If Arkansas works look at Holley Mountain, 2A2. It has a 4,795’ paved runway with GPS approaches at each end.
We live in Nebraska, which is one of the worst states for retirement, at least tax-wise. We've talked about moving when I retire, but we've spent a ton of money getting this house exactly the way we want it. She swears otherwise, but I an as certain as I can be that anywhere we move would just kick off a new round of remodel work. I'd love nothing more than to have a house, a hangar, and direct access to a runway... but I've about decided that 10 minutes from the airport is good enough.
What would you do with all your toys?I'm watching how your retirement works for you, Mari, since my situation won't be dissimilar - one day I'll inherit mom's apartment and have to decide what to do with it. One thing nice with my mom's apartment is that there are a number of other apartments (I think it's got around 80 units) so nobody has to worry about getting roped into anything like you did. The idea of subletting it to keep the option open exists, assuming the co-op would allow that.
If I retire when I'm hoping to (20 years or so), that's a long ways off but not that far off...
This is one of the major problems as you get older. You think "I'll just retire to a little 3/2 in a nice neighborhood, minimize my maintenance, etc."
What you find is there are no "Little 3/2's in nice neighborhoods". The nice neighborhoods are all McMansions, because the builders can make a lot more money selling a McMansion on a 1/4 acre lot than selling a 2,000 SF 3/2 on the same lot.
What would you do with all your toys?
I can see that being one big drawback for you. Not sure what the situation is with your mom's apartment, but each unit in our building comes with only one garage space. Even that is generous for around here. Since this condo was built, they have zoning that requires the ground floor to be commercial, so many places don't come with garages spaces. That would have been a no-go for me. I would have sold the unit and done something else. No way was I going to routinely park on the street. It has always been somewhat of a challenge to find a space around here.
Yes, both my mom and my aunt, who bought this place as older people (late 60s/early 70s) were able to live independently much longer than if they had had a house in suburbia or the country. My aunt was still living here until she passed in her mid-late 80s. She was on vacation in the Netherlands. My mom was able to live here alone until her early 90s, when she moved to assisted living. One big advantage for people who don't drive, is the bus system. When I moved here I was surprised at how many younger people didn't own cars.Growing up I hated that aspect of living in Manhattan, and of course as a car person that was a problem. Given the toys I have now, a bigger problem.
The way I view it is that if mom lived in Kansas, she'd need to be in an assisted living facility (or living with us) as she can't drive and her ability to do much for herself is fairly limited. Best case scenario would be some kind of apartment (I don't think "luxury apartments" are really a think around here), but no doorman or building staff. Where she lives now even though the staff aren't servants, she does have them for regular support as needed and they are very helpful.
My wording was pretty unclear. In 20 years I expect to still be capable enough to continue owning the property, go off on motorcycle trips and do racing, things like that. Maybe the kids will stay close enough that they're able to keep up with the property, or something similar. Somewhere between that point in life and death (assuming I don't die in a motorcycle crash or on a race track... or do both at the same time) I'll probably start to hit that period where I can't really use the toys anymore anyway, and may be able to avoid assisted living as mom has thus far. That's been the real benefit of mom's apartment for her today. Even her apartment in France I think she'd have a hard time living in.
Yes, both my mom and my aunt, who bought this place as older people (late 60s/early 70s) were able to live independently much longer than if they had had a house in suburbia or the country. My aunt was still living here until she passed in her mid-late 80s. She was on vacation in the Netherlands. My mom was able to live here alone until her early 90s, when she moved to assisted living. One big advantage for people who don't drive, is the bus system. When I moved here I was surprised at how many younger people didn't own cars.
What you find is there are no "Little 3/2's in nice neighborhoods". The nice neighborhoods are all McMansions, because the builders can make a lot more money selling a McMansion on a 1/4 acre lot than selling a 2,000 SF 3/2 on the same lot.
Lot of truth here. I live in a 1500 SF 3/2 on 1.76 acres, with a 30X28 detached garage. The local realtor is emailing me all the time saying he has buyers. I am hoping to move out of state by this summer and looking at prices of where I want to go I am finding 3500+ SF houses for 450K and up. On a whopping estate of .8 acres.... or smaller.
One point I will not back down on is anything I buy has to be out of the city limits and have 5 acres. I would like the nearest neighbor to be at least a mile away but I can fudge on that depending on the area.
My dream location is 4 sections of land, all squared up and my house right in the center where the 4 sections come together. 1 section for my private airport, 1 section for my race track and the other 2 sections for my private game preserve. (this will happen when I win the mega power ball)
Unless you just build your own: https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/com...-karens-excellent-pole-barn-adventure.107235/
One point I will not back down on is anything I buy has to be out of the city limits and have 5 acres. I would like the nearest neighbor to be at least a mile away but I can fudge on that depending on the area.
My dream location is 4 sections of land, all squared up and my house right in the center where the 4 sections come together. 1 section for my private airport, 1 section for my race track and the other 2 sections for my private game preserve. (this will happen when I win the mega power ball)
To each his own. I personally LOVE living on our small grass-strip neighborhood. Airstrip HOA dues are $300/yr - covers mowing and maintenance of the strip. 15 lots, but only 5 developed. Love going out my back door and hopping in the plane for a quick spin around the patch. Can't wait for retirement in about 3-4 years so work won't eat up much of my flying time.I don’t believe I’d be interested in a flying community. You will need to deal with an association, have rather expensive fees to maintain the airport grounds, and the long term value of the home is iffy with the current age demographic of pilot population.
Definitely a phase of life thing. When my mom and my aunt bought the condo, I was in my late 20s. No way did it make sense to me. For that money I would have bought a house and property in the Colorado foothills. Of course it made perfect sense for them. They were both city people. I'm not, but I adapt better than some to different situations, and try to see the good side of places where I live. There are plusses and minuses to every place. That said, not sure I will stay here forever.Going back to mom's apartment and spending a week without leaving the walkable vicinity (something I haven't done in probably 15-20 years) I was reminded of just how much is available there and within walking distance. Then, as you mentioned, the bus and subway system. There are benefits that can apply for certain phases of life.
We looked at a few places in the Ft. Worth area. We went through a few houses in Pecan Plantation and two other places whose names escape me. In each case they were magnificent houses and palatial hangars. Problem is, if we were to move, there's two of us. We had five kids, but they're grown and long gone. I think the smallest place we found for sale was a little hovel at Pecan that only had a paltry few thousand square feet (not including the detached garage, the casita, the hangar, etc.) My wife didn't like it because there was no pool. All of the ones we looked at were a little over the budget we had in mind, especially once you added in the HOA and mandatory country club fees, but most would have really needed a small staff just to keep up the house and grounds. Just a little overkill for our needs, I think.
We live in Nebraska, which is one of the worst states for retirement, at least tax-wise. We've talked about moving when I retire, but we've spent a ton of money getting this house exactly the way we want it. She swears otherwise, but I an as certain as I can be that anywhere we move would just kick off a new round of remodel work. I'd love nothing more than to have a house, a hangar, and direct access to a runway... but I've about decided that 10 minutes from the airport is good enough.
Definitely a phase of life thing. When my mom and my aunt bought the condo, I was in my late 20s. No way did it make sense to me. For that money I would have bought a house and property in the Colorado foothills. Of course it made perfect sense for them. They were both city people. I'm not, but I adapt better than some to different situations, and try to see the good side of places where I live. There are plusses and minuses to every place. That said, not sure I will stay here forever.
I do not like the desert. If I went west, San Diego would be my pick. But if I spent more than 30 days there, I’m gonna give up a substantial part of my income to taxes.
Florida doesn’t have those concerns
At the age of 55, the wife and I are contemplating our next move.
We live in an oversized house on the lake in Fort Worth and are looking at selling it this spring and are now tasked with “where to next”
We are thinking maybe we just buy a small house here in DFW to be near the grandkid, but then also buy a hangar home in Florida or Colorado. Summers are unbearable here as I get older, and she hates the cold.
Any suggestions?
In Colorado, you might consider Erie (KEIK) or Meadow Lake (KFLY). Erie is a northwest suburb of Denver, while Meadow Lake lies between Denver and Colorado Springs. Both are very nice strips.
My dream location is 4 sections of land, all squared up and my house right in the center where the 4 sections come together. 1 section for my private airport, 1 section for my race track and the other 2 sections for my private game preserve. (this will happen when I win the mega power ball)
Always folks looking for grass to cut for hay.I pay someone to mow my yard. No way I want to mow an airfield. I have 23 acres we are building a new warehouse for our company. I told my business partner that he better plan to mow it because I’m not ever going to do it.
Where did you come up with 30 days? I've been snow birdin for years and done a lot of it in California, mostly San Diego. More than 6 months is what you have to watch out for. Unless there's something new I haven't heard about?
Always folks looking for grass to cut for hay.
There are a bunch of bills they are trying to pass that would set residence taxation at 30 days.
They are also looking at a wealth tax on people that have lived there in the past with a ten year look back.
This is one of the major problems as you get older. You think "I'll just retire to a little 3/2 in a nice neighborhood, minimize my maintenance, etc."
What you find is there are no "Little 3/2's in nice neighborhoods". The nice neighborhoods are all McMansions, because the builders can make a lot more money selling a McMansion on a 1/4 acre lot than selling a 2,000 SF 3/2 on the same lot.
Lot of truth here. I live in a 1500 SF 3/2 on 1.76 acres, with a 30X28 detached garage. The local realtor is emailing me all the time saying he has buyers. I am hoping to move out of state by this summer and looking at prices of where I want to go I am finding 3500+ SF houses for 450K and up. On a whopping estate of .8 acres.... or smaller.
One point I will not back down on is anything I buy has to be out of the city limits and have 5 acres. I would like the nearest neighbor to be at least a mile away but I can fudge on that depending on the area.
My dream location is 4 sections of land, all squared up and my house right in the center where the 4 sections come together. 1 section for my private airport, 1 section for my race track and the other 2 sections for my private game preserve. (this will happen when I win the mega power ball)
I have retired to an airport community. The association dues are currently $500. My house looks over a 3000' grass runway on one side and this time of year with the leaves off the trees I have a view of Lake Norman. The only real onerous part about the HOA is that my wife got her arm twisted to be president and I'm the treasurer. The airport telephone line rings through to my phone either so I get calls from prospective buyers and real estate agents and lawyers handling closings and occassionally a call from the FAA or HSA (failure to close flight plans and the like).
...also buy a hangar home in Florida or Colorado. Summers are unbearable here as I get older, and she hates the cold.
Any suggestions?
And the fly in does have Condos (not sure how the aircraft parking works).
Grass for hay is usually headed out and best cut at the 10 percent bloom stage.How tall does grass have to be for it to be "hay", and isn't that a lot taller than practical for an airfield?
I owned a condo on taxiway delta for six years. All the condos on taxiway Delta and Echo have their own parking. About half with hangars and half with covered tie-downs. The 2 pads you're referring to are guest parking for the Eagles Landing condos.according to the site, two complimentary open pads at the edge of taxiway Echo, for the entire set of condos. IOW, no perma-storage. Kinda defeats the purpose imo.
Colorado is full , haha not really but have you looked at Real Estate prices here? And the airparks are going to be on the plains (pretty hot in the Summer) not in the Mountains where it's cool. Erie Airpark's current cheapest lot is $800K! Compare that with existing homes at airparks in other places; CO becomes far less appealing; check out some of the properties on https://www.barnstormers.com/category-16174-Airport-Property.html not long ago I saw a multi building private home with strip in Southern New Mexico in the $300s!
One of the nicest things about FL is the enormous aviation community that exists there and the large number of airports to support it. And if you want to leave for a change of scenery you can get on a commercial flight easily and cheaply.
Calif. became a tax suck for transients a lot of years ago. Those of us that traveled for company business, quit taking trips out to Edwards due to the tax law changes if we could. Went from 30 days continuous to 30 days cumulative in a year to start having to pay Calif. taxes.
Silver west C08 SW of Pueblo is incredibly reasonable then. $28k - $40k for a 5 acre lot. Hour drive to Pueblo or a bit more to Colorado Springs or Alamosa.
Taxes on what? Income? All, or just California source income?
Supposed to be only what was earned in Ca. We had guys that fought the state for months over what was earned in state and what was out of state. Couple of guys had to spend $$$$ to finally prove multiple times to Ca. that they were not residents. Was bad for guys coming back stateside that had layovers in Ca. and that would put them over the 30 day window.