What does a Senior Real Estate Specialist do?
Buying and selling a home is always a big deal.
When you are over 50, the process can be even more daunting.
You may be considering retirement, downsizing, or even purchase of a “get away” home. Other life events such as illness, divorce, or loss of a spouse may be the motivating factor.
The stresses that come with considerations of making a good investment, possible relocation, reducing the size of your home, and possible elder care needs can be overwhelming.
A Senior Real Estate Specialist can help smooth out some of the uncertainty involved in buying or selling a home during your golden years.
Senior Real Estate Specialists are specifically equipped to manage the transactions during the buying and selling process.
Additionally they can act as a support system for your relocation.
Beyond the practical function of the real estate transaction, an SRES can act as a resource for related services such as estate sale specialists, movers, and local support services to name a few.
Additionally, people who are members of SRES are part of a network of individuals on the local, state, and national level that can help with a move within your area, or to another state.
To become a recognized Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), individuals complete a set program in which they gain practical knowledge and techniques.
So what does a Senior Real Estate Specialist do? During the professional training, they learn:
To identify the key differences in housing options, from age-restricted communities to assisted living.
To understand the application of the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) - which amended the Civil Rights Act / Fair Housing Act of 1968
To inform on the pros and cons of reverse mortgages
To properly use pensions, 401(k) accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions
To suggest ways in which Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security affect real estate decisions of clients over 50
To expose how to recognize and protect people from mortgage finance and loan schemes that target older adults
If you are an adult over the age of 50, it just makes sense to work with a real estate professional who has earned the SRES designation.
