So, I've started looking at homes for sale in our target areas & budget on Redfin / Zillow.
My absolute must-haves are in terms of yard size (for my son), single storied (for both of us), age of the home (cannot take on major / extensive maintenance as we both age, on top of caring for our son), and proximity to public transportation.
Absolutely NO HOA.
We're flexible in terms of sq.ft of the home and number of bedrooms. Neither of us wants a huge home but it should be large enough to accommodate our daughter or siblings who may sometimes visit.
What I'm finding is that not one of the homes on Redfin / Zillow in our targeted areas (as I type this) meets all of our needs. Older homes tend to be on larger lot sizes, or they're rural / not close to public transportation. Newer homes are on small lots, but meet most everything else, except they also have HOAs.
Husband thinks we'll have to "compromise" and since we're not ready to buy yet, this maybe the time to really research deeper and see if we cannot go more rural or settle on an older home, just to avoid small yards and HOAs.
While I understand his logic, I really don't know if the care, expense and keeping of an older home won't be overwhelming for us eventually?
I also worry about access to prompt medical care if we're more rural, esp as senior citizens with an adult disabled son. This home will likely be our "forever" home so it should be purchased with a lot of thought even if it takes longer, but H keeps insisting I be ready to compromise as no home "will have it all".
In our shoes, what would you compromise on and why? We could really do with the advice / feedback. Thanks!
My absolute must-haves are in terms of yard size (for my son), single storied (for both of us), age of the home (cannot take on major / extensive maintenance as we both age, on top of caring for our son), and proximity to public transportation.
Absolutely NO HOA.
We're flexible in terms of sq.ft of the home and number of bedrooms. Neither of us wants a huge home but it should be large enough to accommodate our daughter or siblings who may sometimes visit.
What I'm finding is that not one of the homes on Redfin / Zillow in our targeted areas (as I type this) meets all of our needs. Older homes tend to be on larger lot sizes, or they're rural / not close to public transportation. Newer homes are on small lots, but meet most everything else, except they also have HOAs.
Husband thinks we'll have to "compromise" and since we're not ready to buy yet, this maybe the time to really research deeper and see if we cannot go more rural or settle on an older home, just to avoid small yards and HOAs.
While I understand his logic, I really don't know if the care, expense and keeping of an older home won't be overwhelming for us eventually?
I also worry about access to prompt medical care if we're more rural, esp as senior citizens with an adult disabled son. This home will likely be our "forever" home so it should be purchased with a lot of thought even if it takes longer, but H keeps insisting I be ready to compromise as no home "will have it all".
In our shoes, what would you compromise on and why? We could really do with the advice / feedback. Thanks!