“We’re not getting any younger honey!”  Have you heard this one before?  You may be getting to that age now where the kids are either close to finishing college, finding full time jobs and picking up a rental, or finally tying the knot.  There may still be one 20 something year old lingering around for longer than expected, and you haven’t fully achieved “empty nest” syndrome yet, but the time is coming soon.

So what do you intend on doing with all this new found time, space and energy?  Chances are you don’t plan on just staring at each other longer than you have in decades, so there must be another solution.  It’s time to get back to living on the edge and taking a few calculated risks.  Maybe what you need is a little adventure!

Is there something that you have been aiming to do forever, but with the kids, mortgage and other heaping responsibilities, these goals turned more into faded dreams than a reality?  Perhaps we can help offer some insight and direction.  Believe us, we have worked with many clients in the past who have faced the same choices that you may be dealing with now.

 Whether that involves taking a 3 month long European vacation, visiting family across the country, buying that boat and spending your time out at sea, or investing your time in charity work, one thing that may be crossing your mind is what you plan to do with your oversized house for two. 

For most reading this, we would presume that you either have a majority of your mortgage paid off or at least some retirement savings stashed up that will provide you the flexibility to sell and downsize into a more modest living space.  With that extra income, you will now be able to finally experience those long anticipated dreams.

Maybe this looks like taking a leap and moving into a high-rise condominium in Chicago.  Or perhaps you would rather pick up something a little more tranquil out in the country.  Others may be interested in building up a small rental portfolio and not being tied down to any one location.  And there are plenty of luxurious 50+ retirement communities that offer mindboggling amenities.

The options could seem overwhelming, so we’re here to serve you along the way.  We understand the hesitation and concerns that can arise when making such a big decision, after living in a residence for 20+ years.  These feelings are normal.

Whether you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss possible options with your current home or need assistance in planning for your future move, we encourage you to contact us.  Consider us to be your trusted advisors as you begin mapping out your next steps.  We look forward to helping you achieve your dreams! 

Bill Engvall - Empty Nest (Funny)

I love to help my clients manage stress through the sale or purchase of a home. Hereʼs a great article with 37 stress management tips I hope you enjoy.

Part of my specialty as a real estate agent is managing stress for my clients. It means a lot to me when clients tell me at closing, “Wow, Heather , I canʼt believe how smoothly everything went.” Itʼs a badge of honor for me when I hear things were “stress free” or “low pressure” from my clientsʼ perspective.

Even in the best case scenario, every real estate transaction comes with a little stress. If you consider WHY most people are buying or selling a home, the motivation usually comes from either positive or negative life change. Marriage, the birth of a child, the death of a spouse, divorce, a new job, downsizing... all are common reasons people buy or sell a home.

Itʼs no surprise that these major life changes are also listed on the “Holmes and Rahe stress scale,” a list of 43 life events which can contribute to illness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale).>

The ability to manage the stress associated with these events isnʼt just about feeling good... itʼs also a crucial component of maintaining our health along the way.

http://www.rd.com/health/37-stress-management-tips/

Enjoy! If youʼre looking for an agent to help you with a stress-free real estate transaction, drop me a line today: 815-627-0477

Have a great summer!

Heather Lawson, Broker Associate

Keller Williams Realty Signature

www.heatherlawsonrealestate.com