Cash in on the Golden Age in Real Estate

Movies like Fried Green Tomatoes and The Notebook have painted a picture of senior living in America. In these scenarios, where folks were not fortunate enough to have family available or medically skilled enough to take them in, aging seemed to lead to the inevitable destination of a nursing home. However, people who work in real estate realize there’s a growing trend on the rise that’s a much more desirable option than institutionalized living.

While a retirement home is typically one building, a retirement community is just that, a group of seniors living together but independently. They are a group of homes designated for people over the age of 55 and feature extensive amenities which can include:

• clubhouses
• swimming pools
• fitness center
• spa
• arts and crafts
• boating
• fishing
• trails
• golf courses
• tennis courts
• retail shops
• restaurants
• business/learning center
• barbers and hair salons
• on-site medical facilities

These communities are set up to care for a variety of seniors depending on their needs but in a non-medical setting and less intrusive environment. Senior communities can accommodate residents’ lifestyles whether they are healthy and active, require general or Continuing-Care (CCRC), and offer options for assisted living and Alzheimer's patients with a skilled nursing structure in place.

Not all communities offer all amenities or services. Some only service a small range of seniors where others encompass the spectrum of the needs of the elderly. As a real estate representative it’s important to know what your client is looking for and what the various communities have to offer.

Previously senior communities were options only in warm climates like FL, AZ and CA. Now the draw of planned activities, lawn care, gated entry, shuttle services, interest groups and the ability to remain independent and social is spreading across the country with both rental and purchase options available.

Trusted realtors with knowledge of local communities and bylaws can build a strong clientele through word of mouth alone. So brush up on your shuffle board and get ready to hear about the good old days. With a gig like this you can feel good about helping people make the most of their golden years and allowing them to feel productive into their prime.



By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for RealestateJobSiteBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.