is all the legal papers in place, who will be responsible for care and financial control. Do you have either a AARP agent, or senior center to get answers and guidance. Do you have to do this now, or are you planning? other relatives--ideas etc.

You can go to Care Takers Forums for ideas also

Good luck and one day at a time. Write everything down in a notebook, who what, when, how etc

Based on your user name and your ice dam issues, I’m guessing we’re in the same general area. The good news is that this year in particular there won’t be a single buyer in this area that will be freaked out by a house having been sustained some ice dam damage. There are few houses that have not had it -- very few. I would fix the damage, disclose that it happened (again it’s not going to scare anybody away this year) and leave it to the buyer to figure out that they need to upgrade the insulation (90% of us have it on our spring to-do list). I would find a home that already has put the in-law suite in. They’re not at all hard of find - use key word searches and look for “in-law”, "au pair” or even “apartment” or “two family.” They’ll go by all kinds of names, and there doesn’t seem to be difference at all in the price per square foot for having them vs. not having them. So, from a bang-for-your-buck perspective, moving to a home with one in place would give you more than adding on to and/or converting your current home. I like to use Redfin’s app. for searching, and for alerts, very user friendly and they allow you to be notified within hours of a new property that fits your criteria coming on the market.

jn3344 & millworkman - I understand that if I renovate with the intention to move, I have to keep it to bare minimum.

Tishtoshnm - I am going to be spending time today working on a pro/con list for both choices and planning to have a get together with all those who will be affected, for input.

Marie - Thanks for those ideas of what to consider. Appreciate it. Taking notes too.

Kris - I agree, so many people have had ice dams this winter. I spent the past two days looking for ‘in law’ arrangements in both Zillow and Realtor dot com and very very few were available. I don’t have a cell phone, so no apps.

Thanks.. :-)

So, here's where we're at. We met with our first contractor yesterday and the ballpark estimated cost was more than double what I was expecting. I had mixed feelings about the contractor. On one hand, he has a lot of satisfied clients, according to him, and his description of the process of how they go about a job, was very reassuring. He definitely seems to know what he is doing, is really well organized and pro active, we share similar philosophies, for instance, he suggested we might retain the floors and the windows. And he seemed very confident that what we want to do can be done. But - it's a lot of money.

I am usually a very hands on person, as far as researching and monitoring any work done in the house, but a large remodel like this would be difficult and with this contractor, I feel I might not have to be as involved. So it is tempting. But - it's a LOT of money.

So - I added together the value of our home, with the cost of the remodel and have been using that figure as a price range to look for new homes. In the communities we would want to look, right now there is nothing. Even homes that are higher priced than that, look like they would also need renovating. So, right now, I'm feeling stuck.

So, maybe a pro/con list and a talk with all involved will have some benefit.