Thinking of relocating to a different state when you retire?

Eleven states experienced faster senior growth than Florida in the 1990’s, according to American Demographics magazine.

Nevada experienced the highest senior population growth rate during the late 1990’s (70%) followed by growth of more than 25 percent in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Utah and Colorado. South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia each recorded growth of at least 19 percent in senior populations.

Real Estate Business. Jan/Feb, 2002

Wake-up Call for Senior Housing Communities

A survey conducted by the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing & Care Industries seems to be a wake-up call for senior housing communities.

The survey of 4,511 mature households aged 60+ found that these communities need to focus less on the care provided and more on the lifestyle benefits of the community.

While the proportion of 60+ households thinking of moving to a retirement community more than doubled from 1998 to 2000 (1.9% to 5.2%), there has not been an increased proportion of seniors actually moving into communities.

Respondents in the study have stayed in their own homes longer (a mean of 26.8 years) than in any of the previous studies. Results indicate seniors are delaying the move until they actually need care.

More information: www.nic.org

1. Select a REALTOR® experienced in and knowledgeable about the area to do an analysis of the property.
2. Review several market analyses to determine the listing price.
3. Make sure your agent has a specific marketing program and performs in a timely way.
4. If you are selling, pay heed to special problems the agent might indicate, such as whether the house needs work, is too cluttered or too pristine.
5. If you are buying, make sure the agent understands your needs, and is acting to meet them.
6. Don’t feel overwhelmed. Break the process into steps, and take them one at a time.
7. Look at this as a business transaction. If selling, remember that your home is an asset, no matter how many happy years you spent in it. Look at it objectively.
   Lifestyle, 2001
   

Market For Hospice Care Expected to Grow As Boomers Age

When they became first-time parents, baby boomers helped redefine how a baby is brought into the world. Out went the sterile hospital model of doctors with forceps and in came soft lights, music, midwives and birthing rooms.

This kind of control over care received is likely to follow boomers all the way until their final hours. Already, many boomers are turning to hospices, not hospitals, as they help care for their dying parents.

"There is a greater awareness on the part of consumers about what hospice is, and baby boomers are starting to deal with these issues with their parents,” says Dick Burnham, CEO of Odyssey Health Care, Dallas, which offers hospice care to 3,500 patients a day at 40 locations in 21 states.

Greater education about end-of-life issues and a changing market is driving growth in the hospice industry. Burnham estimates the industry is growing at about 8% to 9% a year, with a still large untapped market of patients.

As baby boomers experience hospice with their own dying parents, they are more likely to turn to hospice for themselves when the time comes.

Family satisfaction surveys show 99.5% of families are satisfied with the hospice care they receive, according to John Millett, spokesman for the National Hospice Foundation.

Hospice care emphasizes pain and symptom management and psychosocial/spiritual support for people at the end of life.

Care involves a team of professionals and volunteers who address the emotional, Social, and spiritual needs of the patient and family.

Selling to Seniors, Feb. 2002

You'll need to know how much your current home is worth. Contact an agent who has experience working with seniors. A good source of recommendation are friends who have already made a retirement move.

You may not move for several years, so you will want to work with a patient and caring agent who understands the process and won't try to pressure you into moving at a faster pace.

Getting your home ready to sell takes time and the longer you've lived in your home, the longer it will take. Ask family members to help by removing the belongings you've been storing for them for years.

Don't be surprised if your children discourage you from selling the family home. Their memories are tied to the home just as your are.

The best retirement homes have waiting lists. Even though you may have to wait before you can move in, you should move forward in the preparation of your home for sale. This way you will be ready to put your home on the market as soon as you get the word that there is a place available for you.

Although you may feel sad about making a retirement move, keep in mind that by selling your larger home you will be free of home maintenance worries and have more time for the people and activities you enjoy.

Don’t forget to ask your local Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Irene Stanich about the special services she offers mature clients. Buying, selling, or investing, work with IRENE STANICH AN SRES® REALTOR®

“We Earn Your Respect Before We Ask For Your Business”.

1. Make a move that will improve your lifestyle, perhaps by giving you more freedom, more security or more recreational opportunities.
2. Focus on the positive aspects of your move.
3. Start looking for your next home before you sell your current home.
4. Be open-minded about all your housing options.
5. Make multiple extended visits to a new community at different times of the year before you decide to move there permanently.
6. Choose a real estate agent who has experience in helping seniors buy and sell homes.
7. Choose a real estate agent who is knowledgeable, patient and straightforward. The agent should give you information and choices, not directives.
8. If possible, make needed repairs and update your decor before you put your home on the market. A modernized home in good condition will sell for a higher price than a comparable home that's out-dated or in ill-repair.
9. Unclutter your home before it's shown to buyers. They want to see your house, not your stuff.

SENIOR LIVING - KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

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