| I am a native of Tidewater Virginia, which | | | | only alienate the senior buyer and seller of real estate. |
| encompasses counties and towns in the Chesapeake | | | | Instead, focused attention on their needs and service |
| Bay area from Virginia Beach, to Hampton, Newport | | | | that reflects this are important. |
| News, Williamsburg and New Kent County. Even | | | | Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation |
| before I entered the real estate profession I watched | | | | Because I work with so many mature buyers and |
| the real estate market change and evolve over many | | | | sellers of real estate, I decided to obtain my Senior |
| decades. The Tidewater area, which includes Greater | | | | Real Estate Specialist designation so I could better |
| Williamsburg, is a pleasant location for retirement mainly | | | | serve seniors. If you are looking for a REALTOR with |
| because of the temperate climate and convenient | | | | the same certification, ask if they have an SRES |
| location on the Eastern seaboard. Many military | | | | certification. Through the SRES program, I obtained |
| retirees who have served much of their career in the | | | | special training to help seniors through major financial |
| area simply opt to stay in Southeastern Virginia when | | | | and lifestyle transitions including: relocating, refinancing, |
| they retire. | | | | or selling the family home. For my mature clients, I |
| Find a REALTOR Who Knows the Local Market | | | | inform them about updates, changes to real estate law |
| Because of its growing popularity for senior retirees, | | | | or taxes, and other matters which impact property |
| Southeastern Virginia is experiencing both a building | | | | value, sale, or purchase for seniors. |
| boon and a shortage of inventory in resells. For this | | | | Post Retirement Lifestyle Decisions |
| reason, seniors relocating to Southeastern Virginia are | | | | Often when I am helping a senior buy or sell a home, I |
| best served by choosing a realtor who is seasoned in | | | | understand they are faced with making life-altering |
| the local market and has experience buying and selling | | | | decisions. This includes leaving the state where their |
| real estate for seniors. | | | | children and grandchildren live for a more temperate |
| What the Mature Buyer Needs in a REALTOR | | | | climate, or selling a dwelling which as been a family |
| I have worked with many retirees and helped them to | | | | home for 30 or more years. |
| create a smooth transition for relocating in this prime | | | | Downsizing for Retirement |
| market. Mature buyers and sellers of real estate want | | | | Some seniors choose to downsize their home after |
| a REALTOR who will listen to their needs and | | | | their children leave. For them, several choices are |
| execute a search that meets their criteria closely. | | | | apparent right away. Relocating seniors may select a |
| Sometimes mature buyers have health related issues | | | | home that requires less of their free time in |
| that affect their search criteria. They do not need to | | | | maintenance, a townhouse or condominium where |
| be reminded of health problems - yet I always keep | | | | exterior maintenance is included, or a home in a gated |
| these facts uppermost in my mind when I'm searching | | | | full amenities senior living community. In each instance, a |
| for their home. Some REALTORS choose to ignore a | | | | real estate decision, as well as a life changing decision, |
| senior's criteria and attempt to sell them products or | | | | has to be made. |
| services they do not need. This is a mistake that will | | | | |