Having Mixed Emotions

Buying a residence as a senior can be both exciting and daunting. The excitement stems from anticipating new beginnings in a fresh environment. It’s daunting because there are so many types of 50+ residences, finite resources and sometimes emotional hurdles to overcome.

Assessing Your Real Estate Options As A Senior

SRES® designees can sit down with you and your loved ones to discuss needs, outline options and help you determine the very best 50+ residence option for you. Then, working within the parameters you provide, they can locate a property that fits your needs.

SRES® designees leverage their senior education, experience and network to find properties, determine appropriate offers, and negotiate purchases on your behalf.

Tapping Expertise

When necessary, they can tap a network of experts, such as home inspectors, movers, attorneys, and CPAs, to ensure that the purchase of your new residence, and the move, proceed smoothly.

Or, just call Joe Peters at 908-238-0118 to discuss your questions and needs. He can refer you to many local resources that can assist you as well.

Home Adaptations

Most seniors would prefer to age in place, but health and aging issues can prevent full access to the house. Raised thresholds and bathrooms represent fall risks, doorknobs become difficult to turn, and stairs are hard to climb. Seniors may feel trapped in certain areas of their homes, forcing them to consider moving when they don’t want to do so.

Accessibility and safety can also become issues when an aging parent moves in with an adult child, prompting a need for home renovations. It can be difficult for a homeowner to determine what changes are needed and how they should be made.

In these situations, your SRES® may be able to refer you to an aging-in-place specialist who can evaluate your home, find problem areas, and suggest home modifications. Certified aging-in-place specialists have been trained in:

  • The unique needs of the older adult population
  • Aging-in-place home modifications
  • Common remodeling projects
  • Solutions to common barriers

The answer may be as easy as adding grab bars in bath areas, flattening thresholds, and installing brighter lighting and higher toilets. In other cases, significant remodeling may be required to overcome the challenges of two-story living. An aging-in-place specialist can advise on which changes will be most beneficial and suggest cost-effective approaches.

Finances

Clarifying The Financial Picture

Need assistance with sorting out the complex decisions and figuring out what role your real estate investment plays in your overall financial picture? Those considerations include taxes, retirement savings withdrawal schedules, long-term care needs, inheritance issues and others.

SRES® Designees Have Financial Expertise For Seniors

SRES® designees understand managing capital gains and the tax implications of owning real estate. They can provide information that addresses a host of issues, such as the uses of pensions, 401K accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions, and how Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security affect real estate decisions for senior citizens. Are you or a loved one ready to talk real estate?

Fishbowl - 55+ Home Buyers and Sellers

Who better to understand your needs than a fellow senior

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I specialize in addressing the needs of homebuyers and sellers over the age of 50. I became an SRES because I wanted to have the necessary knowledge and expertise to counsel clients in this age group who are moving through major financial and lifestyle transitions with relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home.

Why Choose An SRES Like Joe?

As an SRES professional, I have specialized knowledge and empathy about reverse mortgages. Also, I understand the benefits of universal design (it’s more functional and senior-friendly) as well as the use of pensions, 401k accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions. When combining this expertise with my two decades of experience in local residential real estate, the result is an empathetic ear for my fellow seniors as well as an ability to get things done.

Being heavily involved in the local Hunterdon and Somerset communities, I have an in-depth knowledge about the services available for our senior community.

Help During The Process

Are you thinking of selling your home to move to a senior supportive environment? Perhaps you want to move in with an adult son or daughter who can help with your needs as you grow older. Whatever the reason, there may come a time when parents, along with their adult children, consider selling and moving on. To assist you, the SRES Council created a unique and valuable resource called the Moving On Guide. This comprehensive guide walks you through each step in the process, with personalized guidelines and worksheets that will help you find a living situation that is well-suited to your needs. Best of all, there is no cost or obligation to you.

What Is An SRES?

A Seniors Real Estate Specialist is a realtor who is uniquely qualified to assist seniors in housing sales and purchases. The SRES designation is awarded only to realtors who have completed a series of educational courses to learn how to help seniors and their families with later-in-life real estate transactions. These professionals are familiar with local community resources and services. They also draw upon the expertise of a network of senior specialists, such as estate planners, CPAs, and eldercare lawyers. The overall mission is to help seniors (like myself) and their families navigate the maze of financial, legal, and emotional issues that accompany the sale of the family home.

Benefits of working with a SRES

PERFECT FIT

A customized approach to your situation, working to fit your living situation in with your overall life plan

NETWORK OPTIONS

An awareness of options and a network of solid, reliable referrals to help you in the process

PROVEN PROFESSIONALS

Expertise and patience throughout the transaction. I also lend a lot of empathy in having already gone through it myself

SAVE MONEY

A variety of choices to reduce out of pocket expenses, gain cash, or create or defer income streams to either stay independent or obtain financial assistance