Have you thought about selling your home recently? If you’re in the Kansas City metropolitan area, it would be more surprising if you hadn’t thought about selling your home. The City of Fountains is one of the top five real estate markets in the country, and the pandemic of 2020 certainly didn’t slow the real estate market down – far from it.
“We’ve never really experienced a real estate market like this,” says Laurie Ralston, Marketing Director at Kingswood Senior Living. “Homes sell practically before they go on the market and home prices are rising at an unprecedented rate. This is great news for older adults who might have been considering moving from their current home.”
The issue with selling your home in a hot market, of course, is then trying to find another place to live. But if you’re a senior who’s been considering moving to independent living, says Laurie, this hot real estate market is the golden opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
“Moving to independent living means you can easily downsize your space, upsize your lifestyle, get settled in a place that’s perfect for your retirement years … without having to pay real estate market home prices,” she says. “All that equity in your home can translate into the freedom to live the retirement life of your dreams.”
The State of the Market
A local market update by the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® (KCRAR) showed the average price of a Johnson County home in May 2020 going for $355,268. In May 2021, the average price skyrocketed to $445,050, – a nearly $90,000 increase. First quarter data from the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® shows there are more realtors than homes for sale for only the second time in the organization’s history. And anecdotally, home sellers are receiving offers tens of thousands of dollars over the selling price.
What’s causing this unprecedented housing market? It’s a perfect trifecta of factors: low home inventory, low mortgage interest rates and incredibly high demand. The Kansas City real estate market has been booming for years, even before COVID-19. In 2019, house prices in Kansas City rose faster than in most US cities, outpacing even booming markets like Austin, Nashville and Denver.
“The pandemic made many people rethink their living situation, and what they want and need from their homes,” says Laurie. “The surge of remote work also means that many people and families are able to move away from crowded cities and instead relocate to their dream location. This can mean, for example, that young families are able to move near parents and extended families without having to worry about career setbacks.”
For active and independent seniors, this opportunity can truly be golden. “After last year, most of us are ready to get out and experience life to the fullest,” Laurie says. “Many older adults are realizing the benefits of moving to a retirement community for the convenience, carefree lifestyle, socialization opportunities and overall peace of mind.”
If you’ve been considering moving into independent living but haven’t been sure exactly when to make the move, here are several reasons why the hot housing market in Kansas City is the perfect opportunity for you to start a new chapter in life:
1. You get the most bang for your buck.
Obviously, selling in a hot market means more money in your wallet. Instead of turning around and dropping that money back into another house, you can better use those assets to set yourself up for a dream retirement. Moving into independent living means you’re settling into a home that’s been designed to help older adults age in place (and age well). Since most private homes don’t have features like emergency call systems, grab bars and one-floor layouts, this can be a great benefit.
2. You don’t have to make expensive upgrades to your existing home.
Not only do you not have to make modifications to your existing home in order to live safely as you age … you also probably won’t need to make huge, expensive modifications in order to sell your home, either. In the past, home sellers often had to do things like remodel a kitchen or bathroom or put on a new roof in order to get their home sold for the most money. These days, that’s not always necessary. While a home that’s been cared for will sell more easily and for more money, of course, home buyers these days are willing to overlook dated features and slight fix-ups in order to win a contract.
3. You upsize your life while downsizing your responsibilities.
Sure, moving into independent living means that your living space will probably be smaller than what you currently have. But, in a sense, you’re also increasing your opportunities – and even the space that you call home. Moving into independent living means you get to benefit from the entire community, from delicious dining to fitness opportunities to social events and so much more. And you don’t have to pay extra or increase the amount of work you have to do for yourself. It’s a maintenance-free, carefree lifestyle – where you get a lot more space than you possibly could have gotten by buying a new home in today’s market.
Laurie says that there’s no right or wrong time to move into independent living – only the right time for you. “For seniors in the Kansas City area, now may just very well be that right time for you,” she says. “Kingswood is a great place for people who love KC to live, play and retire. We love this city just as much as you do, and our community is perfectly situated so that you can get to all your favorite places quickly and easily. We’re really looking forward to welcoming more active and independent seniors into our community this year, and we’re hoping that you may just be one of them.”
Welcome to Kansas City’s Senior Living Sweet Spot.
Inspired senior living at Kingswood means living the retirement lifestyle you want – and deserve. We take care of most routine chores and maintenance, so you can keep enjoying all the things you love about living in Kansas City. And you have more time to try new things and have new adventures.
All of the activities and amenities are here to do more than just keep you busy. They’re here to enhance your whole life. It’s an intentional, holistic approach that helps you live healthier and happier. And, of course, you have plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures in life, like spending time with friends and family.
Our Life Plan Community offers all levels of care right on campus, from Independent Living and Assisted Living to Memory Support, Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care.
Because Kingswood is a Life Plan Community, you can enjoy your independent lifestyle now and be assured all levels of care are available on site when you need it, at a discounted rate for life. This is an outstanding senior living value because you are assured access to care in the comfort of familiar surroundings. When combined with our maintenance-provided lifestyle, a Life Plan Community represents an affordable option providing value beyond your current home and other senior living community offerings … and peace of mind for a lifetime.
Contact us today to schedule your personal visit. (816) 673-2835
