Sound drastic? Maybe so, and admittedly it's not for everyone. But for those who may be at the place where they're open to considering a lifestyle change or ways to free up time to pursue other interests, read on. Most of us get to this point due to various life changes, but for others, being tied to a house & property is already beginning to provide less feeling of security and seems more of an anchor. Even if that's the case but the time for an alternative isn't right, use this information in planning for the future.
Houses have many ways of becoming little monsters requiring continuous care and feeding, while they grow to consume ever-increasing amounts of time & money. Having for most of my life owned several of them ranging from small to quite large, I can attest to the fact they are amazingly demanding. Especially if we maintain them properly so they retain or increase their value, and provide a comfortable and attractive domicile.
Whether bought new or pre-owned seems to make little difference. Things like brick and stone exteriors of course reduce painting, and there are other maintenance time-savers, like sprinkler systems, but nothing eliminates the need for continual upkeep. There is always something that leaks, breaks, wears out, needs painting, caulking, or other repair. The list is endless from plumbing and appliances, to heat, AC, roofs and pools.
As seasons change, it's the same. Each year, we spend large sums of money and tons of time with lawns, landscaping, fences, pools, gardens and more. On top of that, there is the inevitable remodeling as needs & tastes change, plus avoiding negative impact on resale value due to outdated décor.
Something many folks never consider is how much it costs just to have a house, especially if expenses like property taxes and insurance are escrowed as part of a mortgage payment. But if you make those annual payments directly, they can be quite hefty, and for large properties, the monthly tax bite easily exceeds the mortgage payment for a small house. Also for large houses, the incremental energy expenses for electricity and gas to heat, cool and illuminate them are often wasted on space no longer used.
The point is, we spend a lot of time and money, in many plain and subtle ways, for the privilege of owning a home. And there's nothing wrong with doing so, if that's what we want. It can be a nice feeling to have carved out our small piece of the world and tend to it. In fact, attending to all the little projects, and caretaking can be a therapeutic diversion, especially if our day job is mostly mind work at a desk, or stressful in some way.
But if we're past all that, either tired of it, or otherwise wanting something different, consider the alternative of chucking it all and finding an apartment or condo to either rent or own. Debating the advantages of owning or renting is a topic for other articles. One can actually make a case for either approach, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Depending on budget, the desired amenities can be had either way, but in general, one can usually get more and do less by renting, plus there is the added advantage of staying unencumbered and mobile.
Advantages can be broken into a couple categories: reduction or elimination of upkeep, and increased amenities. The former is more about saving time and money while still having an attractive, well-maintained place to live, while the latter has to do with the things we have use of without the associated costs of building, buying, storing, or maintaining them.
As an aside, the whole idea of getting rid of a house as a step toward a new lifestyle, usually also involves disposing of excess stuff. This whole process is another subject, but in short, we are likely to achieve even more success and freedom by eliminating the accumulated baggage of years past. It can be strangely liberating not to be tied to a lot of things.
If one has spent significant years in a house, the advantages of an apartment or condo may not be immediately apparent. Beautiful surroundings are there to be enjoyed with none of the chores of keeping them up. Lawns are groomed, trees and shrubs pruned, everything watered, fertilized & weeded, and every season, fresh flowers planted. Pools, grills, gardens, patios, and outdoor areas are always ready for use. Various outside recreation is available depending on the property, and ranges from volleyball to the beach, to golf.
Some places offer extensive fitness centers, saunas & massage, gyms for aerobics or basketball, and courts for racquetball and squash. Also inside are business centers including conference rooms, computing facilities, libraries, billiard & pool rooms, party areas for groups, media rooms & theaters, and concierge services for nearly everything else one might want or need.
Also, there are no concerns about upkeep and repairs. It's someone else's job to keep everything in working order. If it's broke, call maintenance. Most all places change out air conditioner filters, and some replace light bulbs. The degree to which one can be accommodated varies widely accordingly budget and personal preference, but even modest means benefit from the basics, and realize substantial time savings.
Selecting an apartment or condo that delivers all one wants, requires as much, if not more effort than choosing a house. Living many years in a house can cause us to forget some of those less obvious considerations. If you haven't lived in this type environment since leaving home or graduating college, then you'll want to do some prep work to ensure ending up with the kind of accommodation desired. Check out articles on what to look for that are tailored to renting or owning apartments and condominiums.
If you're ready for something different, a way to create more free time, reduce expenses, enjoy a comfortable, less demanding lifestyle, then pursuing this alternative will take you a long way toward meeting those goals.
John Allen writes on a wide range of topics. Visit his blog to read more or obtain feeds. He can also be reached through his travel website Caribbean Destinations which focuses on the Eastern Caribbean. |
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