Posts Tagged “Senior Home Listings”

Tips For Successful Home Viewings

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1 1075x611 Tips For Successful Home Viewings

Prospective buyers would like to see a perfect home from top to bottom and inside and out. To improve the likelihood of an easy, fast and profitable home sale, we suggest that you attend to the following items. In this article you will find Tips For Successful Home Viewings.

Outside the house

1 Tips For Successful Home Viewings

1. Sweep the front walkway and shovel snow in the winter.

2. Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.

3. Park extra cars away from the property.

4. Trim back the shrubs.

5. Apply fresh, clean paint on your home, wooden fence, and outbuildings.

6. Clean windows and definately the window coverings.

7. Maintain sealants around windows and doors.

8. Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.

9. Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.

10. Keep pet areas clean.

11. Take down out-of-season decorations.

Inside the home

1 1 Tips For Successful Home Viewings

1. The kitchen and bathroom should look and smell clean.

2. Vacuum rugs and carpets (and have them professionally cleaned, if necessary).

3. Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.

4. Put away dishes, unless setting a formal display for decoration.

5. Make all beds and put away clothing.

6. Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.

7. Tidy closets.

8. Turn off televisions and play soft music on the radio/stereo.

9. Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.

10. Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.

11. Consider removing unnecessary furniture and appliances from counter tops to create a greater sense of space.

12. Consider baking cookies or lighting scented candles to create a homey atmosphere.

Get your free copy of Preparing To Downsize


homebeat ad Tips For Successful Home Viewings

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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10 Upsides of Downsizing Your Senior Living

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downsizing and rightsizing 232 10 Upsides of Downsizing Your Senior Living

Need a change in your life?

Consider downsizing with less space and fewer possessions. You can spend less time and money cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things and focus on other priorities.

10 Tips for Downsizing

1. Boomer and senior need less space. Large homes with multiple levels and a big yard represent your past, while a smaller house, condo, or apartment is the present.

2. You want space, so be selective downsizing. Choose a large master bedroom, but fewer secondary bedrooms. An open-concept kitchen but not a big dining room.

3. A smaller home or condo may cost less. If the space is right for you, even paying an equivalent or higher price may be worth it.

4. If you have less space, your utility cost should be less.

5. Moving to a smaller home usually means ridding yourself of some furniture. Some pieces won’t fit the space, so splurge on new pieces that are perfect for the new space.

Preparing to Downsize Report

6. Consider the move a fresh start cutting down on clothes, kitchen gadgets, hobby equipment, and other things you don’t use. Reducing the volume of “stuff” will make your move easier and help you get settled in your new home.

7. As the items that won’t make the move pile up, use Kijiji, garage sales. Donate all or part of it to an organization or a needy familiar.

8. If you have collectibles, jewelry, household goods, or other treasures you want to give to your kids or grandkids, distribute them as you downsize and reclaim the space.

9. If you discover you still have more than you need to move into your new home, don’t be afraid to continue the purge as you get settled to make sure your home stays uncluttered.

10. Though you might feel sad as you let go of your big house and stock of possessions, revel in the fact you are downsizing on your own terms.

Downsizing is a process but a rewarding one. It can be an opportunity to right-size your life and move onto the next chapter with more independence.


homebeat ad 10 Upsides of Downsizing Your Senior Living

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Buy Title Insurance and Save Your Home From Title Fraud

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index2 Buy Title Insurance and Save Your Home From Title Fraud
Do Not Lose your Home to Title Fraud

In our era of identity theft, title fraud costs Canadians $300 million annually. It’s a serious problem that often impacts older adults.

What is Title Fraud?

Title fraud occurs when someone other than the lawful owner transfers the property to themselves or obtains a new mortgage to pull cash out of the house. This leaves the true owner with a mortgage registered against the property.

Scammers are attracted to higher-value properties that are already mortgage-free. These are easier for the thieves to perpetrate the fraud against. Typically the scammers will place a fraudulent mortgage against a property and disappear with the money.

No payments are ever made on the mortgage and months down the road, the mortgage company begins to attempt to collect on the delinquent mortgage and this is when the homeowner becomes aware they have been defrauded. While the homeowner is trying to prove they didn’t take out the mortgage, the mortgage company is starting to go thru the collection and foreclosure process. If you suspect that you have become a victim of mortgage fraud, contact your local police department right away.

Seniors can be popular targets for several reasons:

– Many seniors have their homes paid off, making it easier for thieves to place a mortgage on the property.

– If you are a snowbird and winter down south, having your home vacant for months makes it a target. Take precautions to ensure your home is regularly checked in your absence.

– Relatives or caregivers can take advantage of people suffering from a loss of mental capacity and forge a power of attorney to gain control of a property and then sell or mortgage the property.

With so much personal information available on the internet, it has become even easier to commit title fraud and some people have lost their homes to this crime. Do a property search at your province land registry office to ensure that the title to your home is in your name.

Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud

There are a variety of legal actions a person can take to recover from fraud, but what can be done to prevent title fraud in the first place? Everyone, especially seniors, must be vigilant.

Have a Lawyer review your real estate documents when purchasing and selling your home. Be clear about what you are signing. Legal language is confusing to anyone. Acquire title insurance when purchasing a property.

Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects your home from title fraud as well as other title problems. Buy it at the time of purchase but can be added at a later date. It is good for as long as you own the property, so it only needs to be purchased once. The cost is as low a few hundred dollars and I recommend all my clients invest in title insurance.

If you plan on living in your home for the next few years it can be worthwhile protection. There are several different title insurance companies that offer policies.

Don’t be the victim of title fraud! Your home is perhaps your largest personal asset. Don’t let anyone take it away.



homebeat ad Buy Title Insurance and Save Your Home From Title Fraud

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Beware of Title Fraud In The Era of Identity Theft

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avoid e1522687524651 Beware of Title Fraud In The Era of Identity Theft

In our era of identity theft, title fraud costs Canadians $300 million annually. It’s a serious problem that often impacts older adults.

What is Title Fraud?

Title fraud occurs when someone other than the lawful owner transfers the property to themselves or obtains a new mortgage to pull cash out of the house. This leaves the true owner with a mortgage registered against the property. Scammers are attracted to higher-value properties that are already mortgage-free.

The scammers will place a fraudulent mortgage against a property and disappear with the money. No payments are ever made. Months down the road, the mortgage company begins to attempt to collect on the delinquent mortgage. This is often the first time the homeowner becomes aware they have been defrauded. While the homeowner is trying to prove they didn’t take out the mortgage, the mortgage company is starting to go thru the collection and foreclosure process.

Seniors can be popular targets for several reasons:

– Many seniors have their homes paid off making it easier for thieves to place a mortgage on the property.

– If you are a snowbird and winter down south, having your home vacant for months makes it a target.

Relatives or caregivers can take advantage of people suffering from a loss of mental capacity and forge a power of attorney to gain control of a property and then sell or mortgage the property.

With so much personal information available on the internet, it has become even easier to commit title fraud. People lose their homes to this crime.

Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud

There are a variety of legal actions a person can take to recover from fraud. What can be done to prevent title fraud in the first place? The first thing is to be vigilant.

Before signing real estate paperwork, it is good practice to consult your own lawyer. Be clear about what you are signing. Legal language is confusing to anyone.

Acquire title insurance

Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects your home from title fraud as well as other title problems. Buy title insurance at the time of purchase, but it can be added later. It is good for as long as you own the property and only needs to be purchased once.

The cost is as low as a few hundred dollars. I recommend all my clients invest in title insurance.

If you plan on living in your home for the next few years it is worthwhile protection. There are several different title insurance companies that offer policies. Don’t be a victim of title fraud! Your home is perhaps your largest personal asset.


homebeat ad Beware of Title Fraud In The Era of Identity Theft

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

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seniors and money A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

At 65, will you still have a mortgage hanging over your head? Are you a Boomer over 50 who will still be making mortgage payments once you reach normal retirement age? If so, you’ll be like 35% of other senior homeowners, according to the Canadian Association Of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. As a senior, a mortgage obligation can take money away from the resources you need to carry you through the remainder of your life. Unless you are willing to cut expenses, you could be in trouble.

Why Seniors May Still Have Mortgages

With the 25-year mortgage common, you might be in that situation if you took out a mortgage past the age of 40. You may have become a homeowner later in life, but many seniors are still paying mortgages because they refinanced their homes at an earlier time to pay for a wedding or a loan to their kids for a down payment or some other purpose. Your thinking might have been that the kids would inherit the money anyway, so they might as well have it when they need it.

The Trade-off For Having A Mortgage In Retirement

This generosity makes some sense, but the great risk is that it will tap into monies that seniors need to live on. With people living longer, the average senior will need to keep working into retirement, cut expenses, and not take on a new debt areas to make it. In contrast, according to Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc., many seniors are not changing their spending habits to match their coming reality. Seniors are both adding new debt and taking on new mortgages which could put them in trouble if interest rates rise and the payments follow. “It could send them into a tailspin,” says Schwartz.

How Do Your Finances Line Up?

During your retirement years, what does your financial picture look like? If you are thinking of taking out a new mortgage or even if you find yourself holding a mortgage or considerable debt, you need to ask yourself some hard questions:

  • How far into your retirement does or will your mortgage extend?
  • How far into retirement are you planning to work?
  • How much debt do you have and how do you plan to extinguish it?
  • Are you making it every month or feeling squeezed?
  • Are you prepared to cut your spending so you can both pay off your debt and save for the future?
  • Do you have any other assets you could extinguish to reduce your debt or monthly living expenses?
  • Whether you are paying house or only it out right, can you still afford the extra expenses associated with homeownership, such as taxes, landscaping, repair, and maintenance?

The answers to these questions might influence your housing plans in your retirement years. Your concern should be to have the resources to hold you through the rest of your life.

Call Me For Expert Senior Housing Services

Looking to sell your home? Give me a call today. When you are buying or selling a home, don’t waste time. Give me a call for experience, market knowledge, correct pricing, and a sincere interest in helping you fulfill your real estate goals. If you are ready to sell your home for maximum value, the best place to start is by clicking here and scheduling an appointment.


homebeat ad A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

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rightsizing Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

Over time our housing needs change. The kids leave to get married and start their own families and your housing needs changes. My senior clients decide to sell and move to something smaller. This process Is called downsizing. Not just getting something smaller but finding a new place more suitable. More accurately called Rightsizing.

Common questions I am asked by my clients are “When do I downsize and sell my home?” These are really two questions rolled into one. The first question “what time of year is best to sell” and the second “based on our situation, when is the time for me/us to sell”.

The first question has a very simple answer. Whenever you want to sell can is the best time. There are certain times of the year that have unique advantages. January to March period are good because there are fewer homes listed for sale means you have less competition.

The selling market in the Spring / Summer market (April to July) usually the busiest market and when the most buyers are actively looking. Spring and Summer are also when most homes are for sale and you have the most competition. The Fall market (September to November) usually the second busiest market of the year.

The second question is difficult to answer because situations are different for everyone. To decide for yourself when you to make a move, ask yourself these questions.

How much longer can I realistically stay?

If you are in the mid-60s, in good health, still able to mow lawns & shovel snow, and enjoy gardening, staying for 5-10 years or longer possibly makes sense. But if you are in the ’80s, experiencing health issues, unable to maintain the property, and rarely able to leave your home, make the move.

What are the advantages of staying?

Emotionally it’s hard to leave your home, but look at it objectively and make a list of the advantages of staying. People stay to maintain their independence. However, selling your home and moving to accommodations more suitable to your current needs could increase your independence. You may end up closer to necessary amenities and family.

What are the financial benefits of rightsizing?

The vast majority of my clients and seniors, in general, prefer to move to a rented apartment to enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle. This frees up the equity in the home for investing to produce an income. If you netted $300,000 from the sale and invested it at 3% it would produce $9,000 in annual income.

Eliminating expenses like property tax and maintenance you could free up another $5,000-10,000 (or more) per year. Let’s say an average of $7,500. Add that to the $9,000 and it gives you $16,500 to put towards the cost of the rent. And of course, the original principal stays intact and untouched.

Call Me For Expert Senior Housing Services

Looking to sell your home? Give me a call today. When you are buying or selling a home, don’t waste time. Give me a call for experience, market knowledge, correct pricing, and a sincere interest in helping you fulfill your real estate goals. If you are ready to sell your home for maximum value, clicking here and scheduling an appointment.


homebeat ad Time to Downsize and Rightsize Your Life?

Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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