Page 62 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2026 - Online Magazine
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SENIOR RESOURCES
owners, or required signatures appreciated substantially, was continue to support you if one of
are much easier to address inherited, was once used as a those things changed.
before a property is listed than rental, or is held in a trust.
days before closing. Consider how you would
Before deciding, it may be wise reach doctors, grocery stores,
Your attorney, title professional, to speak with insurance, tax, church, friends, and family if
and real estate professional can financial, and legal professionals driving became temporarily
each help identify matters that about the full picture rather than or permanently difficult. Are
may need attention. focusing only on the expected delivery services available?
sale price. Could a family member or
What does your home really caregiver reach the home easily?
cost you? What happens between this Is there safe parking? Are
home and the next one? emergency services nearby?
A paid-off house is not
necessarily an inexpensive Most people picture a smooth Access inside and outside the
house. When deciding whether transition: the current home home also matters. House
to stay or move, it is important sells, the new one is ready, and numbers should be visible,
to look beyond the mortgage everything moves from one place emergency responders should
payment. Property taxes, to the other. Sometimes it works be able to enter, and a trusted
insurance, utilities, repairs, that way. Sometimes it does not. person should have a key or
lawn care, cleaning, pest another reliable method of
control, HOA dues, accessibility A buyer may want possession access. Smoke detectors, carbon-
improvements, and replacement quickly. The next home may monoxide detectors, emergency
of major systems all contribute to need repairs or accessibility contacts, and medication
the true cost of ownership. modifications. Construction may information should be current
be delayed. Additional time may
There is also another kind of cost be needed to sort belongings, and easy to locate.
that does not appear on a bank arrange movers, or coordinate Technology can help, but only
statement: the time, physical help from family members. when it is understandable and
effort, worry, and mental energy reliable. Smart locks, security
required to manage the property. A good transition plan considers systems, video doorbells, digital
temporary housing, storage,
A helpful question might be: overlapping expenses, pet care, thermostats, and app-controlled
What does this home cost and the possibility of moving appliances can provide
me financially, physically, in stages. In some situations, convenience. They can also
mentally, and emotionally— additional time in the current create frustration if passwords
and is that cost still worth home may be negotiated are lost, internet service fails,
the life it provides? after closing. Temporary or another person controls the
arrangements are not necessarily account.
That answer may confirm that setbacks. They may provide the
staying is the best choice. It may breathing room needed to make Please watch for Part 2 of “The
also reveal that a different option a thoughtful decision rather than Questions We Don’t Always
could provide greater freedom rushing into the wrong property. Think To Ask” in the Winter
and predictability. edition of Lubbock Senior Link
Will the next home support Magazine.
Insurance and taxes deserve independence beyond
special attention. An older roof, today?
outdated systems, previous
claims, flood exposure, or A home may work beautifully as
changing insurance requirements long as you are driving, climbing
can affect affordability. A sale stairs easily, and managing every
may also create tax questions, task yourself. The more useful
particularly when a home has question is whether it could
62 Lubbock Senior Link
