age
50-plus through major financial and lifestyle transitions
involved in relocating, refinancing, or selling
the family home. Your REALTOR® has received
special training, gets regular updates, and is prepared
to offer the options and information needed in making
life changing decisions.
History
of SRES
REALTORS® who want to specialize in the real estate
needs of maturing Americans are earning the Seniors
Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation by taking
the new SRES course designed and conferred by the
Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council of the National
Association of REALTORS®.
The
SRES designation was originally developed by the
Senior Advantage Real Estate Council 10 years ago
to focus on the needs of home buyers and sellers
aged 50 and over. It became an official member of
the NAR family of designations in March 2007.
"Knowing
how to best serve home buyers, sellers and investors
at all stages of life is another way REALTORS®
add value to the real estate transaction,"
said 2007 NAR President Pat V. Combs, of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt.
"As our clients mature, they have different
real estate goals and needs from those of younger
consumers. Given the importance of the emerging
senior market nationwide, the number of REALTORS®
earning the SRES designation is likely to increase
dramatically over the next few years."
According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 7,900 people
will turn 60 every single day this year. In addition,
real estate is the largest single asset class held
by households that are headed by someone who is
65 or older, according to Harvard University s Joint
Center for Housing Studies.
The
new SRES course includes topics such as distinguishing
characteristics and trends related to the 50+ population;
housing, finance, and retirement income considerations
of these consumers; outreach methods for building
50 and older clientele; and counseling strategies
to help clients and customers plan ahead for life
transitions. Participants can learn:
