Thursday, December 17, 2009

When the Brood Leaves the Nest

If you’re an empty nester, or about to become one, you’ve got lots of company. The number of baby boomers age 65 and over is expected to increase nearly 80 percent over the next two decades. Shifts in the age distribution of our population will result in a growing number of Baby Boomers moving to accommodations that better suit their needs.

Today’s empty nester is not the sedentary retiree of yesteryear. Senior homebuyers tend to stay in or near the same community after they retire. Most people continue to work much later in life, perhaps in an entirely new career or as a full-time volunteer who serves their community.

A major decision you are probably facing is determining exactly what you would like your next living arrangement to be. Unlike generations in days past, today it is nearly impossible to describe a “typical” empty nester’s home. Much depends on your individual lifestyle, family situation and other personal preferences.

New living options marketed to meet a diversity of lifestyles are continually appearing on the marketplace. Translating your choices of amenities, location, ease of maintenance, architectural style, etc. into the selection of your next home can be a frustrating experience. Working with an experienced real estate professional who listens to your needs and understands the market can help shorten your search for the home that is right for you.

Choosing the right real estate professional can also pay dividends when selling your current home. The Senior Advantage Real Estate Council reports that 90 percent of seniors do not put their home on the market until they have settled on their new living arrangements. At the same time, younger families are seeking to move up and out to the larger homes and apartments offered by empty nesters.

The ERA® Sellers Security® Plan has been designed for empty nesters and others who wish to remove the anxiety from the process of selling their home. The Sellers Security® Plan guarantees that your home will sell at a pre-determined price within 180 days of listing your home. Simply put, “If we don’t sell your house, ERA will buy it®.”

The Sellers Security® Plan is a guaranteed sale plan offered in all 50 states. An attractive feature of Sellers Security is the ERA® system’s exclusive Five Point Marketing Plan, which covers all the bases for a quick and hassle-free sale, by maximizing the marketability and sales potential of your home.