We Looked At Two Condos
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Yesterday Kendra and I looked at two condos in two separate complexes. Both were within my price range or close.
Condo #1: Shadow Mountain
This condo has 795 square feet and I’ve shown it to you before. There is one bedroom and one bathroom. The HOA monthly fee is $255. The price was just lowered from $110,000 to $100,000.
The condo was purchased, but then for some reason went back on the market. As soon as we opened the door, we found one of the reasons why it hasn’t sold. A smoker obviously lived there. Even with the new paint and new carpet, it’s hard to get rid of that smoky smell. We left the door open while we walked through.
The kitchen was quite small, though we knew it would be. However, I don’t think there would be room for my rollator. I sit on it to cook, so it’s important to have room for it.
The refrigerator was a regular apartment sized refrigerator. But it stuck out a bit. And as it was directly across from the small pantry, there wasn’t much room between the two.
What Would Need To Be Done:
The cabinets needed repainting. Some of the laminate countertop was damaged, but not badly. They were what Kendra called “handy man jobs.
Kendra said the first thing to do would be to take out those upper cabinets that were built out across the counter tops. Otherwise you wouldn’t have much counter space. She said wall shelves would be a better idea to open the space up somewhat.
I’d hate to lose all that cabinet space, but you’d want more counter space in order to prepare food.
An Investor’s Price Point:
But she said if we offered a number, it should not be over $80.000. She said the new carpet would have to be ripped out. Apparently they thought switching out the carpet and painting would take away the smell of smoke, but it didn’t.
She said she would put in luxury vinyl flooring, which she lays in all her properties. And it would all have to be repainted, including the kitchen cabinets.
We then left and went to see Condo #2. I was hurting by then. Kendra drives a Tahoe and it’s high to get up into. I have to reach up and grab the handle and pull myself up into the seat.
Condo #2: Delaware Crossing
This condo has also been on the market for a while. It has 1064 square feet with two bedrooms and two baths. They originally wanted $140,000, and recently lowered it to $135,000. The monthly HOA fee is $319.
It looked like nothing had been updated since the year it was built, which was 1982. The layout was fine, but getting from the parking lot inside was rough for me.
As you can see there are steps to go up, but then once inside the gate there are more steps before you can get to solid ground.
Kendra is looking for a property where there are just a few, if any, steps to go into or out of. Due to all the steps, we decided that one wasn’t very doable. Plus she felt the price was too high to even begin to negotiate.
Discussing The Options:
So then we picked up lunch and came back here. In the car we discussed duplexes.
I said I was open to a duplex if she wanted to buy another one. I’d pay half of the price and the maintenance, and she could rent out the other side. Of course a loan would be awful hard to get on half a duplex, so she would probably have to pay for it and I would then pay her.
That is one of the options we are looking at right now. Kendra said if she could find land within a reasonable price in the Tulsa area, then she could just build something. But there isn’t enough time even if we had the land.
So she’s going to look for condos, small houses, or duplexes. It’s hard for me to get around these complexes so she has to go hunt them down on the grounds first anyway.
Kendra jokingly said she was just humoring me by taking me along. I trust her judgment and she is knowledgeable about real estate and I am not. Plus she is even pickier than I am. So I would move into a place sight unseen if she picked it out.
Where We Stand Now:
So that’s where we stand right now. I’m open to moving in December and just paying the January rent to fulfill my lease if need be. But now that we’ve broadened our search, that might not be as feasible.
If we find a condo that is workable, we could go that route, or she might find a small house or duplex to buy.
A few years ago she got a pretty good price for the duplex she already owns, but the prices of course have gone up. I couldn’t live in that duplex because the two sides are occupied. Plus I can’t afford the price she has to charge in order to pay her mortgage.
Her tenants tend to stay for a long time because she doesn’t charge a fortune in rent and she keeps all her properties well-maintained.
Kendra often guts her properties. She updates the doors and windows and flooring. Then she buys new appliances and she landscapes before she attempts to rent a property.
And as you might assume, they are snapped up quickly. People stay in them for a long time unless they need to move out of town or are buying a home.
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Definitely not the one with stairs! I feel like you should be able to get the smokey smell out. If not, then that would be miserable. I guess keep looking. I’m still hoping you’ll find a small house where you can garden. Maybe someplace without an HOA, as they can be a pain at times.
I’m so glad that Kendra is helping you find a new place. It’s great to have an expert with you, especially one that you can trust.
Carla
Housing designed specifically to meet the needs of seniors (no stairs, accessible bathrooms, etc.) is likely a better long-term fit. Check these out & if Vintage is not a fit, ask them for a referral service that works with seniors. This is going to be an exhausting search unless you can narrow the pool to meet mobility challenges inside & outside. I really encourage you to look for referral assistance that can offer you options of housing that is already meeting the needs of a population with physical challenges that only increase with age. I know the challenges of needing no stairs, etc., In most metro areas there are referral services (free) that help seniors find housing that fits their budget and doesn’t need changes to meet elder needs.
With compassion, because I know how challenging being on a timeline is. For your long-term health & safety, thx housing must accommodate you, not vice versa.
Link:
https://www.lifeseniorservices.org/vintagehousinglisting
Here is one free service to help locate independent living that’s a fit in Tulsa.
https://choiceconnections.com/tulsa/senior-services/independent-living/
So, call me crazy, but couldn’t you just buy a small house on Amazon? Not one of their small ones on wheels, but one you can put on a piece of land.
Please, please don’t settle for a place that has steps. I was diagnosed with MS at age 57 (74 now) and my mobility has gotten worse. I can hardly do stairs at all and who knows what the future will bring. Those HOA fees are terrible.
There are “restoration” cleaners who specialize in ridding a home of smoke smells, whether from cigarettes or a home fire. They can also remove the odor of a deceased person. The first condo sellers likely didn’t clean the ceilings or the furnace/AC filters, which is where most of the cigarette smell still remains. There are products on Amazon that can remove cigarette odors. The refrigerator that sticks out can be replaced with a counter-depth model that will be flush with the cabinetry. You can negotiate for a new refrigerator, or sell the old one if they refuse.
I asked Kendra about that. And she said the area would be 30 inches wide and all that are counter deep are 36.
I’m so glad Kendra is able and willing to help you find a place that suits you. It is hard enough to look and make decisions without any physical difficulties but it would be very very hard without her help. She is a real blessing to you. And that’s as it should be as we age. We are blessed that my son is always there for us if we need him … so far we’ve been doing well but getting near 80 now and the day will come when his offers to help will be very welcome. Praying you find a place that is just what you need and just what you are looking for.
WHATEVER you do, DO NOT buy a smoked place…you can do everything and still it will remain. You can lessen it…but go away for a few hours and then come back? HITS ME SMACK IN THE HEAD EVERY TIME here where we are. They painted everything, everything was cleaned,brand new window shades, and the floors were all changed out. BUT HOW CAN YOU GET IT OUT OF THE A/C and Heat vents?? Evidently not. It is nasty, miserable…and something that bugs me here every single day. YES, I am still hunting but right now it is so rent tight here and we do not really want to buy. There are a lot of new apts being built so maybe in the next year sometime we can find a new one to move into at least. We owned a duplex in the past too with same issue…we tried everything we could find…yes, we got it improved, but never was it gone. And tobacco is my worst allergy!!
Good to start hunting so you can get an idea of what’s out there! The perfect condo will fall into your lap. Enjoy the hunt!
After spending years watching “home improvement” shows I’ve learned that there are certain types of primer that can seal walls so the cigarette smoke smell doesn’t come out. Same with wood and concrete floor before laying new carpet or laminate flooring over it. Fingers crossed that you can find a place you really like within your price range that needs a minimum amount of decorative work (paint, maybe new flooring), that will be easy to access (few or no steps to navigate), good parking close to where you live, the unit on one level, and has a good kitchen and enough space inside for you to move around and provide good storage. Housing sure isn’t made with the idea of people aging or being in a wheel chair in mind. How’s it going to work as more baby boomers continue to retire each month and many are bound to eventually have or already have limitations that require easy access and level living areas with no stairs or steep slopes. Fingers crossed for your hunt, Brenda. I’m glad your daughter is able to help you and has the knowledge to make a good call on what would be a solid place and good price.