Shifting Down Without Compromise

Austin homeowners Judi and Robert George opted for a greener custom home where they can age in place.

As many people age, they dream of a simpler life where they can leave home maintenance chores behind to focus on a healthy and comfortable lifestyle.

Some older adults opt for a one-level condo, with a management company to handle landscaping and other tasks. Not Austin homeowners Robert and Judi George. They tend to think big even as they strive to shrink their impact on the planet.

When construction is completed, owners Judi and Robert George will have a single-story, elderly friendly house with sustainable features such as solar panels, a variable speed heat pump, and high-grade insulation to cut energy costs. CREDIT: Courtesy of Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture

“About 15 years ago, we were on a road trip and started dreaming about our forever home,” says Judi, 84. “We definitely knew we wanted a house that would be energy efficient, preferably run with solar power or maybe wind power.”

The Georges didn’t take action then, but the idea of living in a house built to meet their needs and imagination kept percolating. Then, 10 years ago, the couple was in a serious car accident.

“We both recovered, but we have some remnants of physical issues that make it a little harder to get around, especially as we get older,” Judi says. “It wasn’t until about three years ago that we were talking to a close friend and neighbor about this idea of building a custom home, and he told us that we already had the perfect solution right in hand.”

The Georges, who purchased a home in Austin in 1992, decided in 1994 to buy the lot next door to expand their land and prevent another house being built too close to them. Their friend pointed out that they could hire an architect and a builder to create the forever home they dreamed of without leaving the community they already love.

The house features stylish plank siding from JamesHardie, which is engineered to protect against damage from fire, water, extreme weather, pests, and time.

“We didn’t buy that land with the idea of building anything on it, but that decision from 30 years ago is really paying off now,” says Robert, 83. “We didn’t want to leave this area. We have our friends, our church, and our doctors nearby.”

As they began planning their custom home, the Georges found that Alan Barley and Peter Pfeiffer, founders of Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture in Austin, shared their philosophical approach to building a home that would be sustainable, high performing and appropriate for aging in place.

The architects, in partnership with Green Builder Media, developed the plan for VISION House Austin to showcase the viability of resilient design even in Austin’s extreme climate. The high-performance, healthy home, built with universal design principles, is currently under construction by Justin Moore, owner of White Elephant General Contractors in Austin.

Since their home is adjacent to the construction site of their soon-to-be home, the Georges have had the pleasure of watching their vision take shape. They hope their experience will help others pursue their goal of a highly sustainable, healthy home.

The Georges’ forever home includes cool metal roofing by Fabral, which can withstand harsh weather, resist corrosion, and contribute to improved energy efficiency due to its heat-reflective properties. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Craig Coale

“The biggest advice I have for anyone is that perseverance is key,” Judi says. “We selected a builder when we first decided to build on our lot, but that builder came in with a budget twice what we expected. That was a big hiccup, and I was ready to give up.”

Judi says that Robert will “talk her off the wall” whenever she’s ready to quit anything. He kept them going until they found Barley|Pfeiffer. “I think people need to realize that nothing is impossible,” Robert says. “You just have to be committed to making your dreams come true.”

Priorities for a Life Well Lived

The Georges’ current residence, a custom home built for the original owners in 1985, has worked well for them since they purchased it. But now, they want less rather than more. Before their friend suggested they build a custom home on their lot, they considered other possibilities, such as moving out of state or to other nearby communities.

“We really want a one-story house with an open concept that makes it easier for us to move around the house,” Robert says. “We have a pool now, and we don’t want it anymore because of all the maintenance and expense.”

Barley and Pfeiffer understood their priorities and have a history of designing homes in harmony with the land, Robert notes.

The Georges’ home embraces sustainability construction concepts such as siting the house to allow for plenty of natural light. CR

“Their minds just meshed with our thoughts about what we wanted to create here, so when they came up with a design that’s all on one level and takes advantage of the site, we were ready to go,” Robert says. “They explained the concept of siting the house to allow for plenty of natural light while minimizing heat gain and moving the rooms that we don’t use in the daytime to the west-facing side of the house that gets the hottest sun.”

The idea of living in a house with modern design concepts along with the sustainability features they want such as solar panels, a variable speed heat pump that mitigates humidity for more comfortable temperatures, and a cool metal roof, is exciting for the Georges. In addition, the couple is looking forward to spending less money on utilities with a net zero house.

Despite downsizing from a 2,500-square-foot house to one with 1,800 square feet, the new home’s design feels ample and comfortable. CR

Finances Falling Into Place

Building a custom home, while appealing to many, isn’t always financially feasible. Robert, a retired accountant, works part time providing IT and accounting support for a local business. The couple was also able to tap into their home equity to finance their new one.

“We own our home free and clear, so we talked with a mortgage broker about how to pay to build a new home,” Judi says. “One of his ideas was to use a home equity loan to borrow from our current home to get the project started. We were able to get a good deal with a credit union.”

The Georges paid the architectural fees, the cost of clearing and preparing the lot for construction, and some incidental fees with their home equity loan.

“We also have a construction loan for the building phase of our new house,” Judi says. “The plan is to sell our current home and use the proceeds to pay down the bulk of the construction loan. Then we’ll have a small mortgage to pay for the rest.”

They also expect their home operating expenses to be significantly reduced because of the sustainability features and the elimination of pool maintenance costs.

Reliving the Aftermath of a Flood—Deliberately

The Georges are downsizing from a 2,500-square-foot home to one with 1,800 square feet, but the design of their new home makes them feel as if they’re losing very little living space. However, they still find moving preparations overwhelming.

“We’ve lived in this house for 28 years, so we’ve accumulated a lot of things,” Judi says. “But we plan to donate most of it and bring in new furniture for our new life. We’re ready to start over again.”

The Georges already started over back in the 1990s.

The home features Andersen windows, which are made with composite Fibrex material which is twice as strong as vinyl and blocks thermal transfer 700 times better than aluminum.

“We owned a riverfront property in Plano, Ill., and in 1996, there was a massive 24-hour rainstorm that flooded our home,” Robert says. “We put our computer, TV and some paperwork in the car. Otherwise, all we were able to salvage was a wrought-iron bed, a dining table and our patio furniture.”

After living in a tiny apartment with their patio furniture in the living area, the couple decided to move their minimal belongings via a small truck to live full-time at their Austin property, which they had used as a vacation home.
“Now we’re back to ‘maximal clutter’ again,” Robert says.

The couple began downsizing when ground was broken on their new home in June 2024. “Robert is more sentimental than I am and has more trouble letting go,” Judi says. “But we got rid of his old computer books and software. Our dining table was covered with books and a minicomputer from the 1980s that Robert gave to someone who plans to restore it.”

The couple has donated some of their belongings to a nearby senior center and will donate their furniture there, too. “They have a thrift store that funds the senior center’s activities and low-cost meals for seniors,” Judi says.

Henry’s Blueskin and its R-Tech insulation combine to provide air and water-resistive barrier membranes that can be used to improve the thermal performance, air quality, and longevity of the building. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Craig Coale.

The Georges hope that sharing their experience with building a custom “forever” home will help other people in their stage of life.

“We’re really looking forward to a simpler life with a lower cost of living,” Judi says. “We want to show other people there are solutions that may work for them.”