Are your in-laws or parents thinking about relocating to be near the grandkids?

Do your kids wish their grandparents lived nearby?

Are your in-laws or parents thinking about relocating to be near the grandkids?  

Over the past 10 years, my wife and I have noticed a tendency of parents of our peers to move to NH to be closer to their adult children and grandchildren.

Does this sound like you?    You’re married, with a couple of young kids, living in the Boston area, you and your spouse have successful careers.  Birthdays and holidays often involve a plane ride or a long drive to see extended family.

And does this sound like your in-laws or parents?   Successful in their own right, retired or semi-retired, but definitely not ‘old’, shifting priorities, a desire to be near the grandkids to share their love and wisdom. Maybe on a recent visit the idea came up, ‘How would you guys feel if we moved closer to your family so we could see the grandkids more often?’  You and your spouse thought about it and decided that, actually, it would be great to have family around.  

So what now?

As I looked back over the blogs I’ve been writing this year, there is a storyline that speaks to your situation.   Here are some themes that might help you and your parents (or in laws) figure out the next steps.

1)      Savinghalf a million dollars by moving to New Hampshire.   This blog looks at real estate prices and cost of ownership as a function of distance from downtown Boston.   The bottom line is that Southern NH is a great solution to get the most house for the dollar while still being a convenient distance to Boston.   And, it may provide just enough separation so that you and the grandparents are close but not too close.

2)      Top20 Reasons to live in New Hampshire.   This is pretty self-explanatory but one thing that jumps is the tax structure, particularly for retirees with some consulting income and significant capital gains.  New Hampshire is a no-brainer versus Massachusetts.

3)      Rightsizingyour home.   This blog talks to the advantages and economics of buying a house that fits your current lifestyle.   It can be extremely freeing to finally let go of that huge house and get into something new and more manageable.    And it can also free up equity and cash flow to finally splurge on those trips and experiences your parents have been talking about for so long.

4)      Top 5 reasons an over 55 community may not be right for you.   Your parents may be over 55 but they aren’t ‘old’.   And the last thing they want is to be surrounded by a monoculture in an adult community.   Our subdivision, Skyview Estates in Pelham, NH provides many of the advantages your parents would be looking for – luxurious single story living, smaller lots, gorgeous views, and other community benefits while still being an unrestricted, diverse neighborhood. 

Top 5 reasons an over 55 community may not be right for you

Over 55 communities are a great solution for many retirees but they are not for everyone.  In this blog post, we take a look at the top 5 reasons an over 55 development may not be right for you.

1. Variety (of ages) is still the spice of life.  According to Deborah Diane, Baby Boomer Retirement blogger, “some people like living in a community where there are mixed ages.  They enjoy seeing children in their neighborhood, as well as young couples who are just starting out.”    There is a vitality that comes with a diverse neighborhood.  For some, living among “Seniors only” just doesn’t feel right.
2. Kids and grandkids not welcome.   Many adult communities have strict covenants particularly on grandchildren.   For some families, it may be a necessity to have grown children and/or grandchildren live with them for an extended time.  Who can predict life’s turns – sickness, divorce, unemployment?  And what greater joy is there than for a grandparent to spend time with their grandkids and help nurture them into successful adults?   In our case, my wife and I made a conscious decision to settle close to our parents, so that our children could enjoy the influence of their grandparent’s love and wisdom.
3. High fees.  Many over 55 communities have great amenities – golf, swimming, tennis, clubhouses – but these all cost money.   It is not uncommon to pay hundreds of dollars per month in fees.  Do you really want to be paying for a community pool that you seldom, if ever, use?  It’s important to evaluate how much those amenities mean to you and whether you want the long term liability of maintenance and capital improvements.
4. Cookie-cutter homes on postage stamp lots.   You’ve worked long and hard to reach this point in life and achieve success.   Sure it makes sense to rightsize, (see my blog post on rightsizing your home for a happylife), but do you really want to be living in a row of identical homes where you can reach out the window and touch your neighbor?    There are many well designed adult developments, but there is something to be said for the elbow room and custom home feel of an elegant single family home community.
5. Tougher resale.   Even if this is the last home you intend to buy, future resale value should still play a role in your decision making.  In an adult community, the rules and regulations imposed by the Condo Association inherently limit your market of potential buyers.  Age restrictions, pet restrictions, fencing/landscaping rules, parking, long term guest bans, etc. are all potential negatives.  Consumer's want choice and flexibility.  

At our Skyview project in Pelham, we attempt to strike the balance between the simplicity and benefits of an over 55 community while keeping fees to a minimum and offering a diverse, vibrant single-family home community in a phenomenal location.   

We offer gazebo areas with sunset views over the mountains, community gardens, open space and hiking trails.  Our lots are smaller than a conventional subdivision, averaging 0.7 acres, but large enough for privacy.    And our ranch model, The Currier, has all the convenience of luxury single story living with an open concept floor plan and the craftsmanship of a true custom home.   Here in New Hampshire we say – “Live free and thrive!”