Buying & Selling Real Estate for Seniors

Susie Basham has earned the nationally recognized Seniors Real Estate Specialist® designation from the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Council of the National Association of Realtors®.

Susie joins more than 15,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRES® designation.  All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations, and goals of real estate buyers and sellers aged 55 and older.

“Working with seniors to meet their housing needs requires an expert understanding of their lifestyle and financial needs, and the SRES® designation means that a Realtor® has that understanding,” said Susie Basham. “Whether they are buying, selling relocating or refinancing, seniors can be confident that a Realtor® designated SRES® will be able to help them every step of the way.”

SRES® Council, founded in 2007, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing senior clients in real estate transactions. There are more than 15,000 active members of the organization world-wide.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

For more information, visit SRES.org.

Thinking about buying or selling your home? Work with an SRES®

Moving On Guide (pdf)

Are you thinking of selling your home to move to a senior supportive environment?

  • Is it time to sell your home?
  • Why selling a senior’s home is different
  • What is an SRES®?
  • The SRES® professional network
  • Issues to consider before starting the process
  • What to expect from your SRES®
  • Key steps in the process

Download the Moving On Guide (below) to answer these questions:  SRES_MovingOnGuide

Realtor with SRES® FAQs

What is an SRES

Created by the National Association of Realtors, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (or SRES) is specifically trained for the challenges and situations that clients age fifty and over face, including cultivating a network of related senior specialists in fields such as estate planning and tax counseling so that the SRES can provide a truly outstanding client experience.

What are the benefits of using a Realtor with an SRES certification?

A SRES certified realtor offers the following:

  1. A customized approach to your living situation that fits in with your overall life plan.
  2. Awareness of options like senior-based communities and aging in place needs.
  3. Multiple choices that help reduce out-of-pocket expenses, acquire cash and create or delay income streams or get financial aid for when you need it at a later date. This can help you remain independent longer.

How can an SRES help senior with their housing needs?

SRES designees are trained in all of the options for senior housing available. Much more than simply aging in place in your current home or moving to an assisted living facility or retirement home, there are vibrant options for today’s seniors. Additional options include things like planned senior communities with new homes designed for the needs of seniors.

How can an SRES assist seniors with financial options?

As part of this training, they learn about how using pensions, IRAs, 401ks, and other retirement accounts in real estate transactions work. They also understand reverse mortgages, both the positive sides and the potential downsides of that type of mortgage for seniors. Further, SRES agents are trained to spot mortgage and other loan schemes that are designed to trick and scam seniors out of their finances or even their homes.

*More info at Retirement Living