Buying a House to Use as a Daycare

[missy]

Has anyone bought a house to run a daycare out of? I was thinking it would be a better investment than rent, plus if the daycare flopped I would own real estate.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I bought the house I live in to use as a daycare, otherwise I would have purchased something much smaller. Because I went house shopping with daycare in mind I picked one that had a great floor plan that worked for daycare. My entire downstairs is daycare-land with the exception of the master bedroom (they are not permitted in there) and the kitchen.

There are several providers here who use other houses for their daycare. However, I think most of them rent them out.

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by missy

Has anyone bought a house to run a daycare out of? I was thinking it would be a better investment than rent, plus if the daycare flopped I would own real estate.

I did. Bought the house just for day care. I have never lived there, only have my daycare there. Been in business 20+ yrs now.

I'm licensed as family care, not a center.

If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help.

Personally, I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.

Kudos to the women who do!!

[missy]

That's awesome, I love the house idea so far. Like home away from home for the kids in a way.

Blackcat, here in PA I believe I would still have to be a "center " if more than 6 kids. From what I've checked into so far, a reasonable mortgage would be a much better investment than office space in a good area. A good location sure costs!

[Familycare71]

In NY we have to live in the home or we are considered a center... Even if you provide care in a duplex you have to provide care where your main kitchen is...

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by Familycare71

In NY we have to live in the home or we are considered a center... Even if you provide care in a duplex you have to provide care where your main kitchen is...

I'm not sure about here where I live but I don't think you can do that either to be considered a 'home' daycare. Our area is comprised of small cities and some of them won't even allow large daycare homes which here means 12 children with 2 providers. Currently we can have 6 by ourselves in our homes.

Now I'm a bit curious. I might have to call about that.

Laurel

[Familycare71]

Originally Posted by Laurel

I'm not sure about here where I live but I don't think you can do that either to be considered a 'home' daycare. Our area is comprised of small cities and some of them won't even allow large daycare homes which here means 12 children with 2 providers. Currently we can have 6 by ourselves in our homes.

Now I'm a bit curious. I might have to call about that.

Laurel

We have family daycares (up to 6 + 2 school age) or group family (up two 12 min two providers. We cannot switch between the two- you have to get an entire new liscense when you switch- and go through the same process as a new provider! The kicker is when you are group you can have 6 to 1 ratio but family is 8 to 1...
We also have to go through the entire re-liscense process if we move.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Originally Posted by Laurel

I'm not sure about here where I live but I don't think you can do that either to be considered a 'home' daycare. Our area is comprised of small cities and some of them won't even allow large daycare homes which here means 12 children with 2 providers. Currently we can have 6 by ourselves in our homes.

Now I'm a bit curious. I might have to call about that.

Laurel

I believe where I live you have to live in the place you run a home daycare from.

We are permitted to have 12 children by ourself as long as they fall within certain age groups. Only a certain amount are permitted to be under 18 months, a certain amount under 4, etc.

Have you called your licensing department to inquire about owning a separate home for daycare JUST to make sure before you begin investigating more?

[Sugar Magnolia]

I did! Its a center. It is a waaaaay better value than renting. But you can't call the landlord when stuff breaks.

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist

I believe where I live you have to live in the place you run a home daycare from.

We are permitted to have 12 children by ourself as long as they fall within certain age groups. Only a certain amount are permitted to be under 18 months, a certain amount under 4, etc.

Have you called your licensing department to inquire about owning a separate home for daycare JUST to make sure before you begin investigating more?

Well actually we can technically do 10 but the ages have to be a certain way too. It really isn't practical because I could only have 5 the age I do and then school agers and that isn't practical except during the summer. I'd rather have 6 all year long but guess I could do 10 during the summer. I don't like to do school age with babies AT ALL so most of us here just stick with 6 all year.

That's weird. Until just writing the above I had forgotten that I could do 10 during the summer if I wanted to. Then I'd have to get rid of one of my preschoolers. I'd look into them changing that as it isn't fair but I really don't care as I don't want to do it anyway.

Laurel

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Laurel

I'm not sure about here where I live but I don't think you can do that either to be considered a 'home' daycare. Our area is comprised of small cities and some of them won't even allow large daycare homes which here means 12 children with 2 providers. Currently we can have 6 by ourselves in our homes.

Now I'm a bit curious. I might have to call about that.

Laurel

In some states you can't. In fact, I know one home provider who rented a house from her sister-in-law (who is also her assistant) and her family stays in her daycare home during the week and on weekends they go to the home they bought, because you have to live in the home you do daycare in here- and apparently that means you have to stay the night there a percentage of the week or month (you never know if they will ask your neighbors to verify you live there).

I also know a local woman who started off doing home daycare and then bought a house just for daycare, BUT its registered as a center (so she can have more kids), and she also has a BA and director permits.

[Candy]

Actually i had a drem about this last night but i think it's a good idea. You don't have to share your homw and work space.

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by Starburst

In some states you can't. In fact, I know one home provider who rented a house from her sister-in-law (who is also her assistant) and her family stays in her daycare home during the week and on weekends they go to the home they bought, because you have to live in the home you do daycare in here- and apparently that means you have to stay the night there a percentage of the week or month (you never know if they will ask your neighbors to verify you live there).

I also know a local woman who started off doing home daycare and then bought a house just for daycare, BUT its registered as a center (so she can have more kids), and she also has a BA and director permits.

I have to remember to call because I think it would be against zoning regulations as people in my neighborhood hide their businesses so there must be a reason. One had a hair salon, others have lawn and landscaping businesses, one did sewing alterations and another a First Aid/CPR class business on the side. I read our state laws as far as a child care. An in home childcare is okay but I think it is an 'exemption' granted as you couldn't very well have a 'home' child care without being in a residential neighborhood.

I am curious though as I can't find anything online about it but I didn't look very long either.

Laurel

[Cradle2crayons]

If I could watch more than five, I'd have done it in a separate location.

Only problem with that here is that land is impossible to find. We looked TWO YEARS before we found this property and land. Thankfully, we did keep in mind I had the daycare when we bought the house and its perfect for multi purpose.

But here you can only watch five unrelated unless you are a center and you can run a center unless its zoned correctly, meaning nowhere around here would be zoned for business.

But I would have LOVED to have had a completely separate space.

Husband used to work construction though and we have thought about building a separate area just for daycare. It wouldn't be that hard since we are in the middle of nowhere, there are no zoning restrictions for home daycare, and we have LOTS of land. But that's way down the road.

[coolconfidentme]

I bought a house for my DC. I converted the upstairs to an apartment for me since my DC is 1st 2nd & 3rd shift. I can cover shifts more easily being on site. I own rental properties so it was a natural choice for me...

[TomCopeland]

Originally Posted by missy

Has anyone bought a house to run a daycare out of? I was thinking it would be a better investment than rent, plus if the daycare flopped I would own real estate.

I've written an article about this. There are pros and cons about buying a house to do daycare in. Simply owning real estate may or may not be a good financial decision.

http://tomcopelandblog.com/should-yo...t-of-your-home

I have clicked the link and its not working. I would like to get more information about buying house and run day care

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have clicked the link and its not working. I would like to get more information about buying house and run day care

I fixed the link: http://tomcopelandblog.com/should-yo...t-of-your-home

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

I did. Bought the house just for day care. I have never lived there, only have my daycare there. Been in business 20+ yrs now.

I'm licensed as family care, not a center.

If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help.

Personally, I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.

Kudos to the women who do!!

I am looking into purchasing a house for day care facility
Is it possible to pick your brain in regards to this?

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am looking into purchasing a house for day care facility
Is it possible to pick your brain in regards to this?

Absolutely! If I can be of assistance in any way, I'd be happy to!

Please consider registering with the forum!

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

Absolutely! If I can be of assistance in any way, I'd be happy to!

Please consider registering with the forum!

I would like information about this as well. I'm interested in buying a house and designate it for an in-home daycare, however, I'm unsure as to how I would go about it. Please let me know if you can share any information with me as well. It would be much appreciated!