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YouTubeI just thought of this, and it struck me as odd. Empty nesters supposedly are buying "urban condos" because they want to downsize now that the kids are out of the house. This just seems odd to me because should it not be the opposite? Now that the kids are gone, and you don't have to support them anymore, you can build your dream house on 2 acres, and tool around in your garden now that you are retired, and whatnot. I mean who has the money to have the humungous 3 million dollar house while the kids are still at home, it seems most people would not have this kind of money until maybe their 50's (people that saved their money over the years, not people making 1 million a year since they were 30).
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Empty Nesters?
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reSourceRyan
The Wedge
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^ In addtion, a lot of empty-nesters don't want the hassle of dealing with a house and all it's maintenance issues, inside & out. Condo living is much more care-free. Plus they get a sense of feeling young & hip again. 8)
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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"Empty nester" doesn't equal "retiree" either. Lot's of people are empty nesters at 45 and retire at 65.
Posted 4 years ago # -
BUTerrier
Grandview
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It just does not make sense to me, you save up your whole life, for what? a fucking condo? you must be kidding me. My parents are empty nesters, they now reside in a 2bedroom condo in the west village, it is small as shit, cannot be more than 1100 square feet, but tehy also have built their "retirement home" out on long island that they go to on the weekend. I mean who wants to scrimp and save their entire life and have to retire to a god damn box. It is nonsensical to me. I guess its like this, if you are in NYC and have a condo and you can get away to LI to your summer home on the weekends it seems normal, or if you live in chicago and weekend at lake geneva.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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I don't get your point. There are at least two empty nester couples in my building who are doing the exact same thing as your parents. They work in downtown Columbus, but one has second home on a lake in another part of the state, and another has thier second home in Tenessee.
There's nothing magical about NYC that changes the logic there.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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I know several much older couples who moved into GV and downtown after the kids left. Main reason? Same reason we do, "coolness factor". Most of the 60's couples I know who moved down here after the kids left love the great restaurants, walking to do as much as possible, going to Shakespeare in the Park, having dinner parties with the neighbors, all that. They get active in the GV society or other groups, and are great members of the downtown area IMO.
I definitely agree with the fact that empty nesters these days rarely want to sit on the porch of a farmhouse knitting sweaters for the grandkids, and see the best way to enjoy their money and their lives is to live like they did before the kids.
Posted 4 years ago # -
BUTerrier
Grandview
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Brewmaster wrote I don't get your point. There are at least two empty nester couples in my building who are doing the exact same thing as your parents. They work in downtown Columbus, but one has second home on a lake in another part of the state, and another has thier second home in Tenessee.
There's nothing magical about NYC that changes the logic there.
there is a difference, if my parents were able to have a couple thousand square foot home in manhattan, they would, but unfortunately they are not multi millionaires. They are in a condo because basically they are forced to be in one, not by choice.
My only point which i haphazardly tried to make is, it just seems retarded to me to scrimp and save your whole life and after that hard work you are rewarded with a condo? I mean i would be all for it if the condo was in the ritz carlton or something, but a regular condo downtown is what you work your whole life for? I would think i would like to enjoy the fruits of my labor and sip drinks out by my pool, have a great yard to walk around, etc.
For a young professional there are advantages to living downtown (assuming you worked there) i just see them diminishing when you pass 40 and your lifestyle changes.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Think of the condo + weekend house as a bridge to retirement...not retirement. I think that's when it really makes sense for people. Sounds like a good way to spend your 50's.
Who wants to have two lawns to mow AND a 45 minute commute to work everyday?
Posted 4 years ago # -
rave_til_dawn
Dennison Place
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My parents are both empty nesters and retirees. They would like to move into something smaller (not a loft) but probably 2/3 bedroom condo. Mainly so they don't have to do yard work and maintenance anymore. Not only because they're getting older and it's harder to do those things, but also because they don't want to waste their time doing that stuff! They'd rather be doing things they love, not powerwashing the deck or shoveling snow.
Posted 4 years ago # -
luchobucho
Philadelphia, PA
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my parents sold their house and moved downtown, they are in their late 50's and early 60's, still working. They are closer to work, can walk everywhere and are easy an easy cab/train ride to the airport.
My parents don't play golf, and if they want to go to the beach, they take a vacation. I think the idea of retiring to the beach or a golf course just isn't for everyone. My parents worked hard all their lives and bought a really nicely appointed (but modestly sized, relatively speaking) condo.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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BUTerrier wrote It just does not make sense to me, you save up your whole life, for what? a fucking condo? you must be kidding me.
It think it's a matter of quality vs quantity.
Does having the largest house possible automatically mean that your quality of life will be better? Of course not.
Your life goals are not the same as everyone else's life goals. What's so hard to understand about that?
Personally, I think sipping drinks by a pool and walking around in a yard sounds like it would get boring after about a week. But if that's what other folks want to do, that's fine with me. To each their own, right?
Posted 4 years ago # -
mightymighty
North Side
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Paul wrote I can't imagine working my whole goddam life to live in a goddam box. It's fucking insane!
Fuck! Shit!
You don't have to live in the box though. They will let you go outside and do stuff. You can live outside the box and then go home and sleep/eat/whatever.
How much space do you really need? Why have space just to have it? Why pay taxes and do maintence/lawn care on space you don't need or barely use? I've lived in big houses and tiny ass apartments, and as long as my place looks cute and I can relax and not have to listen to my neighbors where I live can be just as small as it needs to be. I'd rather spend my time and money doing things I want to do instead if re-investing it back into where I reside. And if ya'll think less of me for having a small place then you don't get to visit! Neener neener!
Posted 4 years ago # -
alison
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Most of the empty-nester age people I know are prime candidates for downtown condos. Having scrimped and saved and put the kids thru college, etc... they'll be damned if they're going to be tied down to a piece of property! They're checking out the lawns and gardens of Chaleston, SC, or investigating the front porchs of the South of France, or doing all the things they want to do, rather than maintain a big play space for the kids.
I happened to see a book a few years ago that was specifically targeting retiree/empty nesters who were moving downtown, with reviews and evaluations of specific cities. I think it's a growing trend and we need to keep in mind that downtown residents are [and will be] pretty diverse.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Paul
Vancouver, BC
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mightymighty wrote
Paul wrote I can't imagine working my whole goddam life to live in a goddam box. It's fucking insane!
Fuck! Shit!
You don't have to live in the box though. They will let you go outside and do stuff. You can live outside the box and then go home and sleep/eat/whatever.
...
Oh, I completely agree with you.
I just got caught up in all the excitement of bashing things and cussing.
Posted 4 years ago # -
CbusIslander
Cbus Islander
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Isn't that video taken in front of north bank condos?
:lol:
Posted 4 years ago # -
FaireM
Columbus
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alison wrote Most of the empty-nester age people I know are prime candidates for downtown condos. Having scrimped and saved and put the kids thru college, etc... they'll be damned if they're going to be tied down to a piece of property! They're checking out the lawns and gardens of Chaleston, SC, or investigating the front porchs of the South of France, or doing all the things they want to do, rather than maintain a big play space for the kids.
I agree. Some people would rather travel, explore, and generally do the things that they didnt have the time or resources for earlier in life. Condo life affords that. Plus, let's not forget the added bonus of not having to shovel snow or cut grass.
Posted 4 years ago #
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