SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist

By earning the SRES® designation, Elaine VonCannon has demonstrated necessary knowledge and expertise to offer senior clients superior service. Elaine VonCannon is specially trained to help seniors through major financial and lifestyle transitions including: relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home. In addition to her specialized education for senior clients, Elaine receives updates on changes to law, taxes, and other matters which impact property value or sale or purchase for seniors specifically. She is well prepared to offer multiple options and the up-to-date information needed for seniors faced with making life-altering decisions.

Williamsburg as a Retirement Mecca for Seniors
Williamsburg, Virginia, the 18th Century jewel that sits alongside the James River in Southeastern Virginia, is the perfect haven for a rich and rewarding retirement. Since the 1920s, when philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. restored many of the historic buildings in the town of Williamsburg to their former colonial brilliance, Williamsburg has been a favorite vacation destination. It is also a mecca for retirees. Many of the seniors in and around Williamsburg share a love of American history. The oldest college in the country, the College of William and Mary, across from Merchant Square, is as well-preserved as the town itself. At the College of William and Mary, the Christopher Wren Association provides classes for seniors who are interested in continuing education after retirement. Williamsburg is also the site of the longest running newspaper in publication, the Virginia Gazette, published three times weekly, and well read by the contemporary residents of the town.

Golfing in Williamsburg
The golfing enthusiast will find much to love in Wiliamsburg. There are 10 major golf courses in and around the Wiliamsburg area. Three highly regarded courses are located at Kingsmill, Fords Colony, and the Golden Horsehoe.

Tidewater Virginia - A Temperate Climate
Southeastern Virginia is a pleasant climate for retirement because of the temperate climate. From Williamsburg, to Newport News and Hampton to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, the climate rarely dips below 50 degrees most of the year.

Gardening
For the plant lover, this area of Virginia represents the northernmost tip of a sub-tropical zone, so the variety of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees are vast. Outdoor gardening can be done 6-8 months out of the year. Near coastal or tidal areas a good deal of the soil is mixed with sand, which makes for fertile gardening.

Birding
Bird lovers will find it an excellent place for birding, because it's a flyover zone for many species of migrating birds heading south for the winter. From November through March, there are an abundance of flocks of feathered visitors to the area.

Military Bases and Naval Ships
The Tidewater area of Virginia is home to the largest Naval fleet on the East Coast. There are numerous opportunities to board Naval ships and visit military installations, although since 9-11 security is much tighter. Music Under the Stars, which occurs during summer at Fort Monroe in Hampton, offers a great opportunity for a cultural experience on base. Tidewater is also home to many military retirees.

Senior Services
Elaine VonCannon works with the specific concerns of the senior real estate buyer and seller. Her Senior Real Estate Specialist education and training has given her insight and adeptness at helping seniors find the most comfortable and desirable home of their choice to meet their present needs.

Downsizing
Some seniors choose to downsize their home after their children leave. There are several choices:

A smaller home or property
Condominiums and townhouses
Retirement community living

Elaine will help you take care of the details in your family home, prior to listing, to obtain the maximum price.

Advantages to Downsizing

Not as much interior and exterior maintenance
Tied up equity in unused space can be better utilized
Simplify and have more time to enjoy life
Great potential profits from sale

Referrals to Professionals
Not all mortgages are alike. Elaine works with a trusted mortgage lender who specializes in senior real estate buyers. Her preferred mortgage professional handles reverse mortgages.

Retirement
There are numerous choices for the senior who is looking for another home in a new location, or a seasonal second home. For some, a planned adult retirement community may be best, while others may opt for a ranch home, townhouse, or condominium with less property to maintain. While searching for your new post-retirement home, Elaine VonCannon will listen to you and find you the dwelling that suits your current needs.

Trusts
Seniors who leave their homes in trust to their loved ones need to select the type of trust carefully. Some trusts have steep tax ramifications once the home is sold, and others have no taxes applied upon sale. See your financial advisor for details on the most effective trust for your family or loved ones.