On the Hunt for Accessible Housing?
Disabilities, as they relate to your living space, are physical differences that make occupying a “standard” residential home difficult. However, as more and more people with disabilities demand accessible housing and more builders look for ways to accommodate everyone, the search is a bit less daunting. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t special considerations. Before you start your new home search, you’ll want to get acquainted with disability essentials.
Starting at the Front Door
First, buy a home that allows you to enter the front door. No one with a disability ever takes that for granted. Note: an accessible hinged doorway has a minimum width of 32 inches between door and doorstop when the door is open 90 degrees. And according to The Right Space, the entrance landing there must be wide enough and long enough to accommodate your approach direction. Ideally, you want to leave your vehicle and enter your home without significant elevation change.
Interior
On the inside of your home, look for an accessible first-floor bathroom and bedroom with accessible doorways. And make sure that the bedroom is large enough to accommodate the turning spaces that allow you to access your bed, other furniture, and any assistive devices you need.
The Search Begins
Now that you know a few things to look for, you can begin to look at your budget. Depending on where you live, the market can fluctuate wildly. Do your research to determine if you’re living in a competitive area, and then watch local real estate trends so that you can potentially save money on your home. To illustrate, home prices in Chandler, AZ were up over 25% last year, with properties spending around 18 days on the market before being sold.
As a person with a disability, you also have to learn to navigate the mortgage process. If you are unemployed or under-employed, it can be more difficult to qualify for a mortgage. An excellent place to start is by boosting your credit score to at least 620 so that you have a better chance of receiving favorable interest rates. Rocket Mortgage points out that, as a person with a disability, you can also use your SSDI or SSI to qualify for a mortgage.
Your Agent Matters
When house hunting, it is usually a good idea to find a realtor with experience helping people locate accessible homes. Easter Seals explains that some brokerages have recently created special training procedures so that agents can help homebuyers with disabilities spot the right property and maybe even advocate for their rights. In addition, if you are a senior citizen facing mobility, vision, or other concerns, look for a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). He or she can help you customize your home search and make recommendations based on your needs, personal situation, and finances.
Does the Perfect Home Exist?
Even if you know your needs and have an agent by your side, you should know that it’s almost impossible to find a home that meets every need. However, don’t be discouraged. Well-chosen modifications will transform an existing property into a great home. Some changes are more expensive than others, such as installing an elevator. Others less so, like replacing doorknobs with door handles. A good piece of advice is: find a home that will allow modifications. Then contact a renovation contractor to help you make changes by order of importance.
Searching for the perfect home isn’t easy. A person with a disability has additional challenges to surmount, including finding financing and making the modifications that will make a home wheelchair-friendly. But, with perseverance and the right agent by your side, you will soon find yourself happily settled and safe at home.
Did The Right Space online help you choose a home to fit your needs?
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