Down size

[41husk]

After many years of trying, I think I have covinced my wife to down size.  I have a fairly big house, for just the two of us, with a inground pool, that we seldom use since the kids moved out.  My wife finally agreed, my only object on the must have list is a garage or poll barn large enough to install a lift, or enough room to build one.  I think I am being very reasonable

[68chrgrwife]

seems reasonable enough.....is she objecting?

[chargerman68]

so is the house for sale.....location

as long as she has a kitcken and a bathroom she likes then a big garage or barn would not be too much plus if the kids are gone no need for all the extra room...unless u use it as storage for charger parts.....then u would have to stay

[PocketThunder]

Good luck with the sale.  Figure out what you want for the house then subtract 20%. 

[41husk]

I am near St louis MO. in Southern IL.  It is in a real nice area, but I don't use the pool, infact I spent more time opening closing and maintaining it than I did swimming.  Oversize two car garage.  I need room for at least 3, and there is a support beam running through the garage so I can't install a lift.  I would say by other sales in the neighborhood, it would go for 160,000 - 175,000.  I owe 82,000.  I would like to get into a home in the 75,000 - 90,000 price range.  She likes the two fire places, even though we have probably built 20 fires in 10 years.  Niether of us want a split level.  we both agree we need a ranch, so stairs won't be an issue as we get older.  She doesn't really fight the big garage issue, as I now spend most of my time at the Mopad in the garage,  So if we moved into one of the apartments at the mopad, there would be no mortgage I have a good size garage and room to put up another, but she doesn't want to live in Madison   I am sure we will find something.

[68chrgrwife]

keep looking the right house/apartment will fall into your lap I'm sure!

[41husk]

Thanks, but I hope I never rent again.  I have a few rental units including two at the Mopad they provide some mopar money so I can buy and work on my cars,  I would live in one of the units I own, but I hope I never need to pay for someone elses hobby.

[68chrgrwife]

Thanks, but I hope I never rent again.  I have a few rental units including two at the Mopad they provide some mopar money so I can buy and work on my cars,  I would live in one of the units I own, but I hope I never need to pay for someone elses hobby.

I understand....I hate renting..all this money going out for something I will never own, or profit off of...yeah it sucks

[41husk]

I did not mean to sound like I was putting down people who rent.  I spent 10 years in the Navy and rented for 6 of those and bought a mobil home and lived in it for 4 years, but still payed lot rental.  Some areas (San Diego) I would love to live in, but could never afford to own.  Having rented for several years I just don't want to go back to that.

[Mike DC]

 
I think you're very wise to be looking into (proposed new) home that you're describing right now.  IMHO that price range & list of attributes is gonna come into A LOT more demand in the next 10-20 years. 

   
Baby-boomers are gonna retire soon, and a ton of them are eventually gonna want a smaller ranch style house for the same reasons.  Free up income for retirement now that they don't have kids, stop paying for the great school districts in the expensive locations as well, get out of the second story for age-related comfort, etc. 

But the demand issue comes from the fact that developers lost interest in building anything below the $250K mark a long time ago.  Seems like everything built since the Carter administration is more like what you're talking about leaving. 

 

[70charginglizard]

If I downsized any lower I'd be living in a cardboard box...lol

[chargerman68]

If I downsized any lower I'd be living in a cardboard box...lol

your not the only one i live in navy housing 4 bed 3 bath under 1600 square feet

[41husk]

Ah yes Navy Housing.....  I lived in Navy Housing in Kingsbay GA. and Millington TN.  The units in GA were not bad at all.  It was a brand new base and we were the first people to live in that unit.  Millington TN. was not as nice, infact thats were we bought a mobil home to get more space, and it was a single wide

[68chrgrwife]

Ah yes Navy Housing.....  I lived in Navy Housing in Kingsbay GA. and Millington TN.  The units in GA were not bad at all.  It was a brand new base and we were the first people to live in that unit.  Millington TN. was not as nice, infact thats were we bought a mobil home to get more space, and it was a single wide

the unit we are in here is small, but it was been renovated, so it is in great condtion.  4 years ago, the military gave up its control over the housing (including BEQ, and all on base housing) to a civilian housing group....they ahve been doing awesome, tearing down the gross crap and rebuilding...most of San Diego is brand new housing...and we are now getting central a/c too. 

[chargerman68]

Ah yes Navy Housing.....  I lived in Navy Housing in Kingsbay GA. and Millington TN.  The units in GA were not bad at all.  It was a brand new base and we were the first people to live in that unit.  Millington TN. was not as nice, infact thats were we bought a mobil home to get more space, and it was a single wide

the unit we are in here is small, but it was been renovated, so it is in great condtion.  4 years ago, the military gave up its control over the housing (including BEQ, and all on base housing) to a civilian housing group....they ahve been doing awesome, tearing down the gross crap and rebuilding...most of San Diego is brand new housing...and we are now getting central a/c too. 

still sucks

[hemi68charger]

We're having a house built now.. She wished to get into a better school district... I come from the public schooll system, so didn't think it was that bad.............. Regardless,, one prerequiste I had was maintaining a 4-car garage like I have now........ She got the brand new house  and I got the brand new 4-car garage with 25" portacache.......

Your requirements don't sound too far-fetched at all..........

Good luck..
Troy

[41husk]

I got out in 1989, I remember The All Navy Judo Championships and Interservice Championships were in San Diego, I loved that place.  Definetly Charger weather!

[68chrgrwife]

uh huh!  great charger weather..all year long...we've been here since 2000 and are here until 2010.  I like San Diego, ready to see other places, but am not complaining about being here.

[Khyron]

I asked my wife to downsize as well....










she threw me out the house *RIMSHOT*

[41husk]

some days being thrown out of the house wouldnt be a bad option