Lleana,

If I were you, I prefer single family home. First, a yard is good for your mother's health. She would not hardly have some trees, lawn and fresh air. And single family area is quieter than condo community. $250,000 is a good money to find some mid condition single family now. Although you may have to pay $2,000 to $10,000 to remodle it but it is still a good deal.

And an other question is whether you are thinking the new house is your mother's investment too. Remember all the real estate can be an investment including owner occupied residential house.

Andy

what is this???? Becky Strauss her Realtor.

Since i am going thrrough the same kind of process with my mother in law, let me offer the following.
1. Start with a short (6 month or less) rental-- this keeps the options open.
2. Be realistic re the care that will be needed now and 6-12-24 months from now. This might necessitate a different kind of "condo".
3. Keep all family members in the loop and well informed of all options and costs of each.
4. Slowly start helping with her finances as appropriate-- best to have two other family members involved for check and balance purposes.

No easy answers but lot's of questions. As a SRES (seniors real estate specialist) Broker I first pose the following questions. Get a true market value of the home in Antioch in today's market and 6 months from now. Then balance the outcome of selling (taking the hit now), investing the equity in both a condo and other investment vehicles and balance that against renting out the home, even with a negative cash flow, and consider that as an "investment" as the market raises the value of her home. In the meantime she can either, if finances allow, buy into a retirement community such as Rossmoor (see link) or rent. Perhaps she can find a lease - option which would allow her to rent and then buy the unit when her home eventually sells (either scenario). If a retirement community is just not for her, than selecting a nice condo that can be modified to allow her "age in place" is another option. Lastly a modern 'reverse mortgage" may be appropriate but that generally requires living in the property. Look for a Realtor that is an SRES who will bring a team approach helping make this decision. Best of Luck.

As someone said, Antioch is a tough sell right now, so I suppose her plans may be tied up into how long it will take to sell. Does she have to make the move now? There is a such a glut of inventory in Antioch that it takes A LOT to stand out and actually get sold. As far as Clayton, lovely, lovely place to live. Not a ton of choices insofar as single level or ground level condos (I assume that might be what she is looking for?) But there are some nice complexes within seconds in the town next door, Concord. What is her reason for moving now if I may ask? It might not be the best time....

I am truly sorry to have made this error. I see now she ment Clayton, CA not Clayton OH. Accept my apologies - Trulia sent it through as an Ohio question.

Well, if we're talking CA instead of OH consider me muted. this question came through to me as an Ohio question. Sorry for the confusion.

John i think she meant Clayton California. As Antioch is California. Is this a Trulia Error when someone puts in a City, and it automatically posts closest match.

Frankly, I think it all comes down to what she WANTS to do. At 78 and apparently with some financial security, she's earned the right to relax. That may mean NOT buying someplace to cut the grass and trim the hedges. A condo or retirememnt community may be a good answer. If she feels strongly about owning a place, let mama be happy! As far as finding something nice here in the Buckeye state for 250k or less, you won't have a problem.

Clayton is a lovely community. The market time to sell a home in Antioch is over 20 months due to the abundance of inventory. Depending on her needs she may want to consider Rossmoor or even renting a place. She can get a condo at Rosmoor for less than 200K.

Im not sure investing in another home would e benificial to her, most elderly sellers take the savings they get from the sale of a home, and put into other financial portfolio's in order to get some cash flow from there money. If she is set on buying and will be paying cash, have her look into reverse mortgages. Its a tough call, and the more information you get the better. Talk to her CPA, a possible Financial Planner, and a Realtor with those 3 professionals you would be able to make a good decision for her. But as far as area Clayton is nice but a but distant, have you looked into 55+ communities.