Two-House Pendulum Swinging Back to One

[48Fire]

We have had two very small homes since 2003. Although we would prefer one home we haven't found an area weather wise that we could live year round.

That was a challenge for us as well. When we hit 9 months in Florida we felt we could tough out the summers with a little travel and a swimming pool

 

[48Fire]

We went the other way. From a 3600 sq ft home to a 1400 sq foot rental condo.

It was a lifestyle decision that turned out to be financially advantageous. Sold high and the investment returns have been good. If at some point we cut back on travel we may buy again. We certainly enjoy renting after 35 plus years of owning and renovating homes in several cities.

Great move there! I pushed renting at one point, but my wife loves to make home improvements, and it keeps her happy. Maybe as we get older she will tire of the situation. We have renovated/gutted five homes in 9 years, so I have no reason to believe we are done

 

[48Fire]

We purchased a condo in a good ski location. Had it for (6) years and sold. Got double what we paid. Would have kept the condo but DS moved in when he divorced and took a job near by. Big mistake. We found when we went to the condo we didn't enjoy it anymore because he was living there. Told him had to get out and we sold it.

Now we sold our primary home to our daughter and we are renting an 800 square house from her. House was totally done 3 years ago. We kind of think we might keep renting this house from her and find a secondary place on the east coast. Looking but just haven't found the right thing.

We are still in our 50's and I love all the history on the East coast. We do have and rv so if we find a secondary location, think we will sell the rv.

It wouldn't surprise me if we end up being influenced by our daughter's move if she moves to a nice place further south Kids often influence decisions, and if there are grandkids even more so.

 

[kcowan]

We have 2, one in Mexico and one in Vancouver. We spend a month in Europe and split the rest of the year evenly between the other two. It has been like this for 10 years.

When the 2nd of our 2 cats crossed the Rainbow Bridge after 18 years last June, we have been presented with more flexibility. Still no action but the main consideration is to eliminate the Vancouver place and spend a couple of months renting there, a couple of months renting in the east, and a swing month not sure where. Partly due the family passing on. Both Bro and BIL, Dad and MIL.

But the nesting instinct remains strong. (What no workshop? What about our friends?)

 

[Which Roger]

DW and I bought a second home the week after I retired. DW is still working, thus we still need the first home. We have no specific plans for what happens after she retires; our position is that we will just let things happen naturally. The dynamics will change when neither of us is working, and who knows how that might play out.

 

[48Fire]

DW and I bought a second home the week after I retired. DW is still working, thus we still need the first home. We have no specific plans for what happens after she retires; our position is that we will just let things happen naturally. The dynamics will change when neither of us is working, and who knows how that might play out.

I think it's great that your plan is no specific plan, but sounds like you are flexible enough and prepared for whatever life brings you.

 

[Dash man]

Our primary home is in PA and 11 years ago we bought a Florida home near Tampa. We sold the Tampa home last year and bought a beachfront condo in southwest Florida that we love. We're starting a total remodel, so it'll be much more up to date, opened up and everything new by late spring. Just picked out two slabs of quartzite to go on our custom cabinets, new high quality laminate flooring, adding full size washer/dryer...but not changing the view...

 

[48Fire]

Nice!

 

[Dawg52]

Nice!

+1

 

[FIREd]

During most of my childhood, my parents had two homes - one in the city for a base during the work week, one in the country for weekends and holidays. It worked really well for them - though the homes were located only about 15 miles apart (yet they had completely a different setting and vibe).

I always thought that I would have two homes too. And I do. Except that my two homes are on 2 different continents and the logistics are a bit more complicated. In our case, we have decided that it would be simpler to have two full households set up permanently so that we could travel light between the two homes.

That being said, there are days where I would prefer to own no home at all. When I arrived in the US 20 years ago, I could carry all my possessions in the world in 2 small suitcases. I lived out of those suitcases for 2 years. It was real freedom. Yesterday I was looking around my apartment in the U.S., thinking about how much I have accumulated during the past 15 years (since getting hitched really). It's insane. My mom said all that stuff was a sign of success. I don't know. I made a list of all the stuff I really care about and... it would still fit in 2 small suitcases.

 

[Danmar]

. In our case, we have decided that it would be simpler to have two full households set up permanently so that we could travel light between the two homes.
.

This is what we do. Heading down to Arizona tomorrow from Toronto and hardly have anything to take other than our computers, iPads, and phones. Nice once it's all set up but does sometimes get a little complicated.

 

[check6]

Our primary home is in PA and 11 years ago we bought a Florida home near Tampa. We sold the Tampa home last year and bought a beachfront condo in southwest Florida that we love. We're starting a total remodel, so it'll be much more up to date, opened up and everything new by late spring. Just picked out two slabs of quartzite to go on our custom cabinets, new high quality laminate flooring, adding full size washer/dryer...but not changing the view...View attachment 25352

Moderators, please remove this post before my DW sees it!

 

[Huston55]

We went the other way. From a 3600 sq ft home to a 1400 sq foot rental condo.

It was a lifestyle decision that turned out to be financially advantageous. Sold high and the investment returns have been good. If at some point we cut back on travel we may buy again. We certainly enjoy renting after 35 plus years of owning and renovating homes in several cities.

Similar for us. After owning/selling 6 homes in 6 locations, upon FIRE we decided to become renters. And, we might remain renters until we move to a CCRC.

Everyone's situation is unique but, for us, we chose location over all else. Because the location we chose is on the expensive side, we downsized (frankly, a healthy experience); small house but awesome location & view.

We did discuss the multi-location arrangement several times over the years but, DW mostly vetoed that. WISE WOMAN that DW. She was right; we'd now both much rather spend the time/$ living in paradise and traveling on vacation versus maintaining two homes.

 

[JTOrt]

We are down to 2 homes, our primary home north of the 49th and our snowbird home in California. Sold our northern lake property, the boats and all the summer cottage stuff as well. It was fantastic but too much to maintain. We love having 2 homes set up for when we arrive. Considering an ocean spot in Baja but need to consider what we can manage in our 'Golden Years'. Trying to fit in overseas travel in the meantime. Life is good

 

[Dash man]

Our primary home is in PA and 11 years ago we bought a Florida home near Tampa. We sold the Tampa home last year and bought a beachfront condo in southeast Florida that we love. We're starting a total remodel, so it'll be much more up to date, opened up and everything new by late spring. Just picked out two slabs of quartzite to go on our custom cabinets, new high quality laminate flooring, adding full size washer/dryer...but not changing the view...View attachment 25352

Edit: to read southeast Florida.

 

[Danmar]

Life is good

Indeed it is.

 

[BeachOrCity]

Two homes ourselves. Right now we get too much enjoyment from both to consider selling either. But if that changes we could always switch to one home.

I think the key is NOT to plan it but just to take it year by year.

 

[kcowan]

Because of restrictions on luggage in airplanes, I have to duplicate my workshop and I am always getting confused about what tools I have in one of the two locations. And glue! Where is my superglue? Oh yea, in the other place. And the workshop up north is more substantial than the snowbird place.

I am thinking of just outsourcing the work in both places...but as an engineer, this idea grates on me.

 

[Ronstar]

^ I just finished a "workshop" in the garage at our condo. Since the garage is about 9'x20', the workshop is only a 3' wall mounted folding table, 3' of wall pegboard to hold tools, and 2 upper cabinets. It's great - I spend a few hours a day playing there. All hand tools except a drill.

 

[2017ish]

...

That being said, there are days where I would prefer to own no home at all. When I arrived in the US 20 years ago, I could carry all my possessions in the world in 2 small suitcases. I lived out of those suitcases for 2 years. It was real freedom. Yesterday I was looking around my apartment in the U.S., thinking about how much I have accumulated during the past 15 years (since getting hitched really). It's insane. My mom said all that stuff was a sign of success. I don't know. I made a list of all the stuff I really care about and... it would still fit in 2 small suitcases.

+1. My personal feeling is that, at some point, it switches from you owning possessions to possessions owning you.

 

[6miths]

We have two at the moment. Primary residence in city and a lakefront cottage for 15 years. I am hoping to downsize the primary in the not too distance future although the mainly grown children (and to some extent DW) will be resistant. The primary residence is just too large and too high maintenance inside and out... The cottage will eventually likely just be passed on to one or more of the children.

 

[jabbahop]

Next fall we will start our two home snowbird life - winter in st. George Utah and summer in our lake cottage in vermont. We are essentially setting up two homes as I don't think we will drive each time. One thing we are trying to figure out is where do our kids things go since they are in college and will be coming "home" to both places at different times of year.

 

[harley]

Because of restrictions on luggage in airplanes, I have to duplicate my workshop and I am always getting confused about what tools I have in one of the two locations. And glue! Where is my superglue? Oh yea, in the other place. And the workshop up north is more substantial than the snowbird place.

We also do the "traveling light" thing, taking just the dogs and the hedgehog and computer stuff and some paperwork. The rest we duplicate or do without. When we started doing this 5 years ago I decided that I would build my second workshop off Craigslist. It's amazing how much really good stuff I was able to find cheap. I ended up with a for-crap Craftsman table saw that I'm going to replace, but everything else was decent to excellent, and probably 25 cents on the dollar. Plus, if we ever decide to stop snow birding, I'll sell the stuff for most of what I spent on it. I even got a box of glues and clamps at a yard sale for $5. Amazing. Up north where we live is more rural and agricultural, and there's nowhere near the selection of stuff available on Craigslist.

 

[Rambler]

We owned in Cali and had a corporate rental in Tokyo for 14 years. During that time we built a third in Cali, and retired to that home in '12. Sold the other Cali home in '14. Traded the travel trailer for a diesel pusher motorhome in '15. Bought a home in NV in '16. We plan to move our home base to NV and use that as the jump off point for our motorhome travels, but keep the Cali home for a few more years. At some point, we'll sell it and may buy a condo in HI, in a condotel rental pool. Or, if SIL and DD find their dream jobs there, we may just fold everything up and buy a home there with an ohana. DS and DIL are moving to Boston, so it will be a plane ride to see them either way, and we'd prefer to be able to be close to one of the kiddo's babies (DD is expecting our first grandbaby and they're hoping a potential move to the islands will work out...they've lived there before, so they know what to expect). Time will tell. I never expected to want to/need to sell the home we retired to, and we love the home, but staying here until the end is sounding less and less appealing. Thus the second home in NV before just selling and moving altogether. Once we sell it, it's gone for good. We just aren't quite ready for that.

 

[kcowan]

^ I just finished a "workshop" in the garage at our condo. Since the garage is about 9'x20', the workshop is only a 3' wall mounted folding table, 3' of wall pegboard to hold tools, and 2 upper cabinets. It's great - I spend a few hours a day playing there. All hand tools except a drill.

I have 2 workshops in cupboards, one in Vancouver and one in PV!
Vancouver has an electric drill and circular saw. Everything else comes from a handy rental shop a few blocks away.

In PV, I use "help" for anything needing power tools.