by Robert Borges on November 27, 2024
As you enter retirement age, it’s important to make key financial and lifestyle adjustments to suit your new reality. This may include downsizing your home to a smaller and low-maintenance house that doesn’t put you under too much financial pressure.
Finding a suitable house size for a senior in Florida can be both stimulating and cumbersome, mainly due to the wide range of choices available and some inevitable factors like your finances, lifestyle, and the number of occupants.
Fortunately, many Florida active living senior communities offer various housing options that vary in size and design to suit different preferences. In this post, we’ll discuss the considerations you need to make when looking for the right size of a home for 55+ in Florida.
What to Consider When Looking for the Right Senior Home Size
Where do most seniors live in Florida? This southeastern state has many private communities designed for seniors–you just have to find one that suits your location preferences and lifestyle.
Once you identify the right community, the next task is to find a house that suits your preferred size. Here are some key considerations to inform your decision:
Your Current and Future Housing Needs
Think critically about the amount of space you require now and in the future. Do you need extra rooms for your family and guests, or are you okay with a one-bedroom apartment? Do your hobbies require you to have a spare room?
If you’re looking to downsize your living arrangement and minimize your upkeep, a one-bedroom house may be the right size for you.
Your Financial Situation
Most people living in senior communities are either retired or nearing retirement, so they can often only afford smaller homes that won’t drain their retirement funds. Large homes, of course, cost more to buy or rent.
Their cost of maintenance can also be too high for a retiree surviving on a fixed income. It’s important to factor in other charges like the homeowner’s association (HOA) fees, which could increase the overall cost of the house.
Number of Occupants
It’s financially prudent and logical to opt for a smaller house if you’re living alone. However, you might need an extra room if your friends and relatives are likely to visit you often.
Arrangement of the House
Are you looking for a single-level or multi-level house? What kind of floor plan do you want? How many bedrooms and bathrooms should you have? These are critical factors to consider as they’ll determine how much money you spend on the home and the convenience you’ll enjoy living there.
As an active senior looking to downsize your living, a small house with one or two bedrooms and a single bathroom is likely enough, especially if you’re living alone. This size of house will be around 900 to 1,800 square feet.
Your Location Preference
Houses in densely populated neighborhoods tend to be smaller because there is less space to accommodate everyone. So, if you need a spacious home, you may have to find a community away from the city.
However, your medical situation might force you to opt for a smaller apartment or condo in the city where you can easily access facilities like hospitals, shopping malls, and restaurants.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right home size as a senior moving to a Florida active adult community is an elaborate and thoughtful process that requires you to consider all the above-mentioned scenarios.
So, what’s the biggest 55+ community in Florida? Private Communities has the answer to this and all other questions you have about senior living in Florida–reach out to us or check out our resources today!
