As potential Santa Cruz area homebuyers mature their wants and needs for purchasing a home in Santa Cruz County and beyond look a little different than they did when considering a home purchase in their 20s. What a home buyer wants from their home can change several times during a lifetime and as summer homebuyers begin to reach their golden years of retirement they may begin to think about purchasing a Santa Cruz area home where they can age in place.
What is aging in place?
The term aging in place is a term that describes purchasing a property that works for a buyer in their current healthy and independent state. This home is one that will also provide a safe and easily livable atmosphere as a person ages and might at some point become less mobile in their physical condition. It is a home that is perfect for now and also safe and livable for a person that may take on mobility and health challenges as they mature.
So how does a Santa Cruz home buyer look for a home in the Santa Cruz area that would allow them to comfortably age in place and not have to move into a new property once they begin to face the common physical challenges of aging? Read on to find some good tips about searching for a Santa Cruz home that allows you to age in place.
Tips for buying a Santa Cruz area home to age in place
Location
Aging in place may mean something specifically different for each maturing homeowner. For some, it could mean staying in their home and reconstructing it to comfortably live there for the rest of their days. For others, it may mean living in their same beloved geographical...
It is not uncommon for anyone caring for a loved one that is in the golden years of their life to come to a point where they feel they need to help a loved one into a new home that better suits their current physical abilities and needs. But transitioning into a new home and often downsizing can be an emotional or difficult and a significant life change especially if your loved one does not feel they need to make the change
Any type of new home purchase and move can be stressful for any homebuyer at any stage of life. It is a lot of work to put a home up for sale, pack it up, and move into a new one even if the home is the same size or larger. Downsizing to a new home is understandably stressful as well. But there are some things with the right knowledge about this life change that can make the process a little less so for both you and the person making a change in their everyday living style and location.
Make sure you have a real estate agent that understands
Having the right agent on your side can help to make this process a lot less stressful. Did you know there are trusted real estate agents with specialized training to help with senior real estate details on many very different levels? Whether someone in their golden years needs assistance finding the perfect home to age in place or help to find an assisted living community or a better understanding of the best services available to them in their current stage of life. Specialized real estate agents can offer better insight and more understanding to buyers and sellers in this special time of life.
Working with...
If you have an aging loved one who needs more help at home, it may be time to consider whether moving is a viable option for you and your family. Determining what your next move is can feel stressful and overwhelming, but with the following tips, you can see it through to the end to help your family.
Assess Your Loved One's Needs
Consider the person's abilities when thinking about your loved one and their needs. For instance, how much family support do they have in the area? How well can they take care of hygiene and healthcare?
According to the experts, some older adults can continue to age in place. To continue to live at home, determine your loved one's situation and whether living at home makes sense. How well can your loved one get around the home? Sometimes, you may have to help make the home more accessible. For instance, a two-story house may be difficult for someone with mobility issues to navigate. You can also investigate some home products that can make their lives easier. Always read expert reviews before purchasing anything.
If your loved one is intent on staying in their home, a certified professional can inspect the home and determine what renovations may help your loved one function more productively in their environment. Alternatively, you can work together to find a more accessible place for your loved one to live. There are many senior-friendly ...
Like it or not, living needs change as we age and eventually our housing situations may become unsuitable. If moving from a multi-story home isn’t an option, it’s possible, of course, to remodel, modify or otherwise make adjustments to a living area. But for those who are able to move, a one-story house makes an ideal home.
Investment benefits
One-story homes are popular with a wide variety of home buyers. The open-concept design style appeals to many, which gives these homes a good resale value. Single-story homes are very energy efficient since there’s only one level to heat/cool. In addition, the outside of these homes is easier to maintain, paint, decorate, etc.
Wide, open spaces
For those who have or are preparing for future mobility challenges, single-story homes generally offer wider floor plans and larger rooms which are ideal for maneuvering mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers and scooters. Some homes are built with wide doorways and few, if any, halls which also helps with navigation. Additionally, a one-story home is easier to escape in case of emergency, minimizing the need for ladders or dangerous heights to descend.
Say no to stairs
Speaking of descending, one of the biggest benefits of a single-story home is the limited need for stairs. Residents who are recovering from an injury, surgery or who have other physical limitations don’t have to face the challenge that stairs present when moving around the house. Few or no stairs also makes the home easier to clean and removes the danger of slipping, tripping or falling on the stairs.
If there are stairs,...
It is not uncommon for homeowners to want to remain in their homes as they enter into their golden years. In some cases, this may require some home renovations or adjustments to make the home more easily accessible. But special renovations like these can make the home more difficult to sell should you ever decide you would like to because the home is full of items that would be useful to a small set of potential buyers.
There is a way that you can make your home ready for aging in place without taking away from its value or appeal of it. Here are some aging-in-place adjustments that can be made to a home that will help it to retain its value or may make it even more valuable and appealing.
Temporary Ramps and Railings
Sticking with temporary ramps and railings as opposed to permanently affixed ones is a much better and more cost-effective way to go. In the event of selling the home they can be easily removed. You can even rent one of these for a short period of time for less than the cost to purchase. Adding landscaping and shrubs to partially obscure the fixture will help to enhance aesthetics as well.
Choose to Utilize Only One Floor
Instead of installing an expensive stair lift to upper floors that will have to be removed by new homeowners that will not need it, consider putting the investment towards addition to the home that will increase its value or simply adjusting the way you use your home to use just one floor of the home for most of your daily needs.
Adding a first-floor master suite will allow you to have one-level living while adding a significant amount of value to the home as opposed to deterring some buyers when...
Whether it is you or a loved one, transitions can be difficult, especially if those transitions are part of the aging process. Having knowledgeable people on your team can make the that transition easier. For seniors who want to age in place, working with a real estate agent who specializes in the concerns of senior clients can be a plus. A senior real estate specialist or SRES is an important team player when determining how you will spend your golden years. They receive training about the resources available to senior clients and have a well-developed sensitivity to those clients' concerns.
Whether it is you or a loved one, transitions can be difficult, especially if those transitions are part of the aging process. Having knowledgeable people on your team can make the that transition easier. For seniors who want to age in place, working with a real estate agent who specializes in the concerns of senior clients can be a plus. A senior real estate specialist or SRES is an important team player when determining how you will spend your golden years. They receive training about the resources available to senior clients and have a well-developed sensitivity to those clients' concerns.
Aging in Place
Aging in place is a choice made...
As the children grow and start leaving home many parents enjoy the thought of having all that extra time for themselves with no more toys to pick up, or trip over, no more endless piles of laundry, and no more supervising those endless summer pool parties.
The family home is now too big for you and your partner so you have decided to look at other Pebble Beach homes for sale; Perhaps something a little smaller that will be more comfortable for you as you grow older. The big decision now is whether you should buy or build that new home.
You want a home that will be more suitable for you, one where you can continue to live comfortably as you age, where you can easily manage the house and yard work. With the children gone do you still need a two story house and all those stairs? Is a large backyard necessary and worth the amount of time and labor it will take to upkeep?
Whether you decide to build or buy you will want to make sure that your next home has all the features that will ensure your greatest comfort. A pre-existing home may seem more economical but will it provide you with all the specifications and features you desire?
Are you willing to just settle for some of those features and renovate to create the rest or would building a new home be the better solution?
Before you start looking at Pebble Beach homes for sale it’s best to make a list of the type of features you want to have in your new home. These...
Although the idea of preparing a will may seem tedious or difficult, taking care of this matter quickly and correctly is immensely important. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that will preparation can ensure economic vitality and peace of mind for your loved ones. In recognizing these realities, it's important to know which steps you should take for the purpose of preparing an orderly, accurate will. The outline found below will help you realize this objective. Note that the outline contains the primary ideas you'll want to consider as you prepare your will. Nevertheless, you'll need to consult with an attorney to draft your will and trust.
Preparing Your Will: Simple Strategies For Success
There are several important, inalienable components of the will preparation process. Here are some of them:
1. Select Your Beneficiaries.
One of the first steps to preparing your will is selecting your beneficiaries. After your death, someone will inherit your money, property, and any other goods deemed economically valuable or personally significant. Unless you have a complicated family structure, you might not have to spend a great deal of time thinking about who your beneficiaries will be. Nevertheless, it's still a good idea to write this information on paper so everything is clear in your mind. Note that your forms will contain a specific...
What is a Vegan?
Veganism is defined by choosing to eat a plant based diet that does not include any animal products or items containing animal products. This includes not eating, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and anything that is produced directly by animals, such as honey made by bees. Vegans generally do not wear leather, or other clothing derived from animals. Nor would a vegan consciously buy products that are made from any part of an animal, such as upholstery, book bindings, décor, and personal care items like soaps.
Why Become Vegan
There are a variety of reasons to become vegan. PETA, the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, promotes veganism to prevent cruelty to animals. It is believed that many of our modern animal raising and processing practices are unethical. There are environmental reasons to become vegan. Meat and egg production practices leave a large footprint on the environment with all the natural resources used to pack and ship products. Many people feel that a plant based diet is healthier than a diet high in animal consumption. The American Heart Association might agree with this. Another consideration is economic. Animal protein is much more expensive to purchase than fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains.
Challenges
The first challenge is making the transition. It is recommended that you start slowly by introducing more vegan foods in place of animal foods until your taste buds and body have acclimated.
Another challenge is making sure you get enough protein, vitamin B-12, iron, and calcium into your diet. There are plenty of plant based foods that have protein and calcium, and some that have sufficient...
