Having trouble getting pic to post.

http://www.eplans.com/house-plans/epl/styles/craftsman-house-plans-and-homes-and-craftsman-floor-plans/hwepl77873.html

When you say "handicap accessible", just what do you mean? Do you mean that one can get in all the rooms, including the bath, in a wheelchair? Or are you talking about someone using a walker.

As a 74 yr old with mobility issues of my own, and many friends with various types of the same, I can tell you that this is not easy to accomplish without making major changes to the house that will impact resale value. I hope to "age in place" as long as possible, but at some point, I will need assistance and that will mean assisted living or skilled nursing for me. What I would love to have is an elevator, but that is just not possible in this house without removing the staircases, and Code will not allow that with an elevator as a replacement - can't do it in a family home.

Give this a LOT of thought. Be realistic.

The biggest issue you may have with this idea is frontage. Most zoning ordinances require a certain amount of road frontage and many of them are no longer permitting "flag lots" where a long driveway is the only access the lot in back has to the road. Check that, first.

Are you sure this would be the best place to age?

Thank you for feed-back. Cpartist, no, not sure really. You have given me a pause. A need to downsize, property, not house is the reason for all this. Five acres is getting to be more than I can handle. With my plan I would still have 1-2 to maintain. My house is very economical, 2x6 walls, geothermal H/A. A very comfortable house with a good view.

B Carey, I do need to go to area planning commission and Health Dept. for perk testing. When we bought, 1988, there was a restriction of 2 1/2 acre lots. In the years since an addition went in that sold one acre lots. I am rural, but land in adjacent to city property (lake) that is municipal water.

Everything is is on one floor. Nice I would make sure the doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair just in case you need one for limited mobility. And a seat in the shower. Now if your confined all the time to a wheelchair that is a whole different house plan. But if you are elderly and confined to a wheelchair all the time you probably be best in a assisted living facility anyway.

If you live alone, are you willing to maintain even 1-2 acres?

Funny thing? DH and I built a bigger house than our condo (2870 square feet) but our lot is only 9100 square feet. Very little to maintain but enough to put in a small garden.

Another thing you might want to consider is if you'd rather be closer to amenities. I have friends who prefer to be rural and have to get in their cars to drive somewhere and then there are folks like myself. I love visiting my rural friends. In fact we watched the wildlife at a pond from a friend's house today but we love that we can walk to almost anything we need, including medical help if it was needed.

Before considering splitting the land, you might want to really think through your options. You don't say how old you are but I had an elderly friend tell me to enjoy my time now (I'm in my early 60's) because these are the go-go years. She said she was already in the no-go years. (She's in her mid 80's.)

If you love your land, I would research creative ways to age in place and cover the unknown. Could you build your new, smaller home and rent out your big house for income or a future trade for care? Or could you sell it and put the proceeds in a trust that would see that your wishes and needs, including home and property maintenance, are met?
Whatever you determine is right for you, I would talk with a financial advisor and/or attorney before moving ahead.