How Healthy Are You…Really?

Look, we all feel about 20-30 years younger mentally, but our true age is known by all body parts! You know what I mean. We make that turn, that move that we have done for most of our lives and ouch! Where did that come from. Next thing we know it’s rehab. My point is that when thinking about where we live, our homes should match who we TRULY are TODAY.

The majority of my time is spent meeting new clients in their homes discussing how to prepare the home for market as well as the current value in the marketplace. Somewhere in the midst of hearing their stories as to why I am there, the aches, pains, and health issues enter the fray. Sometimes folks are forthcoming about their current health situation and other times it may take their partner and soul mate to remind the other that there is a physical or emotional issue that must be discussed.

Our discussion then moves into a deeper sense of urgency that neither client wants to acknowledge but must be part of our meeting. Often the stairs have become a villain, just waiting for them to duel it out. Hips, knees are not what they used to be, or maybe they have just begun to hurt. The thought of navigating these stairs is detracting from their lives. Other times there is emotional isolation for one or both seniors. Especially in winter when slippery walks and stairs can put one in the hospital with a misstep. Staying indoors for long periods especially through these last two Covid years has become an issue. Yard work and maintenance, trying to find someone who will be on time and reasonable gets old.

It's time to assess who you are today, and also where you will be 2-5 years from now. I talk often about crisis management, to avoid at all costs. That is when you have waited too long, there is some kind of health event, and then caught in the grip of downsizing, finding a new home, moving, and settling in. In a crisis situation, guess who has to come to the rescue…your children!

With the market at all-time highs and looming inflation and peak prices, at some point, maybe sooner than we think, home sales will slow down, and the moment of peak pricing is over. This is typically followed by a long and painful falling in pricing as well as much higher expectation of condition by potential buyers.

So, have a conversation with your trusted advisors and loved ones about your true bodily age, not the middle-aged person we see in our minds. Be honest about your home, your future needs, and the life you want to enjoy. Life is short and every day is a gift, which it is why they call it the ‘present’. Take inventory of your physical and emotional requirements today, and then see if they match the structure of your home and yard. If there is a disconnect, get in your car and look at some of the options for senior living. One level apartments, condos and senior communities are so much more user friendly than in the past. You will be amazed at the options available to you, and today’s real estate prices should offer you the once in a generation opportunity to afford much more than you ever dreamed. Remember too that the equity you received in most cases will not be taxed for capitol gain so take advantage if the time is now. The great majority of my clients who have made this transition to senior living have told me, “I wish I had done this sooner!”

A Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) in the Milwaukee area for over 40 years, Bruce Nemovitz focuses on helping seniors transition from their long-time homes to senior apartments and communities. He also specializing on helping the children of the senior moving by offering detailed information they will need to support their parents in an honoring way. He is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). His first book, “Moving in the Right Direction”: A Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing, is in its third printing. “Guiding Our Parents in the Right Direction”, Practical Advice about Seniors Moving From the Home They Love is in its second printing. Bruce has been featured on National Public Radio and other forums discussing the knowledge he has gained through the many years’ experience. Bruce was selected as Realtor of the Year by the Greater Milwaukee Association with over 4,000 fellow Milwaukee-Metro Realtors. Bruce works with his wife Jeanne at Realty Executives Integrity. They continue to help hundreds of seniors sell their homes, downsize and relocate to senior communities.