June 30, 2022
The summer months have long been known as the perfect time to sell your home. With the longer days, the good weather, the beautiful scenery and generally more flexibility when it comes to schedules, selling your home in summer has always made logical sense. What may surprise you—or perhaps not, if you’ve been keeping an eye on the real estate market—is that this summer is the perfect time for older adults to sell their current homes and move into a Life Plan Community like Kendal on Hudson.
“Westchester County real estate is absolutely skyrocketing, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight, at least in the near future,” says Pamela Klapproth, CEO of Kendal on Hudson, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community serving older adults in the Quaker tradition in Sleepy Hollow, NY. “More and more city dwellers are moving from overcrowded urban areas and are looking for larger, lovely homes in a picturesque area. As you know, there’s no more beautiful place than Westchester County, and especially Sleepy Hollow, which means that there’s an enormous demand for homes these days.”
According to Elizabeth Nunan, President and CEO, Houlihan Lawrence, Westchester County’s most prolific realty group, demand for homes is incredibly high across all price points. “The number of showings has increased considerably year-over-year and, with fewer homes on the market, it is typical to have more than one buyer interested in a property,” she says. “This is creating multiple bid situations on properly priced homes, and sellers are reaping the benefits.”
According to Redfin.com, Sleepy Hollow, NY, home prices were up 39.4% compared to last year, and on average the homes sold after 14 days on the market compared to 31 days last year.
“There’s never been a better time to start a new chapter of your life,” Pamela says. “Last year taught all of us the importance of safety, security and companionship. A lot of older adults are realizing the benefits of a Life Plan Community, not just for the convenience and carefree lifestyle, but for the peace of mind it provides for now and in the future. Now that things are ‘getting back to normal,’ most everyone is ready to get back to living the best life possible—and for active, independent older adults, this means taking advantage of this time in your life to the fullest.”
Obviously, the booming housing market is a significant reason as to why older adults should consider selling their home and moving this summer. But it’s not the only reason. Here are five other reasons why the sweltering summer months are the perfect time to make your move into a Life Plan Community like Kendal on Hudson.
1. You get to move during the best time of the year.
As we mentioned, summer is prime time for selling—and, of course, for moving. Yes, while the weather sometimes makes things a little sweatier, that’s a small price to pay when it comes to the convenience of the season. First, moving in the summer means that you have long days filled with sunlight that boost your energy and make it a lot easier to pack boxes. Summer is also the season of estate sales, so if you need to downsize a lot of your possessions, you won’t find a better season. At the same time, it’s a lot easier to coordinate things like movers and other professionals because this is their busiest time—which, ironically, means that they have more hands on deck and have more availability to get you out and where you want to go.
2. You don’t have to winterize your home.
It’s fun to work in the yard during spring and summer because watching the grass and flowers grow and having your garden look spectacular is sometimes the best part of having a yard. And while it’s fun to host cookouts on the patio and enjoy the outdoors to the fullest, it’s not so much fun to put the patio furniture away in the fall and do all the tasks necessary to get your home buttoned up for the winter. If you move to a Life Plan Community this summer, though, you don’t have to do any of that. You’ll get to enjoy your home in the most beautiful seasons without having to deal with things like raking falling leaves and winterizing the pool. That in and of itself may be worth moving!
3. You’ll be safe and sound for the colder months.
Fall and winter are the seasons when we generally get the sniffles and coughs, and this year, many people are concerned about a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. Whether or not that occurs, we do know that winter comes with challenges and hassles—icy sidewalks, power outages, cold winds and the like. Moving into a Life Plan Community means that you get to skip all those dangers—and, if you are concerned about catching a nasty bug, you’re in a place where you can avoid unsafe interactions. All tasks and chores are taken care of for you—you don’t even have to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy. This provides an extra layer of protection, even if we aren’t in a pandemic.
4. You can be “home for the holidays.”
Unlike fall and winter, summer doesn’t have any huge family holidays that bring a lot of expectation and responsibility. By moving in summertime, you’re able to get settled and make your new home “home” before the holiday season. This means you’ll be able to get settled, get comfortable and start making new traditions in your new home to make the holidays very merry indeed. If you’ve always hosted the holidays at your place, that doesn’t have to stop when you move to a Life Plan Community. You can rent out rooms to hold your own festivities with as many or as few people as you like. Plus, since communities deck the halls to the max during the holiday season, you get that holly-jolly without having to put up (or store) too many decorations of your own.
5. You can enjoy the community during its best time, too.
Summer is naturally a social season, with the great weather making it easy to get out, enjoy all the happenings around town, meet old friends and make new ones. The same holds true for a Life Plan Community. While every day gives you an opportunity for adventure, connection and interaction, the summer months make it easier to do all that. You’ll be able to settle in comfortably, take advantage of the entire campus, make new friends, dine alfresco and make it feel like “home” for real.
“Although any time is a good time to move to a Life Plan Community like Kendal on Hudson, this summer truly represents an exceptional opportunity,” says Pamela. “If you’ve been wondering if a move is right for you, I encourage you to contact us and see how our amazing community can help you upsize your life with our spectacular amenities, Lifecare contract and maintenance-free lifestyle.”
Together, Transforming the Experience of Aging.®
Founded on Quaker principles and guided by our values and practices, Kendal on Hudson provides a vibrant, active and social senior lifestyle on our 25-acre campus next to the historic Hudson River. As the only Lifecare community in Westchester County, we offer five levels of service for our residents: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Kendal on Hudson is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors. Kendal on Hudson is an affiliate of The Kendal Corporation, a system of communities and services for older people based in Kennett Square, PA. We support diversity, inclusiveness, and independence and support the values and practices of Kendal by remaining focused on healthy aging. Located in Sleepy Hollow, New York, just 35 miles from New York City, we offer a vibrant lifestyle, cultural programs, continued learning and health care for life.
For more information, please call 866-KENDALNY.