Where are we going to live?

East Bay Smart Senior has been on hold for awhile. First there was the pandemic which effectively curtailed many shared housing possibilities.  Then there were technical issues with the blog which I had to work out.  In the meantime, my family life has expanded with six new grandchildren.  Etc., etc.

But people continue to wonder about housing options as they grow older.  Yesterday at Knit Club, we were talking about how we would manage the next few years.  Most of us want to stay at home, but are concerned that we might need some help.  Home sharing is a good option for some; an accessory dwelling unit might work for others; moving closer to family might also work.  We agreed that the cost of assisted living would be very difficult and we do not like the idea of spending our children’s inheritance.

The Front Porch Home Match program is a good place to start.  They have taken on the UC Berkeley Retirement Center home share program which matches UC students with UC retirees.  This is a very important program which helps both retirees and students as well as other Alameda County residents.  Give them a call if you want to explore this option.

I also found out yesterday that a friend whom I had not seen in a long time has recently sold her home in North Berkeley and bought a duplex in El Cerrito with her daughter and her family.  My friend and her husband live on one floor and their daughter’s family (including two children live on a separate floor.  I have two other friends who built an ADU in their backyards for their  adult daughters, wife and grandchild.  From all reports, the multi-generational housing situations are working well. 

I have written before about my friend who traded her big house in North Berkeley for her daughter’s smallish bungalow in El Cerrito.  The big house was getting to be too much for my friend and her daughter’s family was feeling very cramped in their tiny bungalow.  My friend has been in her new house for a couple of years and loves that she can clean her whole house in just a few minutes.  The grandkids love having their own rooms and the parents are glad to be in Berkeley.

There are some new over 55+ condos on the horizon in North Berkeley. There also is currently one coop apartment at Berkeley Town House on the market. If you are interested in this unit, call your realtor.