Housing decisions for seniors often involve more than just finding a new home—they’re about family, connections, and planning for the future. Here are some eye-opening facts:

• 16% of home buyers are over 69 years old. (National Association of REALTORS®)
• Nearly 30% of seniors over 69 move to be closer to family, friends, or relatives. (NAR)
• More than 338,000 Americans moved for retirement in 2023—a 44% increase from 2022! (NAR)
• 25% of retirees who moved crossed state lines. (Raymond James)
• In 2021, 15% of multigenerational homes included parents moving in with their grown children. (Pew Research Center)
• Two-thirds of adult children expect to help their aging parents relocate. (Pew Research Center)

Whether it’s downsizing, moving closer to loved ones, or exploring multigenerational living, these transitions are new, deeply personal, and often really emotional. As an SRES®, I’m here to help families navigate these decisions with care and expertise.

Next steps: Perhaps you begin preparing your home for the next 20 years by adding things like ramps, railings, and/or making repairs and updates so it’s more user friendly for you as you age. Or you might begin by making incremental improvements that can ultimately make your home more desirable to the next buyer. You might begin to think about things that will result in more money if and when you sell or make it easier to live in your home longer. Either way you focus, a professional who can advise you can be a valuable asset.

It’s difficult to look at your home as others might see it and you might say “who cares, it’s my home and I’m comfortable here”…however, removing trip hazards or making repairs that will keep things from becoming more expensive later, can be things you can do now to make your home safer and more ready should you decide to sell someday.

Have a pest report to evaluate that you have no BUGs or fungus…those things can erode your home over time, if not kept in check. Have a handyperson come and fix a few things once a quarter to keep all in working order. Many Realtors have a resource list to share. These are lists of local vendors with a proven track record. Ask me for mine!