Kids today are spending longer at home. The high costs of homeownership and rent, the burden of student debt, and slow growth in full-time, well-paying jobs means more and more young adults are living with their parents. In fact, 55% of 18-24 year-olds are still living under their parents’ roof.
While it’s a situation that helps many young adults get on their feet before moving out, it also means that parents are going longer before living the “empty nester” lifestyle. For example, if you had your youngest child at the age of 35, and they didn’t move out until they were 25, you’d be only a few years from retirement by the time you had the place to yourself.
Moving to Your Dream Home
When the kids move out, and with retirement not far away, you have a lot more freedom to live where you want. There are a few things that free up your options:
- Your commute becomes less of a concern.
- You no longer need the kids’ bedrooms.
- Your overall space requirements are lower.
Meanwhile, as you get older, it does make sense to start looking for homes that are age-friendly, such as bungalows with no stairs.
Many couples also look for new construction and customizable homes. It’s your chance to live in the home you’ve always dreamed of. Go to a custom home builder if you know exactly what you want but can’t find it anywhere else. For more information about home builders head over to Carlisle Homes.
Custom home builder stresses the importance of good home design in new construction. They have to be “fanatics” with a passion for design to really deliver. If you’re in the market for a dream home as an empty-nester, Blythwood Homes has the experience you should expect from a custom home builder.
An Active Social Life
Live somewhere where you can make friends with people in your age group, who are hitting the same beats in life, such as the kids moving out and retirement on the horizon. Living somewhere where your neighbors have free time, join clubs, and volunteer is a good way to find people who share your interests.
Travel
With retirement comes a chance to go all the places you’ve always wanted to, with plenty of time to linger on sunny shores and in exotic destinations. One of the biggest hassles with traveling is making sure someone is around to keep up with outdoor maintenance like mowing and watering the lawn or shoveling snow. In many places, you can receive a fine for not shoveling the sidewalk in front of your house.
That’s one reason many retirees are buying townhomes operated similar to condos, where outdoor areas and their maintenance are all handled by the board. It’s a convenient way to handle one of the downsides to becoming an empty-nester: no kids around to deal with the chores!
In all seriousness, though, when the kids finally move out, you have a chance to move anywhere you want to. It could be time to think about moving into your dream home.