Senior Real Estate Specialists: Helping Seniors Enter the Market

By: Gregg Camp
Submitted: 2008-08-28 16:11:07
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Senior Real Estate Specialists, or SRES for short, are REALTORS® who have received specialized training in order to better serve clients who are senior citizens. This course covers the legal and tax issues that are involved when a senior is buying or selling a home, as well as the emotional ramifications of moving later on in life. Senior Real Estate Specialists can guide seniors through the process of selling their home, finding a new house that will meet their needs, and can empathize with the emotions involved with the entire process.

While selling a home can be stressful for people of any age, it is a particularly difficult experience for older sellers. They may have lived in the neighborhood for many years and raised their family in the home. There are many years of memories to pack up and leave behind, which can lead to a great deal of sadness and anxiety about the future.

In addition to saying goodbye to the past, seniors must think about the future as they look at potential new homes. Do they plan to move again, or is this where they plan to spend their remaining years? If this is their final move, then the house needs to accommodate any physical limitations that the person may incur later on, such as relying on a walker or a wheelchair to get around. The doorways and hallways need to be wide enough to accommodate mobility devices, and the house itself should ideally be only one floor. As our bones and muscles begin to weaken, even those who still have freedom of movement may find stairs to be difficult to maneuver. Another concern is yard size. Seniors need to keep in mind that while they can currently tend to a large garden and mow the lawn, they will not always be able to be so active. They need a property that will be manageable in size as they get older.

Senior Real Estate Specialists also have experience dealing with the financial issues that may come up for seniors, including reverse mortgages, estate taxes, and more. These agents can assist seniors with the paperwork and contractual issues that may not have existed the last time the senior was in the real estate market. All of these items in addition to selling and moving can be overwhelming, especially if the person is moving to a new area. Having an SRES by your side can be immensely helpful.

Senior specialists also know that not all seniors are the same. Baby boomers have different priorities than older seniors, and even then, everyone has individual requirements. These REALTORS® are trained to respect each seller as an individual, and to not make assumptions about their needs.

Gregg Camp is an experienced real estate agent who has spent more than 20 years working in the beautiful Santa Cruz real estate area. Search for Santa Cruz real estate and view property listings at PropertyInSantaCruz.com.

Article source: Expert Articles

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