Challenging Times Offer Positive Solutions!

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Challenging Times Offer Positive Solutions!

I live in a two-story home and my kids are gone. I have more space that I can use and am the owner of many items belonging to my children. There are stairs to the basement and to the second floor. The grass seems to keep growing and demands my presence behind the lawn mower. My wife and I have something in common with the home we have loved…we are both getting older and so is the home we love!  Friends have been asking us when we will be downsizing and moving to another location. Our children and their kids love to come over and play with reckless abandon. This is the only home our grandchildren have ever known when visiting. Memories are everywhere as displayed by so many pictures on our wall. Does this sound familiar?

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Bruce's Team at the Mainstreet Senior Service Forum in Illinois

/ Bruce's Team/
Bruce's Team at the Mainstreet Senior Service Forum in Illinois

We had the privilege of joining the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (MORe)  Senior Services Committee last week to discuss our strategies for building a senior niche real estate business at the Mainstreet Senior Service Forum.  I enjoyed meeting fellow Realtors and sharing the importance of education and sensitivity to seniors who are faced with a move from their long time home.

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My Predictions About the Real Estate Market

/ Bruce's Team /
My Predictions About the Real Estate Market

We are all witnessing a real estate market that is overheated. Will this last? Does it make sense to "time the market" so that you catch the very peak price for your home?

First, an explanation of why homes are selling so fast with prices moving up at a 5%-7% pace per the last two years.

Homeowners are holding off putting their home on the market because they either cannot find another property that meets their demands, or staying in the home they love waiting for the market to change direction.

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Helping Keep Older Parents Safe — When Not Everyone Agrees

/ Bruce's Team/
Helping Keep Older Parents Safe — When Not Everyone Agrees

Many aging families struggle with the uncertain future of keeping elderly parents safe and comfortable. The realities to be faced about this frequently occur after a major loss — loss of a spouse, significant health decline, reduction in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), difficulty coping and adapting to changing circumstances, and financial setbacks. When these losses occur without any respite time for adjustment and coping, older parents may be faced with making choices that seem extreme and even unfair to them.

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A homeowner’s guide to caring for an Alzheimer’s patient

/ Bruce's Team/
A homeowner’s guide to caring for an Alzheimer’s patient

Alzheimer’s disease affects about 5.7 million Americans, and about 5.2 million of those affected are seniors aged 65 or older. As the illness progresses, sufferers eventually lose the ability to care for themselves and need full-time supervision. Many families decide the best way to provide this type of support to their loved ones is by inviting them into their homes.

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Pricing Your Home…Not as Easy as You Think!

/ Bruce's Team/
Pricing Your Home…Not as Easy as You Think!

In my long career selling homes in our 4-county area, I have learned so much from observing the habits of buyers as well as the art of hitting the “sweet spot” when pricing a home. The real estate market is always a moving target, tipping the balance from buyers to seller’s markets and vice-versa. The temptation today is to overprice your home because you have heard that properties are selling quickly and for over-asking in most cases. It is true that there is a shortage of inventory of homes on the market. It is also true that many homes are selling quickly for over-asking. But what you don’t hear is that an overpriced home will not only sit for a long period of time but will sell for much less than it should have if originally priced properly. So, let’s get started!

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Pay Attention to Your Emotions…They Are Real!

/ Realty Executives, Integrity/
Pay Attention to Your Emotions…They Are Real!

So often when faced with a challenge, especially that of moving from your long-time home, you are told to look at the bright side, the glass is half full, and where you are moving to will enhance your lifestyle. We’ve all been told to move forward and let the past go. We feel weak when we indulge in our sadness and feelings of loss. We can all agree that the only person who truly understands what we are feeling is you, the person going through the change!

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A Baby Boom Tsunami!

/ Realty Executives, Integrity/
A Baby Boom Tsunami!

I have heard many terms for the next generation of older adults, such as 55+, seniors, active adults, and just plain baby boomers. Over 75 million strong, this generation born between 1946 and 1964 are changing the housing and economic landscape of our country. Now between the ages of 54-72, baby boomers are entering the next phase of their lives…retirement…or are they? Boomers pride themselves as active adults wanting quality in their remaining years verses quantity.

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Living Large in a Smaller Home

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Living Large in a Smaller Home

Guest blogger: Tips for seniors looking to ditch the McMansion and embrace and enjoy their Golden Years with a smaller mortgage and bigger bank account.

Everyone envisions growing old at home. And while that home is usually the family home that’s been lived in for decades, there are a many great benefits to swapping a large property for a downsized version. Here are three quick tips on how to pick the right home and make the transition as smooth as possible.

Guest article by: Hazel Bridges, Hazel@agingwellness.org

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Flipping Your Own Home!

/ Bruce's Team /
Flipping Your Own Home!

Many of you have heard of “flipping” homes. However, have you considered flipping your own home? By purchasing a fixer upper, you can take advantage of affordable home options and renovate to meet your own needs. Additionally, if you’re considering selling…why not invest in some updates to your current home so you get top dollar? This article outlines some best practices and ideas.

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