Changing houses post-FIRE - did you do it? Regrets?
Background: M 52, W 57. We retired about 2 years ago. Net worth is roughly 4 million with a 401k approaching 1 million now, 2 million in an investment account and 4 rental houses. I also have a small pension that will give about 2000 a month when I hit 65, and our SS will be 2000 and 1000 respectively. Option and dividend income has been higher than expected, and I'm getting 100k more than our expenses easily.
So the question - does it make sense to upgrade our house and move into the golf course community? We are in Houston and play golf every day, so we are commuting to the golf course 30 minutes each way. This is still a few years out...I'd like to sell off our rentals ($200k each) first. Then I can get rid of all the house maintenance equipment etc and just have a golf cart.
Reasons to stay: Our small gated community is wonderful, our property tax is still reasonable for Houston, and at a 350K value on the house we can afford to self-insure. (Last year they wanted 3k for insurance and we told them to pound sand). We can also drive by the grocery store every day on the way home. It's also great to walk dogs and we like to work with the local dog rescue rehabilitating dogs. I also just planted some fruit trees in the back yard.
Finally we stay about 4 months a year with my aged parents in Japan. So our house necessarily sits empty for 1/3rd of the year. We have neighbors who keep an eye on it for us. Just talking through this, I'm thinking it doesn't make sense until my parents pass away...but I'm still interested in hearing people's experiences.