Homesteading In Retirement: What You Need to Know
For some people, the idea of no longer working once you retire sounds just awful. There are tons of seniors out there who don’t look forward to hitting a point where they have nothing to do. After all, if you find hard work satisfying and fulfilling, it’s extremely hard to imagine a world without it.
However, retirement doesn’t have to mean giving up the pride of a job well done. Instead, it could be your opportunity to put your labor directly toward your own livelihood. Make your work ethic work for you by homesteading in retirement. The Red Door Realty Group can help you find the homestead property of your dreams. Here’s what you need to know about this type of retirement:
The Pros and Cons of Homesteading
You might wonder, “How do I tell if homesteading is the right retirement for me?” It’s a good question, because there are a ton of pros and cons with this lifestyle, and it won’t be a good fit for everyone. There are various benefits to homesteading. Running a homestead gives you a clear purpose, a full to-do list, and consistent work you can be proud of. It also cuts down on your grocery bill and makes you more self-sufficient than you would be otherwise. Finally, since it’s physical work, seniors who homestead often stay in better shape for longer than their counterparts.
On the other hand, that physical work can be exhausting and even prohibitive, especially for older people. You already have to be in reasonably good shape to start with, and Tria notes you must be mindful to avoid injury. If, for example, you throw out your back, your time away in recovery could leave your garden overgrown, making it difficult to get back on track.
You should also think about this as you move in – hiring movers rather than doing all that lifting yourself can spare you from a long recovery right when you move into your new home. Moreover, most people will eventually be unable to care for their homestead alone, so you must have a contingency plan for how to keep things going, or else plan to convert it into a self-sustaining garden.
Finding the Right Property
If you do decide to homestead, you’ll need the right property for it. Start by figuring out your budget. This will help you narrow down your options to what’s reasonable. If you already have a sizable downpayment, or you have property you can sell to secure one, you’ll likely qualify for a traditional mortgage. This is ideal, since mortgages with a smaller downpayment often come with extra fees. Check out the PennyMac mortgage plans to see what kind of loan you qualify for.
Picturing Your Day-to-Day
Once you know what you can afford, it’s time to think about lifestyle. You might assume that homestead requires a rural setting, but that’s not actually the case. There have been a ton of advances in urban farming. The use of containers, hydroponics, and vertical space all mean you can run a sizable food garden in a small urban home, or even an apartment or condo.
If, however, you’re looking for that rural aesthetic, Haart suggests keeping the practicalities in mind, such as your distance from medical care and the potential challenge of finding quality repair services.
That extends to your property as well. When considering the size of your lot, balance the number of crops you’d like to grow with what you can reasonably manage. You should also check out zoning requirements, especially if you’re thinking about raising livestock as well. Most areas have specific rules about what kind of animals can live on what kind of property, and if you dive in without investigating them you could wind up with a major fine.
Homesteading in retirement is a major commitment. For the right person, however, it can be the ideal way to live out your golden years. If the thought of a listless retirement fills you with dread, the work-hard, play-hard lifestyle of homesteading might be right for you.
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