The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate helps baby boomers find their perfect housing fit
By Patricia Nugent
Baby boomers account for about one-quarter of the population in the United States. Now that the 76.4 million people born between 1946 and 1964 are easing into their golden years, the question of where and how they’ll live is gaining traction.
“I like to say that 70 is the new 50,” says Denise Zervos, who, along with her husband, Mark, heads up The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate. “Seniors are more active than ever, whether it’s hobbies, travel, or hanging out with their grandkids.
And all those lifestyle factors play a role in determining their housing situation that allows them to live their best life now.”
She says they don’t call people moving out of the home they raised their families in “down-sizing” anymore. They call it “right-sizing.”
“People aren’t necessarily ready to move into senior care facilities when they retire,” she says. “They are thinking about staying in their homes and making them work for them, whether that means taking down a wall to create a first-floor laundry room or coming up with strategies for keeping it up in the winter if they plan on becoming snowbirds.”
Since 1991, Denise and Mark have dispensed advice to people in all stages of their lives. And they’ve thrived in the industry, selling more than a billion dollars in property over that time. They’re uniquely qualified to give people the tools to evaluate their domestic situation.
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
To that end, they’re pleased to announce they’ve just published a free checklist, “What to Consider When Right-Sizing Your Next Home.” It offers a helpful guideline covering the seven factors to evaluate in your home’s ability to adapt while you’re on the road to retirement.
- Affordability: You should consider the HOA fees of communities. Are they higher or lower than what you would pay contractors to maintain? And how does that relate to your monthly income?
- Equity: Is your home paid for? What kind of mortgage would best suit your needs if you bought a new place?
- Maintenance: When we start to age, our tolerance for things like shoveling snow and cleaning gutters goes out the window. Or you might love puttering around the house doing gardening and other outside maintenance.
- Security: Is your house secure? Do you have community security or an on-site security system in place to keep you safe? And, if you do, are you comfortable handling its maintenance and the cameras, etc.?
- Pets: About 68 percent of homeowners have pets, and people certainly don’t want to leave their pets when they move. Do you need a fenced backyard? If you’re thinking of moving to an association, do they allow pets?
- Mobility: No one wants to think about it, but there’s a chance that in the future, you may be confined to a wheelchair or need a walker. How does your home’s layout fit into that? More than just having a bedroom on the first floor, is your laundry and everything you need on the first floor?
- Convenience: Are you near family? If you like to golf, are you near a course? If you like to shop or dine out, are you near shopping and restaurants?
Look for monthly stories to follow covering each of these considerations more in-depth in Mimi Magazine.
The Finesse of Right Timing
Denise says in addition to these seven factors, people should appreciate the timing of their transactions.
“For instance, I’m working with a couple who were in a quandary between being able to sell their home and buy another,” she says. “They didn’t want to put their home on the market until they had found their ideal home to buy. So, I strategically counseled them to open a line of equity so they don’t need to rush to sell. We developed a plan that suits their goals. We’ll sell their home when the timing is just right.”
And if someone goes through this checklist and decides their home will not accommodate what they are looking for in their golden years, The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate have the expertise to guide them to the best option.
“There is so much transitional housing going up now,” says Denise.
“It’s a great time to be a senior, life is good. In addition to condos, there are housing communities of beautiful individual homes with exterior maintenance and landscaping included for a fee. They are also nice for snowbirds who can shut their place down and leave it for six months and no one knows they’re not there.”
She notes that her team works patiently with sellers, never rushing them, and making sure they are going to a right-fit situation.
“With today’s market, of low amount of homes on the market, and low interest rates, whatever people decide, they should be ready for their home to sell quickly,” she adds.
Joining Mark and Denise on their core team are real estate agents Ryan Weber, Brian Haller, Lee Jarocki, Erin Paglio, Allyson Leudders, Shawne Tagliarina, Hannah Sternot, Andrew Niebuhr and marketing and social media specialist Jared Bush.
Platinum Real Estate has seven offices in Northeast Ohio and five in Southern Florida. To receive the free checklist, “What to Consider When Right-Sizing Your Next Home,” call 216-990-2100 or 440-974-SALE, and visit YourNeighborhoodExpert.com for more information.