You've spent years making your house feel like home. You've celebrated milestones here, made every room your own, and turned neighbors into friends. As you look ahead to the next chapter, it's natural to wonder if this is still the place you want to spend it.
Whether you're leaning toward staying in your Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch home as you get older or moving to a 55+ community, the goal is the same: a home that fits the life you want, with more time for the people and things you love. Here's what to consider before you decide.
What It Can Take To Stay Put
Wanting to stay in a house you love and know well makes sense. But most houses need at least some updates to make aging in place easier.
In fact, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS) finds that fewer than 4% of homes have the basics, like single-floor living, no-step entries, and wide hallways and doorways (see graph below):
That means for most homeowners, staying put means doing a remodel.
Here in the Hill Country, that can be a bigger job than it sounds. Many homes in Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch are two-story, built on sloped lots, or have steps at the front door, in the garage, or out to the patio. Bedrooms upstairs and a primary suite on the second floor are common, too.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports more than half of remodelers (56%) take on this kind of work. Some of the most common projects are installing grab bars, curb-less showers (walk-in showers with no ledge to step over), and wider doorways.
You can absolutely go this route. But if that's where you're leaning, know that you'd be living with contractor noise and dust until the work is done. You'd also be managing contractors and schedules. Some people don't want to live in a construction zone.
Your Equity Could Pay for Your Next Move
If that sounds like something you'd rather avoid, here's the good news. The money for your next home may already be sitting in your current one. It's called equity, which is the difference between what your house is worth and what you still owe on it. If you've owned in Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch for a number of years, it likely adds up. Jess Catorc, Co-Founder of Carry, explains:
"The way home equity builds and is used changes a lot depending on your stage of life. . . . For older homeowners, decades of mortgage payments and home-value growth can turn equity into a financial cushion."
When you sell, that cushion can go toward a home that's ready for this stage of life. No demo required. You get the keys and it's all there. That means less time on projects and more time for living. One option to consider if you're thinking about a move is a 55+ community.
Why 55+ Communities Are Worth a Look
From the homes to the shared spaces to the activity calendar, these communities are planned around this stage of life, so everything you need is rolled into one place. Rocket Mortgage lists some of the biggest perks (see visual below):
Instead of spending time and money to make your house easier to live in, you'd move into a home designed that way from the start. That frees you up for the good stuff, like a morning walk with a neighbor, an evening on Boerne's Main Street, a day on the Cibolo Creek trails, or finally trying the hobby you've been putting off.
You don't have to leave the area to do it, either. Many Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch homeowners want to stay close to their doctors, church, friends, and family, and that's worth building into the search. Options near you include 55+ communities and also low-maintenance, single-story homes in neighborhoods you already know.
Bottom Line
Staying and moving can both be good choices. What matters most is finding the place where you'll feel comfortable and at home for years to come.
If you'd like help weighing the two, let's connect. We can look at what your Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch home could sell for and what 55+ and single-story options in our area have to offer, so you can decide what feels right for you.
Charley Wasson, REALTOR®
Sunflower Real Estate
210-478-8555 | myboernehome.com
