Considering Very Small Condo

[militaryman]

That's my bad. I was referring to Devon Tower. I originally thought that it also had condos in it, but I was mistaken. For those who don't know, here's a picture. It really doesn't "fit" in the skyline of a smaller city like OKC.

First I have heard of any negatives about the Devon Tower -- It has brought a ton of jobs and investment to OKC and the building itself is a top notch piece of work. I guess every up and coming small city has to have one tower pierce the skyline first

 

[sunsnow]

Several years ago DH and I purchased and painstakingly restored a grand victorian. After the project was completed, the day-to-day annoyances of having to maintain the property (and worry about it when we were traveling) made the experience of ownership unpleasant. We downsized to a super modern condo in a fun area. The lock and leave aspect of ownership was wonderful, as was the experience of getting rid of many of our antiques (especially those uncomfortable turn of the century sofas...) We found that a mix of modern and antique pieces actually worked just fine in the condo. After a time, though, some aspects of living in that condo got on our nerves, including: no private outside space, not enough storage, inconvenient parking, expensive HOA dues, potential HOA litigation regarding construction defects, limitations on our ability to rent our unit, and the "fun" neighborhood just feeling too urban and impersonal. Eventually we sold our condo and moved into a very small house in another fun area, with less of an urban vibe. We've been in the little house for six years, and really love it. It shares almost all the upside of the condo without the problems: there's very little maintenance needed, and we feel comfortable locking up and leaving when we want to travel. We can walk to just about everything. The small space encourages us not to accumulate too much junk. The cost to own and maintain is actually quite a bit less than the condo, in part because the construction style of that condo was a glass-and-steel high rise that had lots of needs and issues, and in part because we manage expenses more carefully than the HOA did. Anyway, YMMV, but I wanted to share this experience, because it didn't really occur to us to look for a little house when we were downsizing, even though that choice was the right one for us.

 

[Marita40]

Sunsnow, it sounds like you've hit the jack pot after several hits and misses. I hope to do the same. The condo I'm considering appears not to have the issues you mention. I'm anticipating that the condo costs would be a lot less than my current house-- including heat, which is a big expense here. Instead of the endless outlay needed to keep up/fix up an old house I could do other things like travel, etc.

The small space is giving me pause, but I also realize so much of my identity for all the years of my adult life has been as an "old house person." But your mention of the uncomfortable turn of the century sofa rings so true. Most of my antiques are beautiful to look at and largely impractical. It seems rather ridiculous. But how to sacrifice charm for practicality? And yet I long to live with a comfortable sofa, air conditioning, etc for once in my life!

 

[Meadbh]

As for the downsizing, I am all about that. Remember, we will ALL downsize EVERYTHING eventually. So the question becomes "how much crap and for how long"?

This is the ultimate downsize we are all headed for!

 

[Marita40]

Well, that's cheery Meadh

Maybe we should be like medieval monks and sleep in coffins as a reminder. You can't take it with you.

 

[CoolChange]

Considering Something Similar

...moved into a very small house in another fun area, with less of an urban vibe. We've been in the little house for six years, and really love it. It shares almost all the upside of the condo without the problems: there's very little maintenance needed, and we feel comfortable locking up and leaving when we want to travel. We can walk to just about everything. The small space encourages us not to accumulate too much junk. The cost to own and maintain is actually quite a bit less than the condo, in part because the construction style of that condo was a glass-and-steel high rise that had lots of needs and issues, and in part because we manage expenses more carefully than the HOA did. Anyway, YMMV, but I wanted to share this experience, because it didn't really occur to us to look for a little house when we were downsizing, even though that choice was the right one for us.

Thank you for sharing this. I am considering something similar and started a new thread at the same time you posted to this one. Any additional advice you have from your experience would be appreciated.

 

[Hermit]

Another Hermit-type guy moved into the area. He lives in a 20 foot trailer and wants to build a 20' by 20' cabin. I laid it out in Sketchup and added furniture so he could have an idea of the size. I am encouraging him to make it 24 by 24. It will be very small either way.

 

[Hermit]

Ugh, answering to an HOA, sharing walls or space with nosy/obnoxious neighbors, being at the mercy of whatever the association wishes to charge in maintenance/special assessments... No thanks. Then again, I would happily live in a compound in the woods if DW did not insist on suburbia.


De gustibus non disputandam...

Too bad DW is not on board. You could be a Hermit family!

 

[Music Lover]

In the 1950s the average house size was 983 sq feet. My entire family lived in a house not much bigger than that.

My house is bigger....it's 986 sq ft

But...it has a full basement, and a 630 foot deep lot that ends at a farmer's field. With a side deck, fence, and strategically planted trees, I can sit on the deck in complete privacy and not see another house.

 

[Ronstar]

My house is bigger....it's 986 sq ft

But...it has a full basement, and a 630 foot deep lot that ends at a farmer's field. With a side deck, fence, and strategically planted trees, I can sit on the deck in complete privacy and not see another house.

Nice! The small house, full basement, big lot is a great combo

 

[KingB]

This is the ultimate downsize we are all headed for!

That is still too big. I am thinking more of a size of a jar (urn).

 

[Music Lover]

That is still too big. I am thinking more of a size of a jar (urn).

That is still too big. Use the urn to scatter me somewhere, and then return it for a full refund.

 

[check6]

Sunsnow, it sounds like you've hit the jack pot after several hits and misses. I hope to do the same. The condo I'm considering appears not to have the issues you mention. I'm anticipating that the condo costs would be a lot less than my current house-- including heat, which is a big expense here. Instead of the endless outlay needed to keep up/fix up an old house I could do other things like travel, etc.

The small space is giving me pause, but I also realize so much of my identity for all the years of my adult life has been as an "old house person." But your mention of the uncomfortable turn of the century sofa rings so true. Most of my antiques are beautiful to look at and largely impractical. It seems rather ridiculous. But how to sacrifice charm for practicality? And yet I long to live with a comfortable sofa, air conditioning, etc for once in my life!

Marita, we own a small 4th floor summer condo near the MSP airport that overlooks the MN River Valley and we love it. With the heat off it never gets below 60 degrees in the winter. Utilities are almost nothing. We like to travel as well. Walking distance to the light rail and 10 mins to the airport.

 

[Marita40]

check6, thanks for your input! Well, I've opted for the small condo and could not be more excited. Although there is NO storage elsewhere, there are two huge walk in closets with nicely designed closet systems, and there is a utility room with the furnace, boiler, and stacked laundry units that also provides ample room for shelving. In my soul-searching over the last few weeks I've realized that I live in only a few rooms of my current much-too-big house. As my week in Europe this last week also confirmed, I am comfortable in small spaces (the Europeans certainly have this one down!). The purchase price (cash) and on-going costs of this condo are going to be so much lower than my current house that I am gleefully planning for nearly all new furniture, all of which will be carefully thought out to be useful as well as beautiful. Since I've lived in old houses all my life for the first time I will have luxuries like air conditioning and closets where I can actually hang clothes on hangers without them getting squished when the door closes! The more I think about it, the more the condo is ideal to a carefree living style which was really the aim as I approach retirement. It just came a little sooner than I expected, but it is good to now start radically downsizing while I have the health and energy to do so.

 

[MichaelB]

New condo and new furniture! Sounds like you'll be quite busy and that this is working out nicely. Good luck.

 

[Bestwifeever]

check6, thanks for your input! Well, I've opted for the small condo and could not be more excited. Although there is NO storage elsewhere, there are two huge walk in closets with nicely designed closet systems, and there is a utility room with the furnace, boiler, and stacked laundry units that also provides ample room for shelving. In my soul-searching over the last few weeks I've realized that I live in only a few rooms of my current much-too-big house. As my week in Europe this last week also confirmed, I am comfortable in small spaces (the Europeans certainly have this one down!). The purchase price (cash) and on-going costs of this condo are going to be so much lower than my current house that I am gleefully planning for nearly all new furniture, all of which will be carefully thought out to be useful as well as beautiful. Since I've lived in old houses all my life for the first time I will have luxuries like air conditioning and closets where I can actually hang clothes on hangers without them getting squished when the door closes! The more I think about it, the more the condo is ideal to a carefree living style which was really the aim as I approach retirement. It just came a little sooner than I expected, but it is good to now start radically downsizing while I have the health and energy to do so.

Congratuations! It sounds perfect for you. That really is a lot of storage for one person--if you fill it up, you'll know right away you have too much stuff!

 

[Lagniappe]

check6, thanks for your input! Well, I've opted for the small condo and could not be more excited. Although there is NO storage elsewhere, there are two huge walk in closets with nicely designed closet systems, and there is a utility room with the furnace, boiler, and stacked laundry units that also provides ample room for shelving. In my soul-searching over the last few weeks I've realized that I live in only a few rooms of my current much-too-big house. As my week in Europe this last week also confirmed, I am comfortable in small spaces (the Europeans certainly have this one down!). The purchase price (cash) and on-going costs of this condo are going to be so much lower than my current house that I am gleefully planning for nearly all new furniture, all of which will be carefully thought out to be useful as well as beautiful. Since I've lived in old houses all my life for the first time I will have luxuries like air conditioning and closets where I can actually hang clothes on hangers without them getting squished when the door closes! The more I think about it, the more the condo is ideal to a carefree living style which was really the aim as I approach retirement. It just came a little sooner than I expected, but it is good to now start radically downsizing while I have the health and energy to do so.

Really glad to hear you have found someplace that meets all of your criteria. My condo sold before it hit the market; now I am on the lookout for a smaller condo to rent!

 

[ivinsfan]

Congrats, hope you enjoy you new nest and that it is everything you wanted. Have you sold the home you are living in, hope the timing on both homes works out to your timeline...

 

[Meadbh]

Congratulations, Marita40! I hope your new home is everything you hope for.

 

[LaVieQ]

I've lived mostly in condos or apt.s after graduation, and, yes, there were a couple where neighbors/thin walls were a nuisance. But, for the most part, as a single, I didn't enjoy living in a house - it feels too big. HOA's could be bothersome, but, it's not like one has to deal with them frequently. In return, there's the advantage (as a single person) of security, no maintenance to worry about, the pleasures of city living, etc.

In terms of size, <1000 sq ft is difficult, although, it really comes down to what one's basic necessities are. I need a good amount of space for stereo, movie viewing (not necessarily home theater) and a 2nd BR/BA for visiting friends. That said, I've lived in 1 BR/BA places with ~900 sq ft without a problem. Visitors had to deal with the pull down sofa, but, way back then I didn't care and if the visitors did, it was their problem.

For furnishing a small space, here's some space saving Italian furniture ideas to consider.

All the best with your new condo!