Throwback to a chat I had with the head of the IPOA (Irish Property Owners Association) Mary Conway. A former nurse who is also an agent and an investor, she has a passion for people and in our chat I asked about how she works with those who wish to age in their own homes with dignity.

I turn 39 and 12 months this week… so now I’m panicking.

Not really but I definitely think it has made me think about how we learn, how needs change and what we think we want at one stage may not apply at another stage (wanting to go to Copperface Jacks for example is now my idea of hell…)

As we navigate the different stages of life, our priorities shift in ways that profoundly impact how we live - and where. From the first steps toward independence to the later years of savouring simplicity, our homes and property decisions reflect our evolving lifestyles, values, and aspirations.

This connection between life’s journey and the spaces we inhabit offers a lens to examine how aging, lessons learned, and shifting priorities influence not just the properties we choose but the meaning we assign to them.

1. Early Adulthood: Chasing Freedom and Flexibility

In the early years, life often revolves around discovery, ambition, and a hunger for freedom. For many, this is the stage of renting or sharing apartments - properties chosen for location, affordability, and convenience rather than long-term potential.

Key priorities at this stage include:

• Urban Living: Proximity to work, social hubs, and entertainment takes precedence over square footage or ownership.

• Flexibility: Renting allows for mobility, essential for exploring career opportunities or new cities.

• Community Over Privacy: Shared spaces and roommates are common, emphasising connections and cost-sharing.

These years often involve compromises - smaller spaces, less permanence - but they lay the groundwork for understanding what truly matters in a living environment.

2. Establishing Roots: Ownership and Stability

As careers stabilise and personal relationships deepen, the desire for permanence often takes centre stage. For many, this means purchasing a first home - a milestone that reflects a shift from flexibility to stability.

Key influences at this stage include:

• Space for Growth: Buying a home often coincides with plans for a family, leading to a focus on size, safety, and neighbourhood amenities.

• Financial Investment: A property becomes not just a home but a long-term investment, representing security and financial growth.

• Community Connection: Schools, parks, and a sense of belonging within a neighbourhood take on greater importance.

The homes chosen during this phase are often seen as “stepping stones,” reflecting aspirations and preparing for future growth.

3. Midlife: Redefining Priorities and Aspirations

Midlife often brings a mix of reflection and recalibration. Career paths may shift, children grow more independent, and personal values evolve. This stage prompts many to reconsider their property choices in light of new priorities.

Key shifts at this stage include:

• Upsizing or Downsizing: Families may move into larger homes to accommodate growing children, while others may downsize as kids leave the nest.

• Lifestyle-Centric Living: A focus on lifestyle - be it proximity to nature, a bustling city, or recreational amenities - begins to shape property decisions.

• Home as a Haven: With the demands of life intensifying, many prioritise homes that offer tranquility and a space to recharge.

This phase often involves balancing ambition with a desire for meaning, prompting property decisions that align with both practical needs and personal fulfilment.

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4. Later Years: Simplicity and Legacy

As life slows down, the role of property shifts again. The later years are about savouring simplicity, preserving health and well-being, and leaving a meaningful legacy.

Priorities often include:

• Downsizing: Moving to smaller, more manageable properties that reduce maintenance and free up resources for experiences or family.

• Accessibility: Homes designed with aging in mind—single-level living, accessible features, and proximity to healthcare.

• Legacy and Giving: Some choose to pass down properties to family, invest in community living, or focus on homes that align with environmental or social values.

The emphasis is less on building wealth and more on creating spaces that support well-being, connection, and a sense of peace.

5. Lessons Learned Along the Way

Through each stage of life, the relationship between property and lifestyle evolves. The lessons we gather over time shape not only our choices but our understanding of what a home truly represents.

• Flexibility is Key: Early property decisions often require adaptability, teaching us to balance aspiration with practicality.

• Home Reflects Identity: The homes we choose mirror who we are—or aspire to be—at different points in our lives.

• Priorities Change: The square footage that mattered in one stage may give way to location or sustainability in another.

• Investments Pay Dividends: Wise property decisions often provide both financial returns and emotional security.

• Simplicity is Powerful: In later stages, less can truly be more—a lesson in valuing quality over quantity.

A Broader Reflection on Property and Aging

The journey through life’s stages is deeply intertwined with the spaces we inhabit. Each home becomes a chapter in our story, a reflection of where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

As you reflect on your own property journey, consider how it has mirrored your evolving values:

• Did your first apartment symbolise independence?

• Does your current home reflect stability or a pursuit of dreams?

• Are you now seeking simplicity, connection, or a legacy?

These questions reveal that property is far more than bricks and mortar—it’s a living, breathing part of our lives, adapting as we do.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Property Choices Reflect Life Stages: From the flexibility of renting in youth to downsizing in later years, our homes evolve alongside us.

2. Homes Mirror Priorities: Each property decision reflects changing values, whether it’s a focus on space, stability, or lifestyle.

3. Life Lessons Shape Property Views: The more we learn about ourselves, the more intentional we become about our living environments.

4. Balance Aspiration with Practicality: A home can be a symbol of dreams but must also meet the realities of our current stage.

5. The Meaning of Home Evolves: Over time, a home shifts from a place of ambition to one of comfort, simplicity, and legacy.

Aging is a journey of growth and adaptation, and our property decisions are a physical manifestation of that evolution. By aligning our spaces with our changing needs and priorities, we create not just a house but a home—one that supports us through all of life’s stages.

Random Real Estate Trivia

"Biophilic Design: Bringing Nature Indoors"

Biophilic design is a cutting-edge architectural trend that integrates natural elements into modern buildings to promote well-being and sustainability. This approach incorporates features like indoor gardens, natural light, living walls, and water elements to create spaces that connect people with nature.

Prominent examples include Amazon's Spheres in Seattle, which house over 40,000 plants, and Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan, a pair of residential towers covered in thousands of trees and shrubs.

Biophilic design not only enhances mental health and productivity but also improves air quality, reduces energy use, and supports biodiversity, making it a leading trend in environmentally conscious architecture.

P.S. As a subscriber if you have friends or family who are feeling lost in their property journey they can book a 30 minute session with me to help them get clear (no sales pitch, just guidance & an impartial ear).

They can book it here.

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Andrew

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