Pros and Cons For Downsizing Baby Boomers
Surprise, surprise, that stalwart of the ’50’s — the one-story rambler (known as a “ranch” on the coasts) — is making a comeback.
They can be especially appealing to downsizing Baby Boomers, who are looking for one-level living, in a smaller home, with the privacy and backyard that go with a detached, single-family property.
Two added bonuses: 1) a desirable, close-in location*, given how many “rambler-centric” subdivisions were built right after World War II (before suburban sprawl really kicked in); and 2) no fussy pet restrictions, common in condo buildings and townhomes.
Functional Obsolescence
So, what’s the catch?
Often times, a functionally obsolete design.
So, the Bedrooms are typically undersized, and the Master Bath is tiny.
Assuming there is one: plenty of ramblers just have a (full) hall Bath serving the entire floor.
Option B: Remodeling
While remodeling is always an option, the usual rambler design resists easy changes.
Precisely because of those small Bedroom sizes, it’s hard to steal extra space to enlarge the Master Bath.
One solution is to cannibalize an extra Bedroom, and allocate the space to an upstairs Laundry and an expanded Master Bath.
Another, more expensive option is to do an addition — often times, a modern Owner’s Suite.
Endangered Species?
Ultimately, as always, the choices come down to such things as budget and lifestyle.
For an active single or couple who no longer needs a “family home,” and can live with some of the compromises inherent in a(n unmodified) rambler, they can be a great choice.
For someone who wants to be free of roof and wet basement worries, and who plans on traveling regularly, a condo or townhome usually makes more sense.
See also, “An Ode to the ’50’s Rambler.”
*Sometimes, a little too desirable: given the cost to correct all that functional obsolescence, as well as their prime, close-in location, ’50’s ramblers are a favorite of builders hunting for tear-downs (who typically replace the cheapest house on the block with the most expensive).
Case in point: the pretty rambler pictured above near Minneapolis’ Cedar Lake, which I sold almost a decade ago (in a wild multiple offer frenzy), and subsequently became one of the area’s first tear-downs.
