FEET FIRST HOUSES

There is a part of the market that is rarely discussed in print. Let’s call them Feet First Houses. Recently, while at the open house of an efficient, updated Cape, some great, long time friends stopped by. Frankly, it was great to see them, but I was surprised, because they live in a very special house. My first thought: maybe they are previewing for their children. After we caught up on family and with life, we discussed the reason for their visit. Although not old, they are looking a “feet first house.” A humorous, albeit bizarre, conversation ensued. They both wanted to have one final transition from their feet first house into the grave.

Several other experienced Realtors each smiled when asked about feet first houses. Most concurred that it had not been described that way, but they had seen an increase in the number of ‘mature’ seniors who wanted that last house. Many people will in fact end up in assisted living homes or nursing homes, but almost everyone prefers to be in their own home, be it a single family, multifamily, condominium, or mobile home. It is interesting and noteworthy, that as we age and as our needs become more basic, we place a higher value on our home. Home is more than shelter. Home is that place where some of the best of human experience occurs: love, family, friends, celebration, sorrow, happiness, connecting, contemplating (praying). laughing, and crying. It is a ‘place’ where the seasons of life are written, and sometimes noted by height marks on the door jam. It is the place, hopefully of safe harbour, from life’s storms. It is the place where one’s priorities are often most crisp.

While it may be callous to talk about feet first houses, they are a declaration of the importance that we each place on whatever it is that we call home, be it our first, our second, our largest, our best, or our ‘feet first’one.

If you want to find a first house, a feet first house or something in between, check out www.phippsrealty.com