Describe your perfect retirement home?

[C-Ya]

How big would it be? (Square feet)

How many bedrooms?

What amenities? (Gym, office, podcast room, outdoor living areas, RV/boat parking, Home theater, guest rooms, etc)

What is the perfect pool?

How big of a walk-in closet does your wife need? (My wife needs it as big as a bedroom! lol)

What is the current cost per square foot to build? (I expect this number to be all over the place. lol)

For those reading between the lines…….. My wife and I are considering buying a waterfront home (intracoastal waterfront with docking) and tearing it down, to build something new. At this point, we are just thinking about it. We looked at a few open houses over the weekend, but, because of insurance costs, building new will be better in the long run. Btw, we are happy where we are at, but the Florida condo market is changing rapidly, and we are thinking about getting ahead of the curve. Most of the homes we looked at, were built in the 60’s, with galvanized plumbing and lead paint. Even if we remodeled, the home would still be considered over 50 years old. There are no lots available. You have to buy an existing home and tear it down or remodel it. There are no other choices.

It will be interesting what others would build for their perfect retirement home.

 

[bonesfab]

1 bedroom and a 20k sqft garage. and a golf cart to cruise around the garage.

 

[Todd Mohr]

2000 sq/ft with 2000 sq/ft of climate controlled garage on the water with a 3 stall dock with lifts. The Delta, LOTO, or any other places that I'm unaware of. Where would the best affordable place under 1 million that would meet that criteria?

 

[C_J_J_C]

We have thought about this a lot. In our case it is approx. 3,200 sqft 2 story. Master bedroom, theater and small office downstairs. Two bedroom with attached baths and a bonus room upstairs. The goal is to NEVER go upstairs but have room for kids/grandkids and friends to visit.

 

[DLC]

15-1800 - 2 master suites & office, big walk in closet ok 6x6, 8x8, big kitchen for cooking - wife likes to cook, we don’t have kids and no friends !

patio -
area for sitting/ dining for 8, TV, pool or hot tub, outdoor kitchen gas grill, smoker & griddle, microwave & sink, room for the dogs to play fetch & crap

garage big enough for -
2 stall for RV / boat, then room for truck jeep can am, jet ski, classic car, Wednesday night poker games & cocktails man cave and then tool box’s, 2 post lift, TV, small bath pisser/crapper, ice machine fridge and freezer, gun safes, work bench

ya know nothing fancy

wife can park along the street….

lol

 

[hallett21]

I assume we’re sending it here

I’m 33 so I have a different perspective lol.

My wife and I also like our families lol.

5 master bedrooms (attached bathrooms) with 2 extra 3/4 baths (toilet and shower) for parties or holidays. Let’s our 2 kids have their own room and 2 extra rooms for family.

Walk in “safe” with a vault door.

Roughly 20x20 office with opposite facing desks for wife and I. Way too much space but allows each person to have their own desk and I highly doubt it would be used simultaneously.

Legit entertaining kitchen. Enough counter top and appliances for a double throw down thanksgiving. Multi panel windows and doors to open the entertaining space up.

Zone the AC so everyone can pick their temp and be comfortable. Or have a bunch of mini splits.

Interior lighting controlled with standard Lutron Diva or Maestro switches. Smart home controls have gone over the top. Guests can’t figure out most things and home owners panic when the lights and TVs don’t work.

Rectangle pool with a large Baja shelf and multiple umbrella mounts. Jacuzzi at the same level.

Tasteful landscape with well thought out (and high quality) landscape lighting.

Large walk in closet that has a his and her side with a decent “island” in the middle. Living in separate closets seems weird to me for married people.

3 car wide garage with 2 bays being 50-60ft deep. RV height would be awesome but 10ft ceilings would be enough.

Living room needs to have a 100” TV with decent surround sound and a huge couch for watching movies. I’ve been in a few movie theatre rooms and they’re really cool but they don’t really get used. You need the living room tied into the kitchen so people can get snacks etc.

Blackout shades in the living room and every bedroom.

Heated bathroom floors.

We’re gonna need NVDA to hit $200…..

 

[whiteworks]

Proximity to quality health care, without that Barbie’s dream home is a short lived concept.

For us it’s going to be 3 or 4 small places 2000 sq.ft. in areas we enjoy being at certain times of the year. Open floor plan, single story each bedroom would be a master with its own bath.

3 bed, 4 bath, 3 car garage, higher end consumer grade finishes/appliances, nothing too custom or difficult to maintain or to resale if that need arises. If you go too far down the rabbit hole on a custom build just the way you like it, be prepared to sit on it for a while or take a bath when it’s time to move on.

 

[LuauLounge]

Number 1. Ask your wife

Start picking room/area sizes, placement and use.
Bedrooms, 3 min, master, guest, office, bathrooms, 3
We have seen these houses with 2800 sq ft entries, a waste IMHO.
We live in a 700 sq ft great room. Just the 2 of us.
Pick your views from your rooms
Don't build unused space
Single story or an elevator. You don't want to go up/down/fall on stairs.
once you are done, see Number 1

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

I'll jump in on this one.... I agreed at my mothers request to situate her in her dream retirement community back in 2005. Pops had died and all their college buddies males were dying off and her gal pals were moving to a twin towers community just outside DC. I flew back east to check it out and its like nothing I've researched here on west coast. Two 15 story buildings.... three restaurants.... full healthclub amenities, pool etc.... van driver anywhere for errands.... hell, if she wants to go to the fancy dinning room restaurant I have to wear a sports coat. This is where all the DC elite go to die.... I've met retired 4 star generals and admirals I recognized from tv. Now from what I read on this post so far most are thinking retirement homes that aren't really their final spot.... this is a place you have to be 65 to gain entry and you better come with big finance. I was visiting recently and sitting in the garden with my now 95 year old mom. She's still sharp as I am at 65 and watching folks walk past I noticed how young they appear... this is the new blood coming in and now I am their age, lol. Mom says once you enter here you just leave out the back in a pine box. They even have an Alzheimer's wing they've added and a third smaller building for when folks need more care before the end. I call it the Four Seasons of dying and I actually love going to VA and having my childhood friends meet me there and gathering at a bar/ clubhouse kind of spot they have on site.... we never have to go anywhere to catch up and the staff allows me certain liberties now that they all know me after 20 + years. THIS is a place I could see myself in after I start falling down a lot more than I do at 65!
Good thread @C-Ya .... should get good feedback

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

One that is paid for!

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

1 bedroom and a 20k sqft garage. and a golf cart to cruise around the garage.

Naw, guys like you live/ die in their shops.... if you own the building just build a minimal living space off to side or on roof with easy access.

 

[CLdrinker]

I’m doing lots of window shopping in TN and AL right now. This next house will probably have to be our last so I can get it paid off before retirement.

1 acre outside of a mid sized city with healthcare nearby, 2500 sq ft 5bed 2 bath for under 550k isn’t looking good at all especially in TN.

 

[old rigger]

Playboy Mansion.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I have a partner that ran some of these....you'd be surprised how sexually active really old people are. They like to roam the halls and pop into others rooms.

 

[mjc]

a large barndomimium on one level, no stairs. 1 bedroom, an office and a guest room/ office. Needs a decent size kitchen since we like to cook together sometimes. Garage area needs decent size for RV and boat with an area for me to work on projects that can be closed off from the rest.

 

[Badchoices03]

I’m doing lots of window shopping in TN and AL right now. This next house will probably have to be our last so I can get it paid off before retirement.

1 acre outside of a mid sized city with healthcare nearby, 2500 sq ft 5bed 2 bath for under 550k isn’t looking good at all especially in TN.

Thats funny, a new role with the company I work for just popped up internally in Nashville, would be more of a lateral move for me....so for shits and giggles I started looking at houses in the area just to see....I was quite surprised at how much they were...

 

[attitude]

I would need two houses, one on the west coast in AZ or Utah that has a big garage to store toys, not sure on the size as it would mainly act as storage for toys and important family stuff.

Then another 3000sqft+ single story on the water in Florida with a nice dock an a lot of boat traffic so I can sit on my dock with a whisky and a cigar every sunset and watch the boats go by.

Also, why do so many of you need offices in your RETIREMENT homes lol.

 

[81Sprint]

Stayed in it last week! 1700 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath at 8500' elevation. I would need a separate 4 car garage to make it perfect.

 

[callbob]

I have all I want. We built an 800 sq. Ft. Casita behind the kids house next to the 2 bay garage. Nina wanted to be close to family at the end. So it’s just me and my little buddy Charley so plenty big enough for the summer months I’m here. Then load up the 3 slide 34’ Moho, hook the jeep on the back and head somewhere warm while it freezes and snows here in Colorado. Simple mind, simple life I guess, don’t need payments or homeowner problems.

 

[was thatguy]

 

[hallett21]

I have a partner that ran some of these....you'd be surprised how sexually active really old people are. They like to roam the halls and pop into others rooms.

lol the highest rate of stds for a long time was over 65.

 

[Singleton]

I first have to figure out a location first
once I have that, that determines what.

ideal is a single story, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath plus garage/shop. No more then 1800sf of living area

 

[beerrun]

I’m doing lots of window shopping in TN and AL right now. This next house will probably have to be our last so I can get it paid off before retirement.

1 acre outside of a mid sized city with healthcare nearby, 2500 sq ft 5bed 2 bath for under 550k isn’t looking good at all especially in TN.

Have you looked at lake Martin in AL that is catching our interests

 

[Riverhound 2.0]

We're building it now... 2,500 sqft, 4 bed, 3 bath, 3,000 sqft double RV garage on a small, easy-to-maintain lot at the price point I believe I can have paid off or close to it when I retire. Dedicated office, 2 guest rooms for our kids and friends to visit, a decent-sized master closet for Mama, and a big open-concept kitchen/family room. The garage is big enough to house the toys, and there is a separate HVAC-controlled storage area for all our important (or thought to be important) stuff.

We'll see if today's vision matches tomorrow's reality of how we want to live.

 

[2Driver]

A condo on 500 acres and a 10 car garage.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

50 year old trailer park in a miserably hot dusty location with terrible healthcare and stumbling distance to a liquor store and payday check cashing. Extra credit if there is a place to buy cat food in the strip mall.

 

[C-Ya]

A condo on 500 acres and a 10 car garage.

What if that condo had an increase to a $3500 monthly HOA bill, that was originally $800? Now, you also got the special surprise……… a 100k special assessment?

Here is a sampler of the new reality in Florida. The video below is not an isolated incident. It’s happening all over SoFlo right now.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Have you looked at lake Martin in AL that is catching our interests

Just FYI they have a length and speed restriction on that lake. And it’s worded funny in that if your boat is capable of going over 60, it’s banned.

Regulatory Issues — Lake Martin Resource Association

Regulatory Issues

www.lmra.info

 

[Todd Mohr]

50 year old trailer park in a miserably hot dusty location with terrible healthcare and stumbling distance to a liquor store and payday check cashing. Extra credit if there is a place to buy cat food in the strip mall.

So I posted how I want to retire, you posted how I will retire.

 

[ToMorrow44]

I’m trying to build it right now but costs are all over the place. I have 5ac in North Georgia. Wanting to build a walkout basement style house (to conform with the slope) 2000-2500sq ft main level with an office and jack&jill bath for the kids. Leave the basement unfinished for now for future game room, gym, guest suite, etc. ~2000sq ft of garage space with at least one 14’ tall door.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

So I posted how I want to retire, you posted how I will retire.

I've seen my destiny. With any luck, It can be along the river so I can hear the sweet song of an angry big block early in the morning and the call of the Grackle greeting the new day. Extra credit if I can drive a golf cart down to the bar for a bloody Mary or six, before retiring for a nap and some Judge Judy reruns. Finish the day with an 18 pack of silver sodas and a frozen Tina's burrito.

 

[was thatguy]

50 year old trailer park in a miserably hot dusty location with terrible healthcare and stumbling distance to a liquor store and payday check cashing. Extra credit if there is a place to buy cat food in the strip mall.

I thought you already had a Havasu place…?

 

[Todd Mohr]

I've seen my destiny. With any luck, It can be along the river so I can hear the sweet song of an angry big block early in the morning and the call of the Grackle greeting the new day. Extra credit if I can drive a golf cart down to the bar for a bloody Mary or six, before retiring for a nap and some Judge Judy reruns. Finish the day with an 18 pack of silver sodas and a frozen Tina's burrito.

We can only dream my brother.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I thought you already had a Havasu place…?

Imagine that, well into my retirement plan with about ten more years to go.
Edit: I'll need to trade up to Parker or the lower River to achieve my lofty aspirations. Islander is too far from the liquor store.

 

[17 10 Flat]

I'm in mine 1900 sq ft, 3 beds, 2 bath, smaller lot. HOA cuts the lawn, trims trees, fertilizes, spays for bugs, take care of community pool all for less that $125.00 a month. Damn small ass Garage though....
Have military, retired and active living here, LEO too. I'm staying.

 

[CLdrinker]

Have you looked at lake Martin in AL that is catching our interests

I will keep my eye out.

 

[C-Ya]

Here is some humor, but in a way, I am being serious.

Most people sit down with an Architect to design their house………. In Florida, you sit down with your insurance agent!

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Here is some humor, but in a way, I am being serious.

Most people sit down with an Architect to design their house………. In Florida, you sit down with your insurance agent!

My brother, just sold a spec house in CDA he built, he got lucky on timing and made a good enough profit he thought he was going to retire to Florida. I was talking to him yesterday about how it was going and he was pretty frustrated by a lot of the hidden costs associated with the RE market in Florida. This thread is timely. He and I are miles apart on what retirement looks like. I think he may rent for now and see what shakes out, he has a theory shit is gonna get interesting in Florida.

 

[clarence]

My wife and I are considering buying a waterfront home . . .

How important is the view from your condo? You can't really get that in a home.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Honestly . . . I've thought about this a fair bit.

Small Single story.
2 Bed / 2 bath.
Some nice wood grain beams showing.
Hardwood floors & big throw rugs that could be replaced.
Would be built / oriented so that it had unobstructed view of the sunrise (back of the house /master bedroom) & sunset (front of the house living room) with patios / porches. front & back.

I'd have it built with the best insulating technique I could afford.

Nothing too special in the garage except a bathroom with a walk in curbless shower to wash off grime, or just to cool off.

. . . oh, and a decent size stove with a pot filler.

 

[NIKAL]

Since this is a dream retirement home, and I’m guessing to be your last home. Think about the long term future. Make it 1 story, if 2 story is desirable, then make sure there is a future master suite with bath down stairs for any future health changes. Two story’s are not the best for the elderly or disabled. Make your hallways and door openings a little wider for a walker, wheel chair, or scooter. Especially make the bathrooms disability friendly. Dont make a toilet room where you can’t get in or out of a chair or walker. Make your shower have the ability to walk or roll in and have a room to put a shower chair in if later needed.

All this can be done and look awesome and not like a convalescent home. Preparing now hopefully ensures you or your wife could live in the home after a surgery, or long term disability, and not have to move into a rehab or long term care facility.

After this, build that dream home to your budget and desires.

 

[Your ad here]

I learned some things from my grandpa. Single story or 2 story, just make sure there is a master bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms, and washer/dryer on ground level. Another one is you will want a wheel chair accessible shower. Like you can wheel the whole chair into the shower. Pretty much make the whole house wheelchair accessible. Don't confuse wheelchair accessible with ADA. You don't need handrails in the bathrooms, it's your personal residence. Have a detached apartment on the property with easy access to the main house. Have the apartment fully equipped with bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and washer/dryer. These are things that are overlooked a lot. You wouldn't notice these details in my grandparents house unless someone pointed them out. The accessibility was done very well.
Last 2 years of grandmas life she became wheelchair bound and needed daily care from a specialist nurse.... Because the way grandpa set the house up, she was able to live out the rest of her life in the comfort of their house and she was comfortable. Getting around in the wheelchair was easy and the nurse lived in the apartment. Live in nurses is common but it was nice the nurse had a "place" of her own so her and my grandparents could get some personal time.

 

[Your ad here]

Since this is a dream retirement home, and I’m guessing to be your last home. Think about the long term future. Make it 1 story, if 2 story is desirable, then make sure there is a future master suite with bath down stairs for any future health changes. Two story’s are not the best for the elderly or disabled. Make your hallways and door openings a little wider for a walker, wheel chair, or scooter. Especially make the bathrooms disability friendly. Dont make a toilet room where you can’t get in or out of a chair or walker. Make your shower have the ability to walk or roll in and have a room to put a shower chair in if later needed.

All this can be done and look awesome and not like a convalescent home. Preparing now hopefully ensures you or your wife could live in the home after a surgery, or long term disability, and not have to move into a rehab or long term care facility.

After this, build that dream home to your budget and desires.

We pretty much said the same thing. An apartment on the property for a nurse or caretaker would be a nice bonus.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

The wheel chair advice is good. The wide doors and halls are nice even if only restricted to a walker for a short time. Easier for the fire department to get you out as well I guess in the event of a medical emergency. Plus when you add on a few extra pounds due to too much ice cream and Judge Judy reruns you can pass your spouse in the hall way.

Might have to rethink my single wide mobile home plans, I like Ice cream.

 

[DWC]

We’ll most likely keep Havasu. The dream is to buy small place in So. Cal with an ocean view or at least walking distance to a beach. 2 bedroom condo would have worked until @C-Ya started killing dreams.

 

[C-Ya]

I learned some things from my grandpa. Single story or 2 story, just make sure there is a master bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms, and washer/dryer on ground level. Another one is you will want a wheel chair accessible shower. Like you can wheel the whole chair into the shower. Pretty much make the whole house wheelchair accessible. Don't confuse wheelchair accessible with ADA. You don't need handrails in the bathrooms, it's your personal residence. Have a detached apartment on the property with easy access to the main house. Have the apartment fully equipped with bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and washer/dryer. These are things that are overlooked a lot. You wouldn't notice these details in my grandparents house unless someone pointed them out. The accessibility was done very well.
Last 2 years of grandmas life she became wheelchair bound and needed daily care from a specialist nurse.... Because the way grandpa set the house up, she was able to live out the rest of her life in the comfort of their house and she was comfortable. Getting around in the wheelchair was easy and the nurse lived in the apartment. Live in nurses is common but it was nice the nurse had a "place" of her own so her and my grandparents could get some personal time.

I really like the guest house idea. Until you need the live in nurse, you can rent out GH on vrbo and pay the property taxes and insurance.

 

[Your ad here]

I really like the guest house idea. Until you need the live in nurse, you can rent out GH on vrbo and pay the property taxes and insurance.

It's a nice option for family or friends to stay in when they visit. Even when my grandparents were more mobile my grandmas niece lived in the apartment for 5 years and helped them a lot with groceries, laundry, yardwork, ect. It was nice for our family to know someone was there incase of an emergency.

 

[lbhsbz]

What's "retirement"?

 

[Mini Kat]

I'll say I already have everything I want and then some. I retired in 2005 and as far as I'm concerned happiness and joy comes from within your heart. Everything I have is paid for in full everything I do is just to keep my body moving. So that I don't grow old, it's for fun and the write offs that is it simple life.

 

[SKIDMARC]

One that is paid for!

Ditto. That’s it!