Anyone Downsized Houses?

**freedeal** · 06-06-2007, 10:03 AM

We are thinking about downsizing our house. Not the size of the house but the size of the yard. We live in the historic "read pricey" area. We like our neighborhood and our neighbors. There are other neighborhoods that are just as nice just not so much yard. Our house is old and the houses in our neighborhood usually have a contract within a week.

I found a house that would make our house payments half of what we have now. Very little yard work, etc. My kids are older (teenagers) and they don't need the yard for a swing or toys. The house I am looking at is so close to the YMCA and we are members the boys could just walk. We are close to everything now and there we would be close to even more things.

My husband is ready downsize the yard too.

Any thoughts? Pros or cons?

Financially right now we are very comfortable and do not have debts other than the house.

**JustJoy** · 06-06-2007, 10:14 AM

DH and I both had single family homes in our past marriages. When we married we decided we didn't want to mess with mowing the lawn, shoveling the snow, etc, so we bought a condo. We have a large 3/4 fenced patio and room to grow plants, flowers, etc. The down side is the cost of the association fees. We pay $255.50 a month.

**3-boys-4-me** · 06-06-2007, 10:25 AM

If I were you, I would.
We have, over the years, made our yard as easy to maintain as possible. We had 13 trees taken out, leaving only 9. We let friends and neighbors come and remove any flowers they wanted, leaving only the easy to maintain bushes and plants (and there are still tons of them). We removed the fish pond. Now we just mow and edge once a week.
We're now debating having some of our back deck removed. Pressure washing and staining 1200 sq. feet of deck every Spring is a lot of work. We don't use most of it so we would like to take it down to 600 sq. feet.
We are simple people and would rather spend our time doing other things, such as camping, then spending hours every weekend in the yard.
If you can do it, I say go for it. The mortgage payment being cut in half makes the deal even sweeter.

**geckoace** · 06-06-2007, 10:59 AM

sound like a good idea to me. you may even have enough equity in your old home to really make a dent in your new home. i think if everyone is for it and it will cut you workload and expenses you should go for it

**kaykwilts** · 06-06-2007, 02:32 PM

Go for it if that is what you wish. I like big yards. We live on 5 acres and wouldn't have it any other way.

**GMA21** · 06-06-2007, 02:49 PM

5 years ago I downsized from a 3bd to a 1bd. My oldest DD was moving out on her own and I hated the place because it was next to a pub that was getting out of control & people upstairs from us were really loud & noisy plus since my dd was 18 my income was declining as well so I managed to get on housing and a friend found this place for me & I'm really happy hear even though a few things have changed here as well since my dad moved.

**freyadog** · 06-06-2007, 05:47 PM

I suppose I look at things through a green point-of-view.
Less gas or electricity to mow and edge. Less fertilizer, seed and the biggy water to maintain the yard. more time for family and friends.

Barbara

**getnrichslowly** · 06-06-2007, 08:18 PM

I would do it if I were you. (move to the smaller yard)

**jamie79** · 06-06-2007, 08:31 PM

sounds like a good idea to me

**HandyMom** · 06-06-2007, 11:41 PM

I would. I still miss the luxury apartments I lived in when I was single. Life was much simpler then and I was hardly ever at home, anyway! Now I feel like a slave to this house and yard all year long.

**Holly** · 06-07-2007, 09:13 AM

We plan on doing that when DS moves out on his own and we don't have all the animals.
We want a place where we can just kick back and enjoy each other.

**betharoo0** · 06-08-2007, 12:01 PM

I SO WANT ONE OF THESE!
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/home.htm
I covet these tinylil houses! On a nice lil' piece a land out in the middle of nowhere! I love simple!

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-08-2007, 01:19 PM

I have run this same theory ....only moving more rural rather than smaller yard....The only thing stopping me from suggesting it to my hubby is the sentimental stuff. The extension that we've done ourselves and with family is probably the last major construction piece my father will have had a hand in. My kids pulling up the old floor as toddlers and DH and I putting down the new one.....and so on. That kind of stuff is the onlything holding me back.

**freedeal** · 06-08-2007, 01:32 PM

We found a house. The perfect house we think. Only thing is that we are not willing to buy it without it being contingent on selling our house. So there is no guarantee that it won't sell before we can get a buyer and close on our house. The realtor is coming on Monday and we will decide if we will sell through a realtor on By Owner. Our neighborhood sells fast by owner so we will probably go that route.

If the house is meant for us everything will work out. If it isn't then we don't have to move.