Thursday, January 17, 2002
© Copyright 2002 Starbanner.com
By J.A. DUNN
Staff Writer
Like thousands of retirees who migrate to Ocala each year, Marjorie Sedgwick was looking forward to abandoning the frigid winters up North in favor of the year-round sunny Florida skies.

However, the grandmother from Rock Island, Ill., daringly did it a little differently than most retirees - she purchased her Oak Run home sight unseen.

Sedgwick bypassed countless visits to retirement communities or even the click of a mouse on the Internet. Sedgwick bought the old-fashioned way - from a Realtor - in a most unusual manner - via telephone.

After receiving an information packet from the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, she began corresponding with local Realtor James Bainbridge. Bainbridge soon earned Sedgwick's trust through countless telephone conversations which led her to purchasing the 1,132-square-foot Oak Run house after only viewing photos.

"It was an easy process," said Sedgwick, who moved into her new home in mid-August. "I'm really pleased with the home; I was able to get more house for my money than I thought. I bought the house after only seeing pictures of it because I knew I could trust Jim."

That's exactly what Bainbridge had in mind when he began participating in the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council. It was formulated several years ago to assist Realtors striving to meet the special needs and concerns of seniors when buying or selling residential or investment properties.

Realtors help seniors make decisions about selling the family home, buying rental property or managing the capital gains and tax implications of owning real estate. By earning the SRES designation, the Realtor has demonstrated he or she has the knowledge, experience and expertise to be a senior's real estate specialist and counselor.

Bainbridge, a Realtor since 1994, has been affiliated with the program for two years. He said the transition most seniors face when downsizing can be staggering.

Seniors face a different set of concerns when compared with the average home owner, Bainbridge said. He said couples just starting out may be interested in the school system, whereas seniors may want to know about security or the proximity to the airport, medical centers or shopping.

"I understand their needs," said Bainbridge of the Real Estate Center. "It's about a team approach, gathering the lawyers, tax accountants or anyone else they would need when they are downsizing from the family home."

It can even mean something as simple as setting up the appointment for a home inspection or making sure written contracts have extra large print.

Sedgwick is not alone. She is one of millions of maturing Americans. More than 80 percent of seniors own real estate and/or are buying new properties.

Nearly four out of 10 property owners over age 65 have lived in the same home for more than 30 years.

Although Sedgwick had purchased an eight-room home with her husband in 1950 for the going rate of $19,000, the market has changed dramatically and she was a little apprehensive about going through the nerve-racking experience process alone.

"Jim was always available, and my son and daughter-in-law came over to look at the house," said the former architect assistant who was leasing an apartment for $750 per month in Illinois. "Now I have a two-bedroom, two-bath house with a sun porch and an attached garage. I even have a place for friends to come when they want to flee the snow. It's perfect."

Dwayne Carlton, chairman of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, said more and more seniors are moving into the area.

"We have a lot of retirement communities and they seem to be successful," Carlton said. "Retirees are a sizable percentage of our population."

Realtor Crystal McCall of ReMax Premier Realty South said earning the SRES designation has been perfect for her since a large amount Marion County is populated by seniors. She has found working with senior clients to be different from younger couples just starting out because older people are motivated more by lifestyle issues.

"Younger people decide where they want to live based on what kind of job they have," said McCall, who has been in real estate for more than 20 years. "Most older people decide where they want to live based on recreational activities.

"I think that's the biggest key when working with seniors. Their lifestyle needs are different from couples or even couples with children. I think more and more Realtors will get into Senior Advantage Real Estate Council. I enjoy working with seniors because they are a stable group of people."

Recent clients of McCall's, Janice and Rene Mellberg, both 59, were looking for a winter home when the couple decided to look within the borders of the state. After six trips through The Villages, the couple decided on a house close to the golf course with a beautiful view.

Mellberg said he and his wife have different goals in mind when purchasing their winter home that maybe didn't come into play 30 or 40 years ago. He said school systems, neighborhood playgrounds and children have lost their prominence to lush golf courses and meandering streets.

The former engineer said he and his wife plan to keep their home in Green Bay, Wis., and spend winters here. They close on the house Jan. 30.

Deborah Glomb of Deborah Glomb Realty said the SRES designation has allowed her to take better care of the estimated 75 percent of her clients who are seniors. Glomb said being aware of their special needs means walking them through the process of buying or selling or home or inquiring about trusts and wills.

"It's about listening to what they want," she said. "You listen to your clients and try to meet their needs anyway. But with seniors, sometimes they need a little hand-holding. You advise them to seek professional help from a lawyer or accountant or anything else they need. It's a total package from beginning to end."

For more information, visit the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council Web site at www.seniorsrealestate.com