Boomers Contribute to New Housing Boom

By the end of next year, the Senior Real Estate Institute expects to have trained 500 Certified Senior Housing Professionals, preparing them to handle the housing needs of baby boomers as they enter retirement and sell their longtime residences. “We have made a commitment to understand and serve last-time home sellers,” says SREI Chief Executive and founder Nikki Buckelew. “Seniors face a complex set of expectations and emotions, wrapped up in the transition from the home that often houses decades of memories. Challenging family dynamics, a multitude of uncertainties, as well as financial complexities, often come into play.” CSHPs are trained to simplify the moving process for clients and establish a network of professionals, from elder law attorneys and estate liquidators to antique appraisers, home stagers, and handymen. Studies show that aging boomers will leave about 11.3 million housing units from 2010 to 2020, and the number of those moving in the following decade could reach 15 million. This means CSHPs are in demand, and they can be instrumental in transitioning seniors out of homes they have lived in for decades — a process that is very emotional and creates much anxiety, especially for those over the age of 75. “I work to assess where people are in the process and then help them make a plan they can live with as they start a new chapter in their lives,” says Realtor and CSHP Carolyn Kavanaugh of REMAX Suburban in Glen Ellyn, Ill. | Read More