Real Estate Agents for Seniors
Senior Real Estate Specialists Learn to Understand Baby Boomers’ Needs
Aug 22, 2006
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Ten years ago, a former Franciscan monk-turned-real estate-mogul created the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council, an entity most of us have never heard of. But more agents across the country are taking the two-day training class to acquire the designation SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist).
Tim Corliss, the former monk, understood seniors and believed in kindness and excellent service. He developed his training course with an eye to the future, realizing early on that seniors would become an important segment of our population and his business. Senior housing is a huge part of real estate sales.
Until the day he died, he encouraged real estate professionals to really understand the needs of seniors. He encouraged them to be sensitive to the fact that downsizing your lifelong residence and moving to perhaps the last one you'll purchase, can be fraught with anxiety.
Obviously, it wouldn't hurt a bit if the real estate professional working with a senior was concerned about making the process more comfortable. The idea is catching on.
In 2002 there were 5000 agents with this designation. Now there are nearly 15,000. In their training classes, which can be taken online or on location, they study attitudes, needs, and desires of buyers 55 and older. They learn the range of housing options available to that market and how to match a product to a buyer.
Though these special agents aren't qualified to provide tax advice or legal advice, they often have insight into areas like finance, buying rental property, or managing capital gains. They keep their eyes on current trends in senior real estate transactions, and can often hook you up with other professionals - attorneys, C.P.A.s and so on, who specialize in seniors' interests.
According to their Web site information, SREs promise to provide the following perks:
- A customized approach to each situation; an SRES works with how the senior's living situation fits into an overall plan.
- Expertise and patience without condescension.
- An awareness of options and solid, reliable referrals for specific situations to explore those options.
- A variety of choices to reduce out of pocket expenses, gain cash, or create or defer income streams to either stay independent or finance assistance.
The concept, now owned by a subsidiary of the California Association of Realtors, might be worth looking into before selecting someone to show you properties or sell your home. You can locate a local SRE agent online.
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Directory organized by subject, including Grandparents.
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