Looking for a home in San Diego as a senior comes with a lot to consider, and when you’ve decided to age in place, it can be challenging to find a house that meets all your needs. You might already have a checklist in your mind, starting with price, the number of modifications you’ll need to make, and how many updates have been made to costly maintenance items like the roof or flooring. However, when it comes to buying a home post-retirement, it’s essential to make sure you add safety features to that list to avoid any issues down the road.
Knowing what to look for in a new home will not only help you figure out your budget it will allow you to plan for the next several years. For instance, the right home for you may need to include sufficient lighting, handrails for stairs, or non-slip flooring so that accessibility and fall prevention are a priority.
Below Are Some Ideas On What to Look For When Buying a Home
Get to know the San Diego Market.
Before you make any decisions, it’s crucial to get to know the market in San Diego. Contact the McT Real Estate Group right away; we can help you with this. The size of your budget has many determining factors, and it’s not easy to bump up the amount you can spend if you’re unable to find a house in San Diego in your price range. If you know what to expect, you won’t be faced with many hard decisions or surprises. Keep in mind this week, the median list price for a single-family house in San Diego, CA, is $650,000.
Look For A Home Without Needs
Unless you can afford to build a brand-new home from scratch, chances are you’ll probably be faced with some difficult decisions when you’re searching for a house in San Diego. There may be many homes that come close to meeting your needs but don’t have everything you want, or homes within your budget that need more work than you’re willing to put in. Keep in mind that the point of finding a home in which to age in place is to make things easier on yourself, so if it needs a new water heater or some roof repairs, have your Realtor negotiate this during the buying process or keep looking for a home that best suits you. If it’s in good shape but doesn’t have all the things you want, you can always make some small modifications yourself. For example, if doorknobs are too difficult to turn, you can replace them with handles or levers (which Home Depot sells for under $20).
San Diego’s Friendly Communities Can Make a Difference
You may not realize it, but the neighborhood you choose can make a big difference in your health and well-being. This is because part of aging in place is retaining a sense of community and socializing, which can prevent isolation, a major source of depression in older adults. San Diego has lots of friendly communities and is a great place to retire. Get to know the neighborhood you’re interested in and talk to the neighbors before the move. This will help you feel more at home and may even facilitate new friendships, and it will allow you to find the nearest parks and fitness opportunities. Consider searching for a home in San Diego’s metro neighborhoods. North Park, South Park, University Heights, and several others have great walkability. Being close to food shopping, pharmacies, restaurants, and coffee shops makes it super convenient for people of all ages to call home.
Consider Keeping Up With Maintenance of a Home
Post-retirement should be a time of relaxing and doing the things you enjoy, not maintaining a house. Consider the upkeep factor when looking for a new place; the lawn should be small and have easy-to-care-for landscaping, and there should be no hard-to-clean areas inside (such as a fan high up on a vaulted ceiling). Your new home should work for you, not the other way around.
Make a checklist when you’re ready to start searching for a home for your golden years. If you’re moving in with someone, keep communication open with them so you’ll both be on the same page. Remember to keep your comfort and safety in mind when making decisions, and make sure your home is within your budget before committing.
If you would like help searching for a home in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-736-7003. We would love the opportunity of assisting you with this next step in your life.