Your Next Move … Or Not

By Margaret Briller

Folks planning to retire — and those of us who already have a few retirement years under our belt — face interesting housing choices our parents never considered.

Our residential options are wide-ranging, reflecting the needs and interests of people over 50, unlike nearly any other time in recent memory. Whether it’s aging in place or aging in a retirement community with wine tastings, pickleball and bocce tournaments, we are a generation accustomed to having choices, particularly when it comes to housing. We look for, and expect, housing choices that reflect our interests, our budgets and social needs.

Local Trends

The Boomer generation made up the largest percentage of sellers in 2021, one reason our housing preferences differ from previous generations of older adults, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors. In short, there are more of us on the move than ever before. Multiple options can make it tough to choose the best place to live after selling a home you’ve lived in for decades. Local real estate agents and other housing experts say that, for people between 50 and 75, primary considerations for choosing a new place to live include finances, family circumstances and the desired type of community. Timing is important, too. You want to make a housing change when you’re healthy enough to take advantage of an expanded social life and amenities.

As a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Realtor for Keller Williams

Elevate in Strongsville, Rhonda Buynak helps older adults find what they’re looking for. “The housing trends I’m seeing now for older adults are for more spacious, one-floor living, outside areas for walking with a community nearby, and a place where they can age in place,” she says.

“This is becoming a much-desired niche in the real estate market. Now might be a good time to explore these options while you’re in good health so you can enjoy the next phase of your life,” she adds.

Local home buyers over 50 are looking for more space for home offices and a finished basement, the latter to accommodate adult children who move back home, Buynak says.

“Older adults are resizing their lives more so than downsizing, whether it’s adding on to their existing home so an elderly parent can move in, or simply decluttering and rearranging their current home after becoming an empty nester. They desire more fun space to enjoy life and family,” she says.

Lee-Ann Spacek owns North Coast Residential Relocation, a company that caters to older adults in transition. She meets with family members, arranges for the sale and donation of household goods, and helps sellers find a real estate agent that best meets their needs. Spacek finds that older adults she works with are drawn to smaller, more manageable properties such as over-50 apartment complexes and senior living communities that offer security and care services.

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