A Second Home and Real Estate - A Second Home for Retirement
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A Second Home for Retirement

Takeaways

  • Don’t retire to a remote location. Stay close to family and caregivers.
  • A second home can become your retirement home.
  • Make sure the property meets a senior’s needs.

Did you know?

  • Buying specifically for a retirement home is unique from other second home purchases.
Planning makes retirement easyA second home can often transition into a retirement home, and many second homes are purchased with this transition in mind. Because retirement second homes need to meet specific criteria to best serve the owners, this decision is different from buying investment real estate or even a vacation second home.

Senior Friendly?

A key consideration is the layout of the house. Is it senior friendly? Steep stairs on the inside or outside of the house can be difficult for seniors to negotiate. If a homeowner is in a wheelchair, steps are only one concern. Narrow doorways can make it tough to move around the house and high countertops can be inaccessible to someone in a chair. The frame of the house also needs to be sturdy enough to install grab bars in places where seniors might need help getting up and down.

Accessibility

A tucked away mountain retreat won’t make for the best retirement second home. The house should be near a major transportation center, such as an airport or bus station, so it’s easily accessible for friends, family and medical personnel. A second home that is too remote could discourage visitors, and in the event of a medical emergency you want the professionals to get to your retirement home quickly and easily.

Speaking of Medical Care…

A final retirement second home criteria is the quality of medical care in the community. Seniors often need regular medical care, including visiting specialists. Couple that need with diminished mobility and it makes sense to choose a retirement second home where it’s not only easy for medical professionals to reach you, it’s also easy for you to reach those same professionals.

Along with medical care, social services can also be important for retirees. A retirement second home in a community with strong senior social services can provide recreation and other activities geared for people enjoying the golden years in a retirement second home.

Search for Second Homes for Sale

To search for a selection of second homes for sale, please visit the website of a GMAC Real Estate Office that serves the area where you'd like to buy a second home. To learn more about buying Second Homes or Vacation Homes, explore the rest of this section, or contact a GMAC Real Estate Agent.