I recently completed my coursework and certification for the REALTOR® Association's Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation. After working with my sister to guide my mom through the sale of her condo and transition into an independent living facility, I wanted to have even more resources at my fingertips to help folks in similar situations.

I learned a lot about the changing concept of retirement, the trends among various generations, and some of the best practices/pitfalls when working with seniors and their families. With Baby Boomers entering retirement years en masse, our family and neighbors will need a lot of support!

Some interesting facts:

• More than 75% of adults age 55+ own their own homes.
• 52% of Americans age 65-74 were still in the workforce as of 2019.
• Census projections expect 3.3 million people in the U.S will be age 90+ by 2030.
• More than 80% of people 50-69 own a smart phone and use it daily; over age 79, it's about 70%.

What living situation will best match the needs of you or your senior loved ones as we/they age?

I am working on a set of tools to help guide seniors and their families through housing-related transitions. There is a lot to navigate, from finding the right destination, to legal/tax implications and care decisions. I'm committed to supporting my senior clients in any way I can!

In the meantime, there are plenty of helpful resources as folks are contemplating a move.

A great place to start:

• Tips for downsizing & decluttering
• Help adapting your home for universal accessibility
• Local care concierge to assist with housing placement (we used Sylvana for my mom and she was fantastic!)
• Overview of HUD's Reverse Mortgage (HECM) program, plus FAQ
• AARP's Livability Index
• National Council on Aging

Reach out to me anytime for a consult or early steps in long-range planning. I'm here for you!