Retirement Village

jimbo · Guru

Retirement Village

Happywanderer · The Master

I would find one with less rigid rules jimbo. There's plenty about.
There's even one up here in Bundaberg where you only pay rent of about 185.00 a week. No buying in at all. Looks lovely in the adverts.
They are many and varied.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I live in a village for over 55's to whatever in a two bedroom unit and we only have a few rules and no one takes any notice of those anyway. I love the peace and quiet also the security generally but especially when I am away, I know someone is keeping an eye out for me and my next door neighbour and I have an arrangement that if we don't see a car in the driveway for more than two days we look after the garden as well, works well. Our mail is also kept in the office so is locked away at all times until our return from where ever. General rubbish is collected from our door once a week and the same with recycled rubbish. We are on bottled gas and just order at the office and it's delivered and changed over for you the next day, we have two 45 kg bottles connected.

Happywanderer · The Master

Sounds very similair to the one I was in about 9 years ago in Park Ridge, Qld. Worked the same by the sound of what you have described Doug.
There was a weekly charge as well, think it was about 60.00 back then to cover ground maintenance etc. Mind you there were 2 swimming pools, a gym and a bowling green.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Dougwe wrote:
I live in a village for over 55's to whatever in a two bedroom unit and we only have a few rules and no one takes any notice of those anyway. I love the peace and quiet also the security generally but especially when I am away, I know someone is keeping an eye out for me and my next door neighbour and I have an arrangement that if we don't see a car in the driveway for more than two days we look after the garden as well, works well. Our mail is also kept in the office so is locked away at all times until our return from where ever. General rubbish is collected from our door once a week and the same with recycled rubbish. We are on bottled gas and just order at the office and it's delivered and changed over for you the next day, we have two 45 kg bottles connected.

Doug, don't mind me asking what did it cost to fill up one gas bottle?

My b.i.l. is in a village and the gas man came around and just filled his bottle without being asked and left a bill for $65, does this sound about right, he lives in Victoria, only recenlty moved to a village in Reservoir, he really likes it.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Morn'n wombat, it is $100 for a 45kg bottle delivered and connected. I think your B.I.L. probably has the big tanker pull up out front and tops up the bottle. The company supplying the gas would have him on a roster. I did have that for about 12 months but had so much trouble with the company I gave them a miss. If I ran out they wouldn't come until next in the area cos I wasn't due for a top up. After a few arguments I just gave them a miss.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

In Canberra they have "Lifestyle" villages for anything up to $600 thousand. Its a rort in my opinion!
Look elsewhere Jimbo. The closer you are to a city the worse they are. Country towns are cheaper, friendlier, and often less waiting time.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Dougwe wrote:
Morn'n wombat, it is $100 for a 45kg bottle delivered and connected. I think your B.I.L. probably has the big tanker pull up out front and tops up the bottle. The company supplying the gas would have him on a roster. I did have that for about 12 months but had so much trouble with the company I gave them a miss. If I ran out they wouldn't come until next in the area cos I wasn't due for a top up. After a few arguments I just gave them a miss.

thanks for that info Doug, will pass it onto my b.i.l.

Happywanderer · The Master

Theres a lovely one just opened in Shepparton Jimbo. Saw the adverts for it before I left Echuca. Looked really nice.

jimbo · Guru

Thats one and all..Very interesting feedback......Well We have put it on hold for 5 years.....Our home is a two story with a huge garden in witch Shirls spends a heap of time in it....It's getting a little harder to Maintain.....Until I can't climb the stairs we will stay
I am of the belief that if you do not own the Land you are Vulnerable to changes....Especially as the Chinese are buying up everything that doesn't blow away

Smokeydk · Guru

We looked into it here too........$400,000+ and $120 I think a week....you got 3square mtres of back area unfenced..single carport and rules state the vehicle must be in it at all times......nothing to be added to building.....and monthly inspections inside...no place to store van......and second vehicle......

so I think we will stay put

jimbo · Guru

It's becoming much to expensive If I paid over Four Hundred Thousand I'd be wanting to do What I wish with my House as for inspections....I'll get barred if I posted that Comment Here

kandagal · Guru

That's why we have such a large, roomy motorhome. When/if we get too old/tired/sick to travel we can park it up somewhere & still live in it comfortably.

jandas fun · Guru

Well isn't that a coincidence. got a phone call from one of our daughers last night to say she would house sit
and look after the animals for us for a couple of days, if we wanted to go away.
Leaving in the morning to go to the Casino RV village for a look at the manufactured homes with their own rv car ports attached,
and check out the facilities/costs etc. We have been there before but will looking with different eyes this time.
My biggest hassle would be living that close to other people after being on our own acreage with virtually no neighbours.
Where will i put my horse?

Johnw

barina · Guru

Great topic. I am planning to sell up in Melbourne in about 4 / 5 yrs and hit the road. But I was thinking about looking for some sort of retirement home, unit, park, somewhere on the mid NSW coast . Not haveing looked at any yet I am interested in reading how GN find the various options out there. I really want a simple but comfortable life with a van to travel in but somewhere to come home to ...maybe!!!!

Cruising Granny · Guru

I'll live in my van as long as I can get up and down the steps.
After that who knows, and I may not be in a position to care. We don't know what the future holds.
A friend of mine bought into a "lifestyle" retirement village. They did allocate a van parking area for all the nomads living there.
She discovered the nomad life, upgraded from a campervan to a motorhome with car on A frame.

While it was all lovely and secure, it was hard to sell when she wanted to get out. There are so many rules in favour of the company which runs the village network all over Australia.

Please be careful. The cabin village sounds like a good idea to me, and if I can, that may be the way I go when I need a ramp.

villatranquilla · Guru

Too many rules and restrictions for us - the only advantage is that the village managers usually organise any maintainance needed (that's what the weekly fee usually covers as well as insurances (not personal contents though) We like the idea of owning our unit outright - which currently we have let while we travel - and we don't have to get permission for visitors/ pets or house guests either.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

To add to my previous comments.

I don't mind saying that I only paid $120,000.00 (Now valued at $160,000.00) for my two bedroom, Living-dining-kitchen area combined, bathroom-toilet-laundry combined, Car Port full length of unit (takes my camper and room for car but that space is outdoor living), rear yard about 8mtsX8mts with farm on other side of back fence, view to the Bass hills (Sth West Gippsland Vic), low maintenance garden NO GRASS to mow (My idea), room for my car under part of the car port out front and space for a car out front of unit off road (my idea again) I decided the car space for a visitor was more important than a small garden out front. I also have access to a indoor heated swimming pool and use of a laundry with large dryer. I can do anything within reason to the land I'm on and to my unit. I own the unit but not the land. I do agree with you though Jimbo but that's a risk I take I spose. There is a lovely well kept caravan park out the front that has annuals with a few tourist sites and a few cabins, the owners of the park manage the village at the back and are great people, I have great neighbours and we don't live in each others pockets but are there if you need them. I have from the front of the unit completely locked off (car port side has a locked roller door) and other side has a locked gate and have full privacy out the back

Another thing I like about it is there is no FERRILS even in the CV out front all very nice people.

Beth54 · Guru

Friends of ours bought into one at Hope Island Qld...which would put me off for a start, snobsville...

They enjoyed the social aspect at first then realised everyone wanted to know your business etc. So they got their caravan out and hit the road. But they haven't been able to sell it.

I think my sister and bil had the right idea. They had no interest in Retirement Villages, after our friends experience, so bought land and built a new house in Cooloola Cove, Tin Can Bay. Much cheaper than the city, it has a laidback lifestyle, lots of retirees in the area, doctors etc, and they can still have their lovely gardens.

It's only 3 hours from Brisbane, so family and friends can easily visit.

ChiChi1 · Guru

You should look at this, as it is what we are all heading for: Have been dealing with the issues expressed here with my mother over the last few months and have almost got myself banned for complaining about her care. May still happen. Isn't there something we can do? PS They won't let you go off out into the desert and become a skeleton. Too many concerned people. Angry? Yes.
http://www.agedcarecrisis.com/

Sheba · Guru

www.agedcarecrisis.com/

Cheers,

Sheba.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Its a scary world when aged care, in spite of all the preaching about patients/clients rights is in reality a nightmare for some. Having worked in the industry for 30 years it saddens me profoundly that its no better than it ever was. My very best wishes to you about your Mum, Chi Chi. Have you contacted ADACAS?

Beth54 · Guru

Unfortunately, we don't often get a chance to search for a good care facility for our parents. We had to find one in a hurry with Mum, then she only lived for another 6 weeks anyway. So we made sure we had time to do a good search when it was Dad's time.

Mum was in high care Dementia, so it was very sad, the food was brought in, not cooked on the premises, and some of the staff weren't the most patient people.

Dad was borderline high care, but because he had his 'marbles' they settled him in low care. It was a wonderful place, if one can say that about a care facility. The food was cooked on the premises, and the staff were lovely caring people. He was very happy there for a year before he passed.

the rocket · Guru

jimbo wrote:
It's becoming much to expensive If I paid over Four Hundred Thousand I'd be wanting to do What I wish with my House as for inspections....I'll get barred if I posted that Comment Here

ditto for me to Jimbo.

jimbo · Guru

I am becoming very dubious about Retirement Villages after reading an article in today's Age (Melbourne) It's a FIGHTING BACK Re-Fees and do's and don'ts and many other things......I may have to become a Solo Grey Nomad if I can't turn Shirls off the Idea...It's back on the agenda folks.....Are there any Hot to trot Grey Nomads out there just in case LOL.

I think I can just visualize a Chinese take over Like our farms and Produce..We cannot expect Help from our Governments of the day Because we know what they are about.....It's so sad is'nt it?

Wizardofoz · Guru

This one was posted on another site, to be honest, it is the first one that really pricked my ears and drew my attention too.

It looks close to the ideal arrangement and would bear looking into for those facing the dilemma right now.

http://www.rvhomebase.com.au/

-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 18th of April 2012 03:25:45 PM

gillyb · Senior Member

Wizardofoz wrote:
This one was posted on another site, to be honest, it is the first one that really pricked my ears and drew my attention too.
It looks close to the ideal arrangement and would bear looking into for those facing the dilemma right now.
http://www.rvhomebase.com.au/

-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 18th of April 2012 03:25:45 PM

Wizardofoz just a word of warning I went into this site to have a look at what was on offer and my antivirus system sent up flashing warnings and told me that I had been attacked with some sort of virus so the site had been blocked !!!

Weedy Pigeon · Senior Member

Recently my partners mother passed away after a few years in a retirement village (renting a one bedroom self contained independent living unit), and then a few months in a hi-care nursing home. Fortunately she had a Vet.Affairs Gold Card pension which 'just' covered her expenses. She was very happy in the village, close to amenities (shopping and health facilities), great circle of friends and daily activities.

Buying a unit or stand alone house in a retirement village can be fraught with unexpected, or not easily understood, situations. If you have close and supportive family to help you sift through the jargon then that is a bonus.

An important point is to consider a unit or home in a complex which also has the option of providing low care and then high care if needed. Having to move mum from her independent living unit to a high care facility meant she lost contact with her friends during her last months which was very sad.

There appears to be no escape route once you have sold your home and invested in a village. They have your money and you are stuck with the decision. If one or both of you has a deterioration in your health, then the problem arises of trying to maintain the property in the village, plus paying for low or high care.

Communal living can be great but costs can be prohibitive or unrealistic. Continue your research and talk to as many people as you can in the locality you are considering.

Best wishes in finding what is suitable for you in the future.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Weedy Pigeon

Weedy Pigeon · Senior Member

http://www.rvra.org.au/forum-topics/forum-2.html

G'day
Just found this site ( hope it's accessible from here ). Having worked for property managers ( who I freely acknowledge may be totally different to Retirement Village managers ) I would be extremely reluctant to sell my property and hand that money to an entity where my capital investment is unsecured.
In the event of the entity going into receivership, do unit owners have priority over other creditors ?