A few years ago I earned my Senior Real Estate Specialist and I am glad I did. By earning the SRES designation, I have learned how to counsel clients age 50+ through major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home.
Working with seniors can be challenging but also very rewarding. I recently helped a 90 year old past client (who has no family or friends around to help her) move into assisted living. She started out as a client whom I did several transactions with, and then she evolved into a dear friend.
One of the biggest challenges for me in working with Senior Citizens is to learn to slow down; you can’t move or talk too fast when working with the elderly. You need to have a great deal of patience. I acquired a lot of patience when my twins were young, but then they turned into teenagers and I lost it all! Haha! I am working on building that patience back up. Once I help my senior friend accomplish whatever task she may need that day/week, I feel a joy no commission check can bring. It may not fill up my wallet, but it fills up my heart.
I encourage everyone to find a way to volunteer with the elderly. If you’re a Realtor I encourage you to get your SRES designation. It will teach you how to work with Senior Citizens, but also many other valuable information that you can apply beyond just seniors.
SRES® Designation Course Learning Objectives:
- Learn distinguishing characteristics and trends of the 50+ market so that you can discern them in your own market area
- Evaluate your market area attractiveness to the 50+ market
- Master the vocabulary of the range of housing options for the 50+ market
- Learn the application of federal laws for Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA)
- Develop business building outreach methods for communicating and gaining 50+ market share
- Adapt methods for counseling the 50+ buyer and sellers
- Stay focused on the transaction and avoid inappropriate involvement in family matters
- Develop sensitivities to 50+ issues and priorities when counseling buyers and sellers, showing properties, and managing transactions
- Develop services that win and sustain client and customer relationships and position you as a trusted real estate advisor
- Assemble a team of experts to help you serve 50+ clients and customers
- Learn about the uses, benefits, procedures, and issues involved in reverse mortgages
- Learn about uses of pensions, 401k accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions
- Gain an understanding of how Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security impact 50+ real estate decisions
- Recognize mortgage finance and loan schemes and scams that victimize 50+ borrowers
- Identify key life stages, viewpoints, and transitions in relation to housing choices
- Recognize how a home can be adapted for safety, comfort, and aging in place
- Help clients integrate disposition of real property into estate plans
See more information at http://www.seniorsrealestate.com/ and also at http://www.lindafinch.com/seniorliving.html
*Image from Google
Related posts:
