February 3rd, 2026 10:36 PM by Shane Greene
When you're buying your first home with toddlers, you're thinking fenced backyards and closet space for a million coats. When you're shopping as an empty nester? Completely different wish list.
I've worked with enough Catawba Valley families making this move to notice patterns. Not what people think they want, but what actually improves their life six months after they move in.
Let me save you some regret.
Sure, you're spry now. But a main-floor owner's suite is just the start.
The real win? Everything you need daily on one level. Kitchen, laundry, living space, bedroom—no stairs required.
This isn't about "aging in place." It's about coming home from the Blue Ridge Parkway and not having to haul yourself upstairs to collapse. It's about doing laundry without debating whether you should skip leg day.
In the Catawba Valley: Ranch homes are everywhere, especially in Newton and Conover. Lots built in the '80s and '90s that have been nicely updated. You're looking at around $300-350K for a well-maintained ranch.
Remember reading restaurant menus in candlelight? Yeah, that gets harder.
Homes with big windows, especially facing south, reduce eye strain and just feel better. Plus you'll save money on electricity when you're not flipping lights on at 2 PM.
Bonus: your plants will actually survive. Everyone becomes a plant person at this stage, and natural light is the difference between thriving ferns and dead sticks.
In the Catawba Valley: Look for open floor plans with lots of windows. Newer builds near Lake Hickory and Catawba Springs have this. Even older homes often have good bones for adding more light with updated windows.
Nobody misses spending Saturday mornings on a ladder cleaning gutters. Or repainting trim every three years.
Vinyl siding, metal roofs, composite decking aren't sexy. But they mean freedom. They mean spending Saturday at Lake Hickory instead of the hardware store.
Look for HOA communities where exterior maintenance is included, or newer homes with materials that take care of themselves. Lots of townhome communities in Catawba County handle everything—lawn care, exterior painting, roof work, gutters—for $200-350/month.
Plot twist: you don't need a huge kitchen. You need a smart one.
Pull-out shelves so you're not on your knees digging for the waffle maker. Lazy Susans in corner cabinets. Drawer organizers that make sense. A pantry where you can see everything.
You might cook more now without shuttling kids to activities. But you're cooking for two, not an army. A smaller, organized kitchen beats a sprawling mess.
When you tour homes, open every kitchen cabinet and drawer. If you groan even once, that's daily frustration waiting to happen.
Empty nesters want outdoor living, but manageable. Think patios, small gardens, screened porches. Not acre lots with endless landscaping.
The sweet spot in Catawba Valley? 0.25 to 0.5 acres. Enough room to breathe without spending every weekend on yard work.
Homes near Lake Hickory or the Catawba River often come with water access or views. You get outdoor recreation without the maintenance.
I hear this constantly: "We need four bedrooms for when everyone comes home for Christmas."
That's maybe 5-10 days a year. Do you really want to heat, cool, and clean three extra bedrooms 355 days for occasional visits?
One or two extra bedrooms is plenty. And honestly, there are nice hotels in Hickory if you need overflow space.
Unless you actually host formal dinners monthly, that room becomes where mail, Amazon boxes, and unfolded laundry go to die.
Most people end up preferring open-concept spaces where the dining table feels part of daily life instead of a separate room that sits empty.
The bigger the garage, the more junk you'll hoard "just in case."
Two-car garage is plenty. If you need workshop space, fine. But three-car garages become expensive storage units for stuff you'll never touch.
Before you tour homes, sit down (maybe with wine) and answer this honestly:
"What does a normal Tuesday look like in our ideal life?"
Not holidays. Not when the kids visit. Tuesday.
Cooking dinner together? Sitting on the porch reading? Walking to restaurants? Traveling and barely home?
Let that guide what you need. The Catawba Valley market has options—homes are sitting about 50 days, so you have time to be choosy. Prices run around $299-355K depending on features.
You don't have to settle. But don't buy features that look good on paper but don't match how you actually live.
The home you raised your family in did its job. Now pick one that serves this version of you—the one ready for less maintenance and more living.
The Catawba Valley has plenty of right-sized homes. You just need to know which boxes actually matter.
Make two lists: "How We Actually Live" and "How We Think We Should Live." Buy for the first list, not the second.
Sheree