Just happened upon your videos at the perfect time-I am selling my house soon and was stressed about buying another and using all my capital. You helped me realize I can rent a beautiful apt, keep my capital and enjoy my retirement much better. Thanks so much!
I have heard from a firefighter that their ladder only goes up to the 8th floor. In one of the banks I worked for, all the execs were on the 8th floor. So you are on the perfect floor.
Norm and Tina - Thank you so much for your channel. My husband and I are just turning 50 this year so your advice is amazing. No one ever talks about retirement like you do, it is always about will you have enough money. Thank you! So glad I found your channel
This video is so timely! I am 61, single, and currently live in the same SFH I bought 20 years ago. I'm seriously debating on whether I should continue home ownership or invest the home equity and move into an apartment. I don't have rent control in my state, so the idea of the rent becoming unaffordable in later years is a huge concern. But I really like the idea of more freedom (from home related expenses) in retirement.
We are at a definite advantage having rent control, makes the future more predictable. The house carrying costs when we added it up without maintenance was $100 less than the apartment rent. Mentally we never thought maintenance was that much, but sitting down with a paper and pencil and recounting trips to the hardware store, the money was disappearing a dollar at a time. There are I think 6 cities and states in the U.S. with rent control, I searched about it sometime ago. Thanks for watching, have a good weekend.
Another great video. We've been in our apartment for just under 1 year. Coming from a 2 story house for 45 years was a real life change for us. We're in a new building also on the 8th floor West facing and it's great. Underground parking, washer /dryer in suite, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom. It's about 1280 square ft. Had to get ride of a lot of stuff before the move. Lawnmower, snow blower, all gardening stuff and a lot more. You definitely have to both be ready to downsize or it won't work. The fitness room is also great and I use it every other day then walk at a local conservation area every other day. We also downsized from 2 cars to one. Not something my wife was really keen on at first. But she's getting use to it. Sold a 2015 and 2106 Subaru Crosstrek and bought a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek and the dealership cut us a check for $5K. Loved that.
Thank you for your kind words, it is a big change downsizing but as you say, if both of you are on side then it is easier. We were lucky we had 4 years of travel before the non essential travel advisory. Being in the apartment made it easier and a lot less stress leaving this home for two to three months in winter. Great deal on your car, it is very rare to get money back from a car dealer lol. We hope things are going well for you both and thanks for taking time to comment.
We are beginning this process and have actually visited one apartment that checked all of the boxes. However, in the US (we live in Georgia), we don’t have rent control places nor are the rents as reasonably priced which is a bummer. Your hints are very helpful and we will refer back to this list as we visit more places. Thank you so much.
I really like this channel. I'm 41 and no where near retirement and I'm an American living in Spain for 6 mo. My time here has gotten me thinking about retirement and what I need to consider when I retire
Having moved to an apartment 6 years ago I can say we've never looked back. Great decision. I've lived singel story most of my life so having everything on one level feels quite natural to me. We own our apartment and no, there isn't a sporting facility, there is the opportunity for safe walks and ease of a local supermarket at 5minutes distance. No car needed. A bus stop across the road gets us into town and back with no need for the car. We have a communal outdoor parking area and an elevator ( I prefer the stairs). We live in the third floor with magnificent views and the afternoon warmth and evening sunset. Large balcony which is our outdoor lounge. We are the first in our steady group of friends who made the break from 'normal' living to more retirement style before we retired. Felt we had the energy to tackle the change better then than later. No regrets. Lots to consider indeed and some issues possibly show up after the move. We are very happy here. No regrets. Good tips Norm and Tina 👍 🙏 🌷 🙋♀️ ps. My husband has his own man cave and as of March last year my Woman Cave was realised. ( video online 😂😂)
Good morning ☕️ wow we sound very similar as couples, we did it 5 years ago and not looked back . Your apartment sounds great in a good position for groceries and nice walks . We were also the first in our group to sell and move into an apartment,( lots of our friends thought we were crazy ) as you get older the thought of a big move would be very stressful. We also have never looked back , our weather is really improving up to 15 °C degrees 🌞🍷today we will be sat on the balcony our outside haven . Have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@ThisIsOurRetirement yes, we had the same reaction from our friends. Their homes like ours needed some upgrading. We felt the money better spent on moving out and creating a new forever space. The past few days have been wonderful and we too have enjoyed time outside in the sun. Love out outside lounge. Just edited a video and will go sit outside shortly with a lovely cup of tea and my crossword puzzle. Roll on spring. Enjoy the 😎🥂! 💐🌸🙋♀️
The comment about the direction the windows are facing is very important. I’ve been in apartments with west facing windows where the AC could not work hard enough to cool the unit in summer. I personally much prefer south facing. Great direct sun in winter.
I am so glad that I stumbled on your channel, it has changed my way of thinking about the future whether it be considering moving to an apartment or buying stock. I agree with you guys retirement is the best job ever! Thanks for sharing such great life improvement tips.
More great advice. The thing that stops me is ... noise from other people. That is the big blocker. I’ve always lived in detached houses because I don’t want to share a wall with anyone. Memories of student life in apartments and the music and people walking/jumping around at 3 am ... and I was actually pretty lucky compared to some. Sounds like you found a real gem there!!
Hi Karen, other than one house we have always been detached too 🏡 but we decided on here partly because 60 -70 %are retired and have all sold a house and seem to all be very considerate to us all. The pool 🏊♀️ was the cherry 🍒 on the cake for me have always wanted a pool . We hope things are good with you , weather is improving here some really nice sunny 🌞 days have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Great tip on not getting a ground level apartment. I would not get too much higher than 4-5 floors up since as an older person, one will have difficulty exiting in an emergency or even just regular fire drills when rhe elevator is off or not accessible.
That is an interesting point , we have had the fire dept come and talk to us , their ladders go up to the 8th floor but in a real fire if you are older they tell you to stay put and they come get you . We appreciate you watching our videos have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
So true!! In the past month my husband and I had to evacuate our (new/modern) apartment twice in 1 week!! We live on the 15th floor and have 2 giant cats we had to capture, crate, and carry with us. If physical mobility is an issue, definitely consider choosing a lower floor. 😉
I love you guys! It’s so fun to watch your videos while I’m cooking in the kitchen. I think an important thing to consider when relocating is safe public transportation. I don’t drive so I either walk, bike or tuse public transportation. Even though the area I’m moving to is super safe, there are areas along the bus lines scheduled stops that are dangerous. I’ve experienced some stressful long bus rides in my travels when the bus picks up troublesome characters. This is even more of a concern if one has to transfer for a connecting bus and wait on the street in a dangerous area. Sorry to mention this negative point, but I think it’s important to factor in. One thing that helps a lot is headphones! You can listen to something you enjoy and also quietly give a message of being unavailable.
These are some great tips about where to live when your retirement if you decide to sell your home. I am like you I do not wanna live someplace I don’t have two bathrooms and I don’t have laundry facilities. I didn’t even realize you could find one with those great tips and of course it’s great about the underground parking never thought about that either
After having an attached garage in our house for 43 years...a garage is a must-have for us as well. We also love the sun so we would want South or West facing. Great points to consider 👍
We didn't know half this stuff but went with our gut instinct, now we have gained knowledge of apartments over 5 years of doing it, we are trying to help folks prevent obvious mistakes that frankly aren't so obvious lol Thanks so much for your comment. Hope your weekend is awesome.
Sir, I love your Tshirt. My husband and our boys were Mustang only drivers. You Tshirt brings back good memories to me. Thx for the tips. Always useful.
I did quite a bit of travelling in my lifetime, Always stay at the quiet side away from traffic, stay away from rooms near the ice making machines, Entrances, and elevators and you will be a happy traveler, when your in any Hotel, Motel or apartment. "You Guys have a great time , and take care" !
I recently discovered your channel and have watched several of your awesome videos. As for selling our home and renting, it would be challenging in Victoria BC where we live due to the extremely low purpose-built apartment vacancy rate (1.5%) and the high rental costs ($1700/month on average for a 2 bedroom). It makes more sense to stay in our home for now. We wouldn’t have the ability to shop around for the perfect building and unit because the market is so competitive. I’m glad you were able to make it work in your town.
Thanks for watching Maureen , we did have to move 6 hours away to find the perfect place for us , they have no trouble renting as lots of people want to live here . What we did learn is we are glad we did it 7 years ago to get into the rental market and our rent is now so much lower . Cheers and Happy Easter 🍷🐣🙂
@@kristinolan7240 We have thought about it and might in the future , thing is before Covid our days were very different to what we do now as we are on stay at home and not travelling. Cheers 🍷🌺
Hi Norm and Tina. Thanks for the 10 tips. Always things to consider when moving. and... Norm's test of the smell of the hallway is a big one for sure! I have lived in a few apartments when i was younger so these things remind of what it was like. Have a great Sunny Weekend!
Heh Chris, this is our first apartment and it has been very positive experience, we now are more focused on ourselves and our lives than the property we own or live in. Say hi to Percy, hope he is golden Lol.
Look on the positive side if your fridge craps out....no problem, plenty of ice on hand for cocktails Lol...Thank you so much for your support. We drove through Saskatchewan in April 2019, we loved it!!
Wonderful layout the paths of getting an ideal retirement living. I watched a lot of your short video, if you can put it in a book or retirement manual from your rubber meeting the pavement experience. I will definitely get a few copies and give it to my siblings and friends. You are so nice to put together the best retirement series ever. George
I had a shopping trolley when I lived in an apartment in my 20s! I don’t know why people resist them, they’re so useful. ( Btw, I’ve figured out where you live but I won’t say 🤐. Nice building! One friend lived in the original building and had an apartment that had both north and west facing balconies. She now lives in a house but still misses those spectacular sunsets)
Thanks for the video! The hall smell is not a superior HVAC system rather a legislated safety feature. Newer buildings at least in Ontario, have negative air pressure systems which means apartment air does not vent into halls as the hall air pressure is positive. Without that system apartment fires /smoke would spread from the originating apartment into halls and other apartments. I agree with your ten points although many seniors can only dream of having condo like amenities like indoor parking, swimming, exercise rooms and personal use washer/dryer. It sounds expensive.
Thanks for you informative comment 🤔 we rented our apartment 5 years ago and only get really small increases, coming in now people are paying 4-500 more so it’s nice to be locked in . To anyone thinking of doing it we would say do it sooner rather than later, have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Thanks for the info on Ontario building codes, we aren't familiar with that but certainly can tell the difference in this building. As all things real estate location plays an important part of costs, we are far from Toronto, so the further from major city centres the more affordable rents become. There are many towns in Ontario where you can get facilities like ours for under $2K, having been here for 5 years we are $1500 pm
Hello Norm & Tina! I just found your channel yesterday! Another reason to rent from a corporation is that they are less likely to sell your unit/home at a moment's notice & then you have to pack up & move again if the new owners don't want to rent the unit/house. This can happen quite often with private landlords especially these days where the market for sellers is so hot!
Thanks for finding us and welcome to our channel , all great points and yes we rent from a large corporation with over 90 buildings it’s wonderful Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
We wish you well we just love living in our apartment, think of what is important to you I (Tina ) the laundry and pool and indoor parking have made my retirement awesome. There is one out there with your name on just go find it 🌺have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Always good to get fresh air and exercise, it’s so nice here today we will be sitting out on the balcony soon for a drink 🥃. We are well thank you and hope you both have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺Glad you enjoyed the video 🤗
Oh man ,its funny that when i hear you talking about leaving for winter i don't understand...lol... i love our four season. In winter its the best time to do sports ,even when you are a bit older. We think its funny when we see people are flying south for winter. I'm older now and would not want to miss my winter season. And where i live we have very much longer winter then in Ontario,but the three other seasons are just so beautiful to. But i do understand that some people hate winter i guess its not for everyone...lol here winter start in November and end in mid April,with a good 300 cm of snow some winter, so, so beautiful...
We absolutely agree and there are lots of lower priced appartments , they just don’t have all the same amenities that we wanted . Thanks for watching have great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌸
My rule for apartment living would be make sure I'm on the top floor. I rented a condo for several years that wasn't top floor and wound up with a couple of neighbours from hell iving above me. Sounded like they were throwing furniture around at 2AM (on work nights when I had to get up early). Never again will I live in one that has people living above me. It was a shame, because it was otherwise a great place. 2 beds/2 baths, wood burning fireplace, swimming pool, tennis court, right on the water. Here in Victoria there are lots of low-rise apartments (like 3-4 floors would be typical). I find that even when I lived on the 2nd floor I didn't have ro turn the heat on. You really do benefit from heat rising.
Hi Debbie, We forgot to say on our building DO NOT go on the top floor because all the mechanical parts of the building are their, heating and a/c and they are noisy lol Maybe some buildings have nothing on the roof, but look at some apartment buildings and they have structures on them housing the heating and pumps etc. Thanks for watching have a good weekend.
@@ThisIsOurRetirement Steady noise of equipment MUCH LESS intrusive and disturbing than random noise from overhead people ... One will fade into normal background acceptance in a short time. The other will never be tolerable. Top floor ... may cost more ... but priceless!
This couple makes me miss my husband who suddenly passed Sept 2019. We were going to retire to Florida and had such wild dreams to fulfill our retirement. I want to retire with a soul mate if you have any ideas lol
Kathy we are so sorry to hear about your husband, stay safe and keep well you never know what the future may bring we appreciate you watching our channel 🍷🌺
Kathy do not let your dreams be unfulfilled. Make the best of it and if you need to do it alone in FLorida go for it. You do not need to have a partner to still be happy. Sitting in your home is not the answer to happiness.
@@enjoythedreamlife5658 Really nice comment and have to agree , Norm has often said to me if anything happens to him he wants me to go ahead and do what we were going to do together so Kathy go for it Greg would be proud of you ❤️
I'm planning on getting a recreational vehicle and traveling to different campsites cuz I love the outdoors and cannot imagine staying cooped up in an apartment. Thank you for your wise advice
Trees blocking one's view? Try this one. I bought a 3 bed condo on a brand new complex in Malacca, Malaysia in 2004 within 30 metres of the sea (Malacca Straights). Several years ago the Malaysian government decided to allow land reclamation in the sea within the area of my condo. Needless to say, a housing complex, hotels and restaurants now adorn this new land where the sea once glistened. In 2004 it was 30 metres away to dip my toes in the swirling waters now I have to walk 1.2 kilometres.
Hi from Somerset! We’re considering moving to a flat from a 4 bed bungalow with large garden - a big decision so your tips are brilliant. Our must-have list is ever growing! Other peoples’ cooking smells…yuk! 😂 Thank you both.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your suggestions! You have given extraordinary advice and advice for my wife and me as we are planning to right size to an apartment next year.
@@ThisIsOurRetirement At some point, my wife and I would love to hear your perspectives about continuing care retirement communities (CCRC’s) where residents have apartments or cottages In independent living, but have continuing care available when needed (assisted living, memory care, and nursing) care on the same campus. The vast majority of us will decline gradually and CCRC’s help residents meet future needs while keeping them independent for as long as possible. Just a suggestion for a future video.
Great tips to choose the best apartment. We prefer to have the washing machine and possibly dryer inside the apt as well. Yes, agree on getting it with a corporation; there are so many pluses from that. Balconies are a must for us too. We enjoy those soooo much.
Hi guys thanks for dropping by , glad you enjoyed our tips , we just love our balcony so great having an outdoor space stay safe and have a great week Cheers 🍺🌸🍷
Brilliant...this is a decision my wife and I need to make in a few years so thanks. We are prepared but you brought a few issues to light that we never considered... thanks
Everything you talked about we have in our building but it is a condo and we own it. We considered most of those things when we bought because this is hopefully our last place to live, as my husband says or when the carry him out in a pine box. Gym facilities are so important to us, most things are within walking distance, underground garage, in suite laundry. A good mix of retired, new babies, and young professionals. A wonderful maintenance guy who knows everyone in the building by name and keeps the place spotless. We have 1200 sq. ft. which gives us two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Something we did do when we bought new was have heated floors put in both bathrooms and living in Ottawa that makes a big difference in the winter time. We face north/west so get summer sun on our north facing balcony and our balcony is also large enough to have furniture and planters and herbs outside. I know you speak about selling your home and renting but what we pay here with condo fees etc. is less than a 2 bedroom apartment in Ottawa. We also had designer grab bars put in both bath and shower areas before we moved in and they have worked out fantastic. We were 55 and 57 when we moved in here and now 63 and 65. It works for us. You have to really think about what you want in retirement.
Sandi your plan sounds great you obviously put a lot of thought in to it before going with the Condo , we agree apartments are expensive in Ottawa that’s why we moved to a less expensive area. Everyone’s plan for retirement is different enjoy yours Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
Thanks Norm and Tina! Appreciate you sharing your top tips with downsizing to an apartment. Very helpful! I look forward to the weekend and listening to your videos! Keep them coming! Enjoy this beautiful day.
Hi Tina we are glad you are enjoying our videos and we appreciate your support, today is going up to 15°C degrees 🌞that’s really warm for us in 🇨🇦 Canada we will go for a long walk then have a drink on the balcony we hope you enjoy your day too Cheers 🍺🌸🍷🌞
That's great they are maintaining the building, we don't always see that. Afternoon sun for sure! I'm with you Norm, the smell is a total turn of for me LOL Great video! Have an amazing weekend!
Yes we can’t complain the maintenance is great all new painting and that includes the swimming pool 🏊♀️ we hope you have an awesome weekend the weather is looking great today was beautiful. Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Outstanding video.! Thanks so much for sharing your experience and insight. It really helps in our pre-retirement stage to explore multiple possibilities. Looking forward to the videos from the trailer/lake in May!! Our best from Alaska, Ken & Amy.
Hi Ken and Amy we are glad you enjoyed it , we are counting the days down to the trailer hopefully May 1st if we have no major restrictions. Have a great weekend Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Hi Tina and Norm, thanks for the videos. I have a suggested topic for a future video - I would be interested in your annual income streams and your expenditures. No hard numbers are required - maybe percentages from each income stream - pensions, governmental payments, investments, etc. and corresponding percentages on housing, food, utilities, travel, health care, etc. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
It is so different here in the south ,even high end apartments show you a model and then want to shove you into whatever way they fill vacancies as they become empty. My grandson got a surprise AFTER signing the lease. but,for him it worked out for the best and also he got a great price by not a lot of amenities he doesn't miss because he works all the time. It will change later of course as he is young ,but I don't like noise,kids noise, pools ,still searching.
Wow that is a little misleading, our building shows the actual apartment even if it’s still occupied while giving notice. Glad it worked out for grandson. We are in a pet free and virtually no children building, average age is retirement but it’s not a retirement building.
A great video would be the cost of your medical expenses now that your retired. I know that’s a major concern for many. Thanks for your insight in all things retirement.
We are Canadian so have been taxed higher than the U.S. So we get free healthcare, the only pay for health is dentistry. Our eye tests are free once a year, prescription copays are a maximum of $100 per year, so literally we have no healthcare costs other than travel and we buy a policy from our credit card company that is good for 30 day trips unlimited and another bank will top that up for another 60 days? Thanks so much for watching.
@@ThisIsOurRetirement amazing. Although you pay higher taxes to achieve this, at least you don’t have the worry of huge medical bills if someone get ill. This is a real concern for most Americans. Do you also have health coverage if you were to visit the UK specifically, given that you were residents there?
We are still UK citizens with a National Health # so yes we could get free healthcare and our children who were born there. Sometimes we complain about the taxes here in Canada, but health insurance is a huge problem to retirement in the U.S. and we are glad not to have those monthly payments in retirement.
Could you please share the CC company you use for your travel inaurance? We will be 65 shortly , our CC policy will only cover one week out of country travel at that time. Thamks!
@@bonniebrown1305 Sure we are with Bank of Montreal no fee Air miles MasterCard , we get 30 days travel as many trips as you want in a year but it might have changed as we are grandfathered in. It is a policy that we buy with them for full medical and travel was $130 just going up to $300ish as Norm is now 65 .We also found out that TD insurance will sell a top up 30 day plan very reasonable so we then get 60 days. Have a great week Cheers 🍺🍷🧳✈️🌺🚢
I like the idea of downsizing from, in my case, a 3 bedroom house, to a 2 bed/2 bath apartment with some nice amenities. In our case, I think we would buy and bank the cash difference, but the apartment idea is appealing. I only have one sticking point on it though. I need to be able to plug in my car to charge it wherever I live! I'm not going back to a pure gas car after seeing the money saved in gas and the better driving experience. In the not too distant future, this will be everyone's problem and I'm not sure apartment buildings will adapt. I do like the idea tough.
You bring up a good point, we would like an electric car but our apartment doesn't have charging points, although they did take a survey of our building asking if any residents were thinking of electric car ownership, so maybe it's on the horizon. Our quality of life has increased being in the apartment, we are more focused on us and living rather than home maintenance grass cutting, painting, deck staining etc. Thanks for watching and making a great timely point.
Depends on the retirement apartment. Independent living apartments are were you can take of yourself. If you need help and still want privacy, there’s assisted living. A nursing home should be avoided because privacy is an extra cost and all the hand holding can get annoying unless one has very severe medical problems. Good luck on one’s retirement.
Thanks for watching we live in a 2 bed 2 bath gorgeous 1340 sq ft apartment overlooking a lake fully independent any age can and does live here. Have a great weekend 🍷🍺
Hellooo Norm and Tina from Southern California. Just found your channel and subscribed. I'm a few years behind you so these tips are very helpful. They give me options so that I can plan ahead. I just love options, don't you? Cheers :)
Hey Tina and Norm! Great to hear these tips today on choosing the best retirement apartment. It's interesting to hear that it's better to have a corporate landlord, than a private one. Here in the USA it's just the opposite. As a private landlord will probably not raise your rent every year, but a corporate will guaranteed raise your rent the minimum allowable. It's great that your building is only 10 years old when you moved in. Love the fact that they have a pool and gym on site for you to enjoy. 1,340 sq.ft is a great size for a 2bd 2bath! We agree, the balcony is definitely important, and so nice to have a view of the lake from so high up. You have a really cute patio setup too! Great video and love you guys to the mother effin' moon! 💖🤗🌛😘🥰😊
You guys are awesome, have a great weekend and don't do anything we wouldn't Lol 💕 We are lucky because we have rent control so price rises are controlled by the provincial government it's a max of 2%. The building is great the swimming pool has been shut during the lockdown (stay at home order), but it's opening in the next week or two yay!! We have been watching the Netflix documentary drama on the college admission scandal in the U.S. amazing...and sad. Thanks so much for your continued support we appreciate it..Keep your eyes out at Costco for the Head sweater and gear. We love you both too 💕
It is great to hear from Bears and Butters the landlord doesn't raise the rent for years. But guaranteed taxes, insurance and maintenance costs ( especially materials) have gone up, those three quite in excess of the consumer price index for inflation. At some point, something will suffer, usually maintenance first.
@@garykembel8144 Interesting point and we agree we are OK with small increases as we are getting new painting ,all got new low water flush toilets , general maintenance is great . Have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@garykembel8144 True story Gary!! We will deal with a bit of the maintenance and take care of it ourselves, so the rent doesn't get raised! With a good landlord like that, you can scratch each others backs!! :D
Great advice. Both are so enjoyable to watch. Now I would prefer to rent in a building which is a mix of owners and renters not 100% renters. Just a personal preference.
There are lots of choices of apartments at all different costs, they just all don’t have the same amenities, we moved to small lower priced town to find ours TFW and have a great week Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Thank you so much for all the information you both are providing. How did you decide on the area you are now residing. I’m very familiar with the area you are living in and my daughter lives very close to where your P.O. Box is. I just turned 65 and am interested in renting an apartment as well. You both seem to have put a lot of time and effort in your decision. I have been binging your videos all day lol
Yes we can and will in the future, but as Canadians we have universal healthcare...free. We just have to pay for dentist and $100 per year fro prescriptions. Also travel insurance is an expense too. Thanks for your suggestion we appreciate it. Have a nice weekend.
Agree... but unless you’re spending more than approximately $4000 per month on rent, you’re still better off renting. Even in the long term. Buying isn’t what it used to be unless you have kids and really want/need the extra space.
If your goal is to rental long term, best to be in an apartment building not a condo from someone in a condo building. The owner can give notice he is moving into his unit or could sell it. Leaving you looking for another place at higher rents. With Rent controls in Ontario, owner cannot go beyond guidelines. They can ask for above the guidelines if they were doing extensive work to your unit and I don't mean changing carpets and painting your unit. So many small owners of individual properties make terrible Landlords. Most and I mean most do not know the Landlord and Tenant act. I could have so many infractions if you only knew the rules as a tenant. How do I know this? I'm a landlord that belongs to a Landlord Apartment Association on understanding the laws. Norm and Tina you do a great job doing videos.
Thanks so much for enjoying our videos, yes we are fortunate we rent from a great Corporation with very small increases we personally don’t like Condos full stop 😱for the reasons you have mentioned. Hope you have an awesome weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Happy retirement to you. You speak a lot about great choice to sell the house and move into rental. Have you toughed your house would have been worth double the money you sold it for? Just wonder how to get the head around it.
We sold it 6 years ago, in that time we have travelled extensively having amazing experiences building precious memories. All the while our money from the house has paid for these trips, our rent and we have still grown the amount beyond the initial amount. 6 years of zero maintenance or grass cutting, snow blowing and absolutely no property ownership stress. Yep best thing we ever did, life is for living, not for maintaining a property.
I love this couple. They are so bonded. So civil, courteous & great advice!
Thank you for such a lovely sweet comment, enjoy your weekend Cheers 🍷🌸🤗
And so cute 😁
Just happened upon your videos at the perfect time-I am selling my house soon and was stressed about buying another and using all my capital. You helped me realize I can rent a beautiful apt, keep my capital and enjoy my retirement much better. Thanks so much!
You are so welcome! enjoy your weekend Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
I'm on the 8th floor too... it's perfect. Moved into a unit after more than 40 years in a house. Best move... 😊
That’s great we are enjoying it too, glad it worked out for you too.
I have heard from a firefighter that their ladder only goes up to the 8th floor. In one of the banks I worked for, all the execs were on the 8th floor. So you are on the perfect floor.
Norm and Tina - Thank you so much for your channel. My husband and I are just turning 50 this year so your advice is amazing. No one ever talks about retirement like you do, it is always about will you have enough money. Thank you! So glad I found your channel
Thanks so much Tina for watching our video we appreciate it!
love this couple. They are so bonded. So civil, courteous & great advice!
Thanks for watching 🌺
I love how you guys freely give of yourselves to help the rest of us! Just want to say thank you!
Your welcome glad you enjoyed it Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
😙😙🥲🥰🥰🥰🤔🥲🥲🥲
I like when you insert pics of your actual apartment to illustrate your points. Great video.
Glad you like them! hope you have a nice weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
The right choice, happy for you two ❤
Thank you 💕
Good sound advice ...it's always good to look around before making a long term purchase..
Hi Terry nice to see you hope you are having a great weekend ATB 🤗🍺🍷
This video is so timely! I am 61, single, and currently live in the same SFH I bought 20 years ago. I'm seriously debating on whether I should continue home ownership or invest the home equity and move into an apartment. I don't have rent control in my state, so the idea of the rent becoming unaffordable in later years is a huge concern. But I really like the idea of more freedom (from home related expenses) in retirement.
We are at a definite advantage having rent control, makes the future more predictable. The house carrying costs when we added it up without maintenance was $100 less than the apartment rent. Mentally we never thought maintenance was that much, but sitting down with a paper and pencil and recounting trips to the hardware store, the money was disappearing a dollar at a time. There are I think 6 cities and states in the U.S. with rent control, I searched about it sometime ago. Thanks for watching, have a good weekend.
How about buying a small condo? I only pay $830 a month (not including electric, gas, internet).
Another great video. We've been in our apartment for just under 1 year. Coming from a 2 story house for 45 years was a real life change for us. We're in a new building also on the 8th floor West facing and it's great. Underground parking, washer /dryer in suite, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom. It's about 1280 square ft. Had to get ride of a lot of stuff before the move. Lawnmower, snow blower, all gardening stuff and a lot more. You definitely have to both be ready to downsize or it won't work. The fitness room is also great and I use it every other day then walk at a local conservation area every other day. We also downsized from 2 cars to one. Not something my wife was really keen on at first. But she's getting use to it. Sold a 2015 and 2106 Subaru Crosstrek and bought a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek and the dealership cut us a check for $5K. Loved that.
Thank you for your kind words, it is a big change downsizing but as you say, if both of you are on side then it is easier. We were lucky we had 4 years of travel before the non essential travel advisory. Being in the apartment made it easier and a lot less stress leaving this home for two to three months in winter.
Great deal on your car, it is very rare to get money back from a car dealer lol. We hope things are going well for you both and thanks for taking time to comment.
Wonderful advice! Better to learn from other people's mistakes instead of your own! Keep the advice coming.
That’s our mission on UA-cam, thanks for watching.
We are beginning this process and have actually visited one apartment that checked all of the boxes. However, in the US (we live in Georgia), we don’t have rent control places nor are the rents as reasonably priced which is a bummer. Your hints are very helpful and we will refer back to this list as we visit more places. Thank you so much.
New to your channel. Very interesting subjects. Retiring in 5 years and you really give good advice.
Thanks and welcome hope you have a great week Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
I really like this channel. I'm 41 and no where near retirement and I'm an American living in Spain for 6 mo. My time here has gotten me thinking about retirement and what I need to consider when I retire
We are happy to have influenced you to consider retirement planning or a least what you want to do in the future. Enjoy Spain.
Having moved to an apartment 6 years ago I can say we've never looked back. Great decision. I've lived singel story most of my life so having everything on one level feels quite natural to me. We own our apartment and no, there isn't a sporting facility, there is the opportunity for safe walks and ease of a local supermarket at 5minutes distance. No car needed. A bus stop across the road gets us into town and back with no need for the car. We have a communal outdoor parking area and an elevator ( I prefer the stairs). We live in the third floor with magnificent views and the afternoon warmth and evening sunset. Large balcony which is our outdoor lounge. We are the first in our steady group of friends who made the break from 'normal' living to more retirement style before we retired. Felt we had the energy to tackle the change better then than later. No regrets. Lots to consider indeed and some issues possibly show up after the move. We are very happy here. No regrets. Good tips Norm and Tina 👍 🙏 🌷 🙋♀️ ps. My husband has his own man cave and as of March last year my Woman Cave was realised. ( video online 😂😂)
Good morning ☕️ wow we sound very similar as couples, we did it 5 years ago and not looked back . Your apartment sounds great in a good position for groceries and nice walks . We were also the first in our group to sell and move into an apartment,( lots of our friends thought we were crazy ) as you get older the thought of a big move would be very stressful.
We also have never looked back , our weather is really improving up to 15 °C degrees 🌞🍷today we will be sat on the balcony our outside haven . Have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@ThisIsOurRetirement yes, we had the same reaction from our friends. Their homes like ours needed some upgrading. We felt the money better spent on moving out and creating a new forever space. The past few days have been wonderful and we too have enjoyed time outside in the sun. Love out outside lounge. Just edited a video and will go sit outside shortly with a lovely cup of tea and my crossword puzzle. Roll on spring. Enjoy the 😎🥂! 💐🌸🙋♀️
@@IamaDutch-Kiwi Enjoy your day ☕️🌞🍷
The comment about the direction the windows are facing is very important. I’ve been in apartments with west facing windows where the AC could not work hard enough to cool the unit in summer. I personally much prefer south facing. Great direct sun in winter.
Thanks for sharing! we love our warmth and sunsets 🌅 Have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
My wife and I were actually talking about what to do when we retire. Thanks for sharing and we will certainly take note of your tips. Stay safe guys!
We hope this helps, best of luck
This video is so incredibly helpful! Thanks 😊
You're so welcome! have a wonderful week Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
I am so glad that I stumbled on your channel, it has changed my way of thinking about the future whether it be considering moving to an apartment or buying stock. I agree with you guys retirement is the best job ever! Thanks for sharing such great life improvement tips.
Wonderful! welcome to our channel Carolyn , glad you are enjoying it have a great week 🍷🌺
Great advice from two charmers. Thanks so much.
You are so welcome!
Thanks great tips. Love your channel. Getting ready for next phase of life. Keep up the great work.
Awesome! Thank you!
More great advice. The thing that stops me is ... noise from other people. That is the big blocker. I’ve always lived in detached houses because I don’t want to share a wall with anyone. Memories of student life in apartments and the music and people walking/jumping around at 3 am ... and I was actually pretty lucky compared to some. Sounds like you found a real gem there!!
Hi Karen, other than one house we have always been detached too 🏡 but we decided on here partly because 60 -70 %are retired and have all sold a house and seem to all be very considerate to us all. The pool 🏊♀️ was the cherry 🍒 on the cake for me have always wanted a pool . We hope things are good with you , weather is improving here some really nice sunny 🌞 days have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Great tip on not getting a ground level apartment. I would not get too much higher than 4-5 floors up since as an older person,
one will have difficulty exiting in an emergency or even just regular fire drills when rhe elevator is off or not accessible.
That is an interesting point , we have had the fire dept come and talk to us , their ladders go up to the 8th floor but in a real fire if you are older they tell you to stay put and they come get you .
We appreciate you watching our videos have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
So true!! In the past month my husband and I had to evacuate our (new/modern) apartment twice in 1 week!! We live on the 15th floor and have 2 giant cats we had to capture, crate, and carry with us. If physical mobility is an issue, definitely consider choosing a lower floor. 😉
@@Jennifer_150 Good point we are happy on the 8th with a great view 🌺
I love you guys! It’s so fun to watch your videos while I’m cooking in the kitchen.
I think an important thing to consider when relocating is safe public transportation. I don’t drive so I either walk, bike or tuse public transportation. Even though the area I’m moving to is super safe, there are areas along the bus lines scheduled stops that are dangerous. I’ve experienced some stressful long bus rides in my travels when the bus picks up troublesome characters. This is even more of a concern if one has to transfer for a connecting bus and wait on the street in a dangerous area. Sorry to mention this negative point, but I think it’s important to factor in. One thing that helps a lot is headphones! You can listen to something you enjoy and also quietly give a message of being unavailable.
Thanks for sharing it’s definitely something to be aware of Cheers 🍷🌺😎
Very smart information ! Appreciate the advice 👍
Great tips - thanks for the video and have a wonderful weekend!
You too ! glad you enjoyed it have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
These are some great tips about where to live when your retirement if you decide to sell your home. I am like you I do not wanna live someplace I don’t have two bathrooms and I don’t have laundry facilities. I didn’t even realize you could find one with those great tips and of course it’s great about the underground parking never thought about that either
We love our place they are around you just have to look enjoy your weekend Cheers 🌺🍺🍷
After having an attached garage in our house for 43 years...a garage is a must-have for us as well. We also love the sun so we would want South or West facing. Great points to consider 👍
We didn't know half this stuff but went with our gut instinct, now we have gained knowledge of apartments over 5 years of doing it, we are trying to help folks prevent obvious mistakes that frankly aren't so obvious lol Thanks so much for your comment. Hope your weekend is awesome.
Sir, I love your Tshirt. My husband and our boys were Mustang only drivers. You Tshirt brings back good memories to me. Thx for the tips. Always useful.
Rock on! thanks for watching have a great week Cheers 🍷🇨🇦🍺
Great tips 👍 covered parking is a must 😀
We agree! especially when we are minus -30 degrees and snow ⛄️ LOL 😂 have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🌸🍺
I did quite a bit of travelling in my lifetime, Always stay at the quiet side away from traffic, stay away from rooms near the ice making machines, Entrances, and elevators and you will be a happy traveler, when your in any Hotel, Motel or apartment. "You Guys have a great time , and take care" !
We always asked for the same quiet, away from elevators TFW enjoy your week Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
I recently discovered your channel and have watched several of your awesome videos. As for selling our home and renting, it would be challenging in Victoria BC where we live due to the extremely low purpose-built apartment vacancy rate (1.5%) and the high rental costs ($1700/month on average for a 2 bedroom). It makes more sense to stay in our home for now. We wouldn’t have the ability to shop around for the perfect building and unit because the market is so competitive. I’m glad you were able to make it work in your town.
Thanks for watching Maureen , we did have to move 6 hours away to find the perfect place for us , they have no trouble renting as lots of people want to live here . What we did learn is we are glad we did it 7 years ago to get into the rental market and our rent is now so much lower . Cheers and Happy Easter 🍷🐣🙂
Wonderful advice
Glad you think so! we love our apartment have a wonderful weekend Cheers 🍷🌸🍺
You two lovebirds seem to be living your best life ! So wonderful to see your adventures 💕
Yes we are we are having a blast we are so glad to have taken early Retirement 5 years ago highly recommend to everyone. Have a great day Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@ThisIsOurRetirement Would you consider doing a " Day in the Life " video? I think that would be really fun!
@@kristinolan7240 We have thought about it and might in the future , thing is before Covid our days were very different to what we do now as we are on stay at home and not travelling.
Cheers 🍷🌺
Thank you it make me think when move to one city to another to make a home work about some many things thank you again great advice!!!!!
Our pleasure!
Hi Norm and Tina. Thanks for the 10 tips. Always things to consider when moving. and... Norm's test of the smell of the hallway is a big one for sure! I have lived in a few apartments when i was younger so these things remind of what it was like. Have a great Sunny Weekend!
Heh Chris, this is our first apartment and it has been very positive experience, we now are more focused on ourselves and our lives than the property we own or live in. Say hi to Percy, hope he is golden Lol.
👍👍✌️ Looks like you thought of everything and got a great place. Happy for you. I have no plans at this time to sell my home. Quite comfortable here.
Thanks for watching we have learned a lot about apartment living and thinking of doing another up to date video about it Cheers 🌺🙂🍷🍺
Very good points. Sounds like a wonderful building!
It really is! we are very pleased we live here hope you are having a great sunny 🌞 weekend Cheers 🍷🌞🍺
Everything you described. Spot on. 👍
Glad you think so! 😀😀
You two are great. My wife and I enjoy your videos from Canda's ice garden in Saskatchewan.
Look on the positive side if your fridge craps out....no problem, plenty of ice on hand for cocktails Lol...Thank you so much for your support. We drove through Saskatchewan in April 2019, we loved it!!
Wonderful layout the paths of getting an ideal retirement living.
I watched a lot of your short video, if you can put it in a book or retirement manual from your rubber meeting the pavement experience. I will definitely get a few copies and give it to my siblings and friends. You are so nice to put together the best retirement series ever.
George
Thanks for the suggestion glad you enjoyed it Cheers 🙂🌺🍷
I had a shopping trolley when I lived in an apartment in my 20s! I don’t know why people resist them, they’re so useful.
( Btw, I’ve figured out where you live but I won’t say 🤐. Nice building! One friend lived in the original building and had an apartment that had both north and west facing balconies. She now lives in a house but still misses those spectacular sunsets)
Thank you the sunsets are spectacular, shopping carts make life so easy for us lol we appreciate your discretion, have a wonderful weekend.
Very good advice all around.
Glad you think so! have a great weekend Gary stay safe and well Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Excellent advice, and very topical. Love the advice about a big balcony.
Glad you enjoyed it! have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🌞
Awesome idea, thank you 🙏
Thanks for watching enjoy your weekend Cheers 🍷🌸🍺🌞
Thanks for the video! The hall smell is not a superior HVAC system rather a legislated safety feature. Newer buildings at least in Ontario, have negative air pressure systems which means apartment air does not vent into halls as the hall air pressure is positive. Without that system apartment fires /smoke would spread from the originating apartment into halls and other apartments.
I agree with your ten points although many seniors can only dream of having condo like amenities like indoor parking, swimming, exercise rooms and personal use washer/dryer. It sounds expensive.
Thanks for you informative comment 🤔 we rented our apartment 5 years ago and only get really small increases, coming in now people are paying 4-500 more so it’s nice to be locked in . To anyone thinking of doing it we would say do it sooner rather than later, have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Thanks for the info on Ontario building codes, we aren't familiar with that but certainly can tell the difference in this building. As all things real estate location plays an important part of costs, we are far from Toronto, so the further from major city centres the more affordable rents become. There are many towns in Ontario where you can get facilities like ours for under $2K, having been here for 5 years we are $1500 pm
Hello Norm & Tina! I just found your channel yesterday! Another reason to rent from a corporation is that they are less likely to sell your unit/home at a moment's notice & then you have to pack up & move again if the new owners don't want to rent the unit/house. This can happen quite often with private landlords especially these days where the market for sellers is so hot!
Thanks for finding us and welcome to our channel , all great points and yes we rent from a large corporation with over 90 buildings it’s wonderful Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
Great advice! Thanks guys:) We are currently looking for a apartment and have asked ourselves all these question.
We wish you well we just love living in our apartment, think of what is important to you I (Tina ) the laundry and pool and indoor parking have made my retirement awesome. There is one out there with your name on just go find it 🌺have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Great points. We are just back from a bout of daily exercise. Hope you are well.
Always good to get fresh air and exercise, it’s so nice here today we will be sitting out on the balcony soon for a drink 🥃. We are well thank you and hope you both have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺Glad you enjoyed the video 🤗
Great advice! I wouldn’t think of renting from a corporation.
Very informative!
Glad you think so!
Oh man ,its funny that when i hear you talking about leaving for winter i don't understand...lol... i love our four season. In winter its the best time to do sports ,even when you are a bit older. We think its funny when we see people are flying south for winter. I'm older now and would not want to miss my winter season. And where i live we have very much longer winter then in Ontario,but the three other seasons are just so beautiful to. But i do understand that some people hate winter i guess its not for everyone...lol here winter start in November and end in mid April,with a good 300 cm of snow some winter, so, so beautiful...
Realistically it comes right down to budget and what a person can afford.
We absolutely agree and there are lots of lower priced appartments , they just don’t have all the same amenities that we wanted . Thanks for watching have great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌸
Great information.Things I wouldn’t have noticed when looking for an apartment. Thanks for sharing ❤️🙏
Glad it was helpful!
I just stumbled upon your channel the other day while looking up Holland America cruises. Enjoying you both thanks!
Awesome! Thank you! glad you are enjoying our videos have a great week Cheers 🍷🍺🌸
My rule for apartment living would be make sure I'm on the top floor. I rented a condo for several years that wasn't top floor and wound up with a couple of neighbours from hell iving above me. Sounded like they were throwing furniture around at 2AM (on work nights when I had to get up early). Never again will I live in one that has people living above me. It was a shame, because it was otherwise a great place. 2 beds/2 baths, wood burning fireplace, swimming pool, tennis court, right on the water. Here in Victoria there are lots of low-rise apartments (like 3-4 floors would be typical). I find that even when I lived on the 2nd floor I didn't have ro turn the heat on. You really do benefit from heat rising.
Hi Debbie, We forgot to say on our building DO NOT go on the top floor because all the mechanical parts of the building are their, heating and a/c and they are noisy lol Maybe some buildings have nothing on the roof, but look at some apartment buildings and they have structures on them housing the heating and pumps etc. Thanks for watching have a good weekend.
@@ThisIsOurRetirement Steady noise of equipment MUCH LESS intrusive and disturbing than random noise from overhead people ... One will fade into normal background acceptance in a short time. The other will never be tolerable. Top floor ... may cost more ... but priceless!
@@emc6511 Thanks for watching each to their own we love the 8 th floor have a great weekend Cheers 🌺🍷🍺
Good job my dear couple🙏👍, big like and happy weekend 😁🙏🍻💪
Thank you so much 💕🙏🙏
Great insights guys! ✌️😊❤️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you!!! Currently hunting for a great apartment and you guys helped me make a perfect checklist! 🙏❤️
Glad our list is helpful to you 🌺
This couple makes me miss my husband who suddenly passed Sept 2019. We were going to retire to Florida and had such wild dreams to fulfill our retirement. I want to retire with a soul mate if you have any ideas lol
Kathy we are so sorry to hear about your husband, stay safe and keep well you never know what the future may bring we appreciate you watching our channel 🍷🌺
Kathy do not let your dreams be unfulfilled. Make the best of it and if you need to do it alone in FLorida go for it. You do not need to have a partner to still be happy. Sitting in your home is not the answer to happiness.
@@enjoythedreamlife5658 Really nice comment and have to agree , Norm has often said to me if anything happens to him he wants me to go ahead and do what we were going to do together so Kathy go for it Greg would be proud of you ❤️
Be careful, there are a lot of predators out there who prey on those”looking or love.” Watch a few UA-cam videos on romance scams.
I'm planning on getting a recreational vehicle and traveling to different campsites cuz I love the outdoors and cannot imagine staying cooped up in an apartment. Thank you for your wise advice
Trees blocking one's view? Try this one. I bought a 3 bed condo on a brand new complex in Malacca, Malaysia in 2004 within 30 metres of the sea (Malacca Straights). Several years ago the Malaysian government decided to allow land reclamation in the sea within the area of my condo. Needless to say, a housing complex, hotels and restaurants now adorn this new land where the sea once glistened. In 2004 it was 30 metres away to dip my toes in the swirling waters now I have to walk 1.2 kilometres.
Wow Steven that sucks ! Happy Valentine’s Day Cheers 💖
Hi from Somerset! We’re considering moving to a flat from a 4 bed bungalow with large garden - a big decision so your tips are brilliant. Our must-have list is ever growing! Other peoples’ cooking smells…yuk! 😂
Thank you both.
That’s wonderful hope your plans work out we love living in an apartment/flat enjoy your weekend Cheers 🇬🇧☕️🇨🇦
Love your videos. Starting to plan and your advice has been so educational and valuable to our planning. Thank you. Can I ask what town your in?
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your suggestions!
You have given extraordinary advice and advice for my wife and me as we are planning to right size to an apartment next year.
Our pleasure! we wish you all the best Everette with your future plans have a great weekend Cheers 🇨🇦☕️🍷
@@ThisIsOurRetirement At some point, my wife and I would love to hear your perspectives about continuing care retirement communities (CCRC’s) where residents have apartments or cottages In independent living, but have continuing care available when needed (assisted living, memory care, and nursing) care on the same campus.
The vast majority of us will decline gradually and CCRC’s help residents meet future needs while keeping them independent for as long as possible.
Just a suggestion for a future video.
Great tips to choose the best apartment. We prefer to have the washing machine and possibly dryer inside the apt as well.
Yes, agree on getting it with a corporation; there are so many pluses from that.
Balconies are a must for us too. We enjoy those soooo much.
Hi guys thanks for dropping by , glad you enjoyed our tips , we just love our balcony so great having an outdoor space stay safe and have a great week Cheers 🍺🌸🍷
Brilliant...this is a decision my wife and I need to make in a few years so thanks. We are prepared but you brought a few issues to light that we never considered... thanks
Glad you found it helpful and we wish you well with your future decision, have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Everything you talked about we have in our building but it is a condo and we own it. We considered most of those things when we bought because this is hopefully our last place to live, as my husband says or when the carry him out in a pine box. Gym facilities are so important to us, most things are within walking distance, underground garage, in suite laundry. A good mix of retired, new babies, and young professionals. A wonderful maintenance guy who knows everyone in the building by name and keeps the place spotless. We have 1200 sq. ft. which gives us two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Something we did do when we bought new was have heated floors put in both bathrooms and living in Ottawa that makes a big difference in the winter time. We face north/west so get summer sun on our north facing balcony and our balcony is also large enough to have furniture and planters and herbs outside. I know you speak about selling your home and renting but what we pay here with condo fees etc. is less than a 2 bedroom apartment in Ottawa. We also had designer grab bars put in both bath and shower areas before we moved in and they have worked out fantastic. We were 55 and 57 when we moved in here and now 63 and 65. It works for us. You have to really think about what you want in retirement.
Sandi your plan sounds great you obviously put a lot of thought in to it before going with the Condo , we agree apartments are expensive in Ottawa that’s why we moved to a less expensive area. Everyone’s plan for retirement is different enjoy yours Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
@@ThisIsOurRetirement could you let us know what part of Ontario you live in?
@@sandihunter1260 Southern Ontario Cheers 🌺
Thanks Norm and Tina! Appreciate you sharing your top tips with downsizing to an apartment. Very helpful!
I look forward to the weekend and listening to your videos! Keep them coming! Enjoy this beautiful day.
Hi Tina we are glad you are enjoying our videos and we appreciate your support, today is going up to 15°C degrees 🌞that’s really warm for us in 🇨🇦 Canada we will go for a long walk then have a drink on the balcony we hope you enjoy your day too Cheers 🍺🌸🍷🌞
@@ThisIsOurRetirement I'm in Mississauga so will be enjoying this fine day as well! 😊
@@tinaoswald Wasn’t it beautiful 🍷🌺
That's great they are maintaining the building, we don't always see that.
Afternoon sun for sure!
I'm with you Norm, the smell is a total turn of for me LOL
Great video! Have an amazing weekend!
Yes we can’t complain the maintenance is great all new painting and that includes the swimming pool 🏊♀️ we hope you have an awesome weekend the weather is looking great today was beautiful. Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
I do like how you have adopted Canadian terminology: hallways, garbage.... I guess when in Rome....
We are truly Canadian 🇨🇦LOL 😂😂Cheers 🍷🌺🍺
Outstanding video.! Thanks so much for sharing your experience and insight. It really helps in our pre-retirement stage to explore multiple possibilities. Looking forward to the videos from the trailer/lake in May!! Our best from Alaska, Ken & Amy.
Hi Ken and Amy we are glad you enjoyed it , we are counting the days down to the trailer hopefully May 1st if we have no major restrictions. Have a great weekend Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Hi Tina and Norm, thanks for the videos. I have a suggested topic for a future video - I would be interested in your annual income streams and your expenditures. No hard numbers are required - maybe percentages from each income stream - pensions, governmental payments, investments, etc. and corresponding percentages on housing, food, utilities, travel, health care, etc. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Thanks for watching everyone’s annual income and expenses are very different, hope you are having a great week Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Good content. Watching from Australia 🇦🇺
Thank you we appreciate it.
It is so different here in the south ,even high end apartments show you a model and then want to shove you into whatever way they fill vacancies as they become empty. My grandson got a surprise AFTER signing the lease. but,for him it worked out for the best and also he got a great price by not a lot of amenities he doesn't miss because he works all the time. It will change later of course as he is young ,but I don't like noise,kids noise, pools ,still searching.
Wow that is a little misleading, our building shows the actual apartment even if it’s still occupied while giving notice. Glad it worked out for grandson. We are in a pet free and virtually no children building, average age is retirement but it’s not a retirement building.
Great advice especially with apartment purchases and associated pitfalls that can happen without careful planning and research👍. Have a great weekend.
Glad it was helpful!
Your apartment building sounds really interesting with all the amenities. May I ask which town you are in. We are in sudbury up north.
We are in Southern Ontario Cheers 🍷🙂🌺
A great video would be the cost of your medical expenses now that your retired. I know that’s a major concern for many. Thanks for your insight in all things retirement.
We are Canadian so have been taxed higher than the U.S. So we get free healthcare, the only pay for health is dentistry. Our eye tests are free once a year, prescription copays are a maximum of $100 per year, so literally we have no healthcare costs other than travel and we buy a policy from our credit card company that is good for 30 day trips unlimited and another bank will top that up for another 60 days? Thanks so much for watching.
@@ThisIsOurRetirement amazing. Although you pay higher taxes to achieve this, at least you don’t have the worry of huge medical bills if someone get ill. This is a real concern for most Americans.
Do you also have health coverage if you were to visit the UK specifically, given that you were residents there?
We are still UK citizens with a National Health # so yes we could get free healthcare and our children who were born there. Sometimes we complain about the taxes here in Canada, but health insurance is a huge problem to retirement in the U.S. and we are glad not to have those monthly payments in retirement.
Could you please share the CC company you use for your travel inaurance? We will be 65 shortly , our CC policy will only cover one week out of country travel at that time. Thamks!
@@bonniebrown1305 Sure we are with Bank of Montreal no fee Air miles MasterCard , we get 30 days travel as many trips as you want in a year but it might have changed as we are grandfathered in. It is a policy that we buy with them for full medical and travel was $130 just going up to $300ish as Norm is now 65 .We also found out that TD insurance will sell a top up 30 day plan very reasonable so we then get 60 days. Have a great week Cheers 🍺🍷🧳✈️🌺🚢
Thank you for giving us important advices for our retirements . Absolutely I love all yours videos. 👍👍. God bless this couple. 🙏👏❤️❤️💪💪
I am 59 years old , I am not retired yet but you guys is giving us huge tips . ❤️❤️
Glad you like them!we appreciate your support have a great weekend Cheers 🌺🍷🍺
That’s wonderful we took early retirement at 58 and 60 and never looked back have a great weekend Cheers 🌺🍺🍷
@@ThisIsOurRetirement I love it 👍❤️and thank you for everything. 🌸🌼
This is very interesting topics many can relate I'm so interested on this thank you lovely couple 💕 very helpful so love this 😀
Thanks for dropping by glad you enjoyed it , hope you are well have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@ThisIsOurRetirement always thank you so much too 😀
You should do an apartment and balcony tour.
Thanks for the suggestion 🌺
I like the idea of downsizing from, in my case, a 3 bedroom house, to a 2 bed/2 bath apartment with some nice amenities. In our case, I think we would buy and bank the cash difference, but the apartment idea is appealing. I only have one sticking point on it though. I need to be able to plug in my car to charge it wherever I live! I'm not going back to a pure gas car after seeing the money saved in gas and the better driving experience. In the not too distant future, this will be everyone's problem and I'm not sure apartment buildings will adapt. I do like the idea tough.
You bring up a good point, we would like an electric car but our apartment doesn't have charging points, although they did take a survey of our building asking if any residents were thinking of electric car ownership, so maybe it's on the horizon. Our quality of life has increased being in the apartment, we are more focused on us and living rather than home maintenance grass cutting, painting, deck staining etc. Thanks for watching and making a great timely point.
Another great video guys.... Stay safe. :)
Thanks, you too! enjoy this gorgeous weather up to 15°C degrees today great day for a walk then drink on the balcony 🍷🍺🌞
nice advice on retirement apartments
*always a full view👀cool video got our like👍Au👍*
Thanks so much! Billy , glad you enjoyed it enjoy your weekend cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Enjoyed your video. The one question I have is. How does the age related demographic composition of a building bear on your decision?
Yes it does about 70% of the building is over 60 years of age so not a lot of noise as if the tenants were a lot younger Cheers 🍷😎🌺
Great video
Thanks for the visit Cheers 🌺
Depends on the retirement apartment. Independent living apartments are were you can take of yourself. If you need help and still want privacy, there’s assisted living. A nursing home should be avoided because privacy is an extra cost and all the hand holding can get annoying unless one has very severe medical problems. Good luck on one’s retirement.
Thanks for watching we live in a 2 bed 2 bath gorgeous 1340 sq ft apartment overlooking a lake fully independent any age can and does live here. Have a great weekend 🍷🍺
Hellooo Norm and Tina from Southern California. Just found your channel and subscribed. I'm a few years behind you so these tips are very helpful. They give me options so that I can plan ahead. I just love options, don't you? Cheers :)
Awesome! Thank you!yes always good to have options Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Hey Tina and Norm! Great to hear these tips today on choosing the best retirement apartment. It's interesting to hear that it's better to have a corporate landlord, than a private one. Here in the USA it's just the opposite. As a private landlord will probably not raise your rent every year, but a corporate will guaranteed raise your rent the minimum allowable. It's great that your building is only 10 years old when you moved in. Love the fact that they have a pool and gym on site for you to enjoy. 1,340 sq.ft is a great size for a 2bd 2bath! We agree, the balcony is definitely important, and so nice to have a view of the lake from so high up. You have a really cute patio setup too! Great video and love you guys to the mother effin' moon! 💖🤗🌛😘🥰😊
You guys are awesome, have a great weekend and don't do anything we wouldn't Lol 💕 We are lucky because we have rent control so price rises are controlled by the provincial government it's a max of 2%.
The building is great the swimming pool has been shut during the lockdown (stay at home order), but it's opening in the next week or two yay!!
We have been watching the Netflix documentary drama on the college admission scandal in the U.S. amazing...and sad.
Thanks so much for your continued support we appreciate it..Keep your eyes out at Costco for the Head sweater and gear. We love you both too 💕
@@ThisIsOurRetirement We will definitely check out Costco soon for those head sweaters!! Hope you guys have a great rest of your evening!! 🥰🌛💖
It is great to hear from Bears and Butters the landlord doesn't raise the rent for years. But guaranteed taxes, insurance and maintenance costs ( especially materials) have gone up, those three quite in excess of the consumer price index for inflation. At some point, something will suffer, usually maintenance first.
@@garykembel8144 Interesting point and we agree we are OK with small increases as we are getting new painting ,all got new low water flush toilets , general maintenance is great . Have a great weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
@@garykembel8144 True story Gary!! We will deal with a bit of the maintenance and take care of it ourselves, so the rent doesn't get raised! With a good landlord like that, you can scratch each others backs!! :D
Norm....you simply must add a story telling series to your channel....your voice was made for it.....
That is very nice of you to say that, thank you.
That you mention regarding retairing place i very expensive.
Great advice. Both are so enjoyable to watch. Now I would prefer to rent in a building which is a mix of owners and renters not 100% renters. Just a personal preference.
We wanted a no pets building and quiet tenants. The corporate landlord is very diligent on maintenance.
Great advice for persons with money $$$ . Not all elder Canadians have your choices!
There are lots of choices of apartments at all different costs, they just all don’t have the same amenities, we moved to small lower priced town to find ours TFW and have a great week Cheers 🍷🍺🌺
Thank you so much for all the information you both are providing. How did you decide on the area you are now residing. I’m very familiar with the area you are living in and my daughter lives very close to where your P.O. Box is. I just turned 65 and am interested in renting an apartment as well. You both seem to have put a lot of time and effort in your decision. I have been binging your videos all day lol
We had family living near by thanks for watching and have a great week Connie Cheers 🍷🌺🙂
You’ve given me something to think about as my daughter lives in Paris which is close but it seems more availability in apartments in Woodstock.
Very informative 👏. Could you plz talk abt life insurance & health insurance you guys have...
Yes we can and will in the future, but as Canadians we have universal healthcare...free. We just have to pay for dentist and $100 per year fro prescriptions. Also travel insurance is an expense too. Thanks for your suggestion we appreciate it. Have a nice weekend.
I agree with all your tips although renting an apartment in Toronto with all these features likely means renting a condo at a high price.
Agree... but unless you’re spending more than approximately $4000 per month on rent, you’re still better off renting. Even in the long term. Buying isn’t what it used to be unless you have kids and really want/need the extra space.
If your goal is to rental long term, best to be in an apartment building not a condo from someone in a condo building. The owner can give notice he is moving into his unit or could sell it. Leaving you looking for another place at higher rents. With Rent controls in Ontario, owner cannot go beyond guidelines. They can ask for above the guidelines if they were doing extensive work to your unit and I don't mean changing carpets and painting your unit. So many small owners of individual properties make terrible Landlords. Most and I mean most do not know the Landlord and Tenant act. I could have so many infractions if you only knew the rules as a tenant. How do I know this? I'm a landlord that belongs to a Landlord Apartment Association on understanding the laws. Norm and Tina you do a great job doing videos.
Thanks so much for enjoying our videos, yes we are fortunate we rent from a great Corporation with very small increases we personally don’t like Condos full stop 😱for the reasons you have mentioned. Hope you have an awesome weekend Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
Happy retirement to you. You speak a lot about great choice to sell the house and move into rental. Have you toughed your house would have been worth double the money you sold it for? Just wonder how to get the head around it.
We sold it 6 years ago, in that time we have travelled extensively having amazing experiences building precious memories. All the while our money from the house has paid for these trips, our rent and we have still grown the amount beyond the initial amount. 6 years of zero maintenance or grass cutting, snow blowing and absolutely no property ownership stress. Yep best thing we ever did, life is for living, not for maintaining a property.
Thank you .
Your welcome thanks for watching have a great day Cheers 🍺🍷🌺
New consideration: available charge stations for electric cars.
We hope so soon, it’s the future thanks for watching