Category: Elder
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When Assisted Living Is the Way Forward: Protecting a Home for the Community Spouse
What happens when one spouse moves into assisted living, and the other spouse stays in the couple’s home? The official word used to describe the spouse living at home is community spouse. That’s the spouse who lives “in the community” while the other enters assisted living. The spouse in assisted living may need to tap…
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The Sting: Arizona Real Estate Agent Calls the Cops, Derails Deed Fraud
A fast-acting real estate pro helped nab the suspected perpetrator of a deed theft against a senior. John Rowan, a Scottsdale real estate agent and investor, got a call from a stranger whose friend reportedly inherited a home and wanted to sell it as-is. Rowan went to check out the Phoenix-area home. A landscaper present…
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The ADU: A Housing Fix for Seniors and Their Families
Accessory dwelling units (also known as ADUs, backyard cottages, guest homes, or granny flats) can enable seniors to enjoy privacy, yet remain close to family and neighborhood friends. They don’t depend on clearing natural spaces to develop properties. Yet they offer affordable housing options — which are ever scarcer these days. No wonder ADUs have…
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Thinking of Downsizing? Consider Costs Along With Benefits.
Thinking of downsizing? For some deed holders, it’s a fantastic choice. Just be sure you’re on the lookout for unexpected costs in today’s housing market. Here, we go through some scenarios so you can spot potential issues related to moving into a smaller place. Don’t let them catch you by surprise.
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Senior Financial Exploitation: Living Trust Scams
It’s a common idea that probate should be avoided at all costs. And that a revocable living trust is the way to get around probate. Some people are packaging these ideas and marketing them. You might receive an invitation to a free seminar, or an event at a local home, where a living trust is…
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Thousands of Seniors Lose Access to Hospital-at-Home Program Due to Federal Shutdown
It’s official: the current federal shutdown is now the second longest in modern U.S. history. Every day, it seems, we hear of some new fright because of lapses in federal funding. One of these scary things is affecting seniors who’ve chosen to age in place. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that a lapse…
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Consider This Before Creating a Life Estate Deed
Say you decide you’d like to stay in your home for life. After all, with the costs for assisted living going through the roof, holding your deed might be the best senior living plan! You can certainly draw up a life estate deed, and convey your property into a co-ownership with someone — a friend,…
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“The Senior Living Market Can’t Keep Up With Demand”: A Deed May Be the Best Senior Living Plan
In a recent issue of the CNBC Property Play newsletter, Diana Olick wrote that older adult living is “on the edge of a boom — a baby boom, to be exact.” Between today and 2030, more than 4 million baby boomers will reach the age of 80. Can active adult and assisted living properties climb…
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Politically Connected Broker Pushed Senior Into Reverse Mortgage, Says Lawsuit
A current member of the Council of Calistoga, California, who is also a broker, faces a hearing this month. A lawsuit accuses Councilmember Scott Cooper, along with his company, of exploiting an elder financially.
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Should I Remove My Deceased Spouse’s Name From Our Deed?
You probably don’t have to. That said, the best answer to your question should take into account the way your deed was vested, and whether a lawyer recommends that you carry out a formal name removal for a specific reason.
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Seniors Say: Why We Buy, and What We Look for in Real Estate
The average age of a first-time home buyer keeps getting higher. The trend has turned into a tectonic shift. Today, it’s not the slightest bit unusual for a buyer to reach 55+ before getting that first deed. You or someone you know may be in this position, and it might help you to know you’re…
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When Protectors Become Predators: Exposing Professionals Who Exploit Their Senior Clients
A few months ago in Miami, a real estate agent misused the power of attorney against a client. The agent bequeathed himself $1.6 million in oceanfront real estate that belonged to this customer, according to investigators. Also this year, in Western Kentucky, an elder law specialist pleaded guilty to exploitation of an older adult, and…
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What Can a SRES® Agent Offer a Mature Home Buyer?
Have you heard about the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), from the National Association of REALTORS®? The SRES credential is a sign that an agent can support the goals and needs of older clients. The SRES agent has been trained in the unique challenges of those who enter the market aged 50+.
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Legal Aid Resources: Finding Free and Low-Cost Services for Seniors
Deeds.com offers updated, compliant real estate documents and forms. Now and then, a reader has situation-specific legal questions which require legal advice. Law firms can get expensive, but there are services available at low or no cost for older adults who need them.
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Power of Attorney or Guardianship for Older Adults: Confront and Avert Misuse
When it’s apparent that a power of attorney is being improperly used, is there any recourse? Here, we explore this important question.
