Name: Kelsey Smith Real Estate
Telephone: 1-306-552-7047
Rating: 5

Empty nesters… those who have raised their families, sent their not-so-young off into the world, and are now ready to think about what is next.

For empty nest sellers, your home likely holds a lot of fond memories. It is the place you raised your children, celebrated birthdays, spent hours helping with school projects, and dried tears. Parting with a family home can be very emotional and it can be hard to decide if downsizing is the right choice.

For empty nest buyers, the world is your oyster! Your new home can be just about you. You no longer need to consider bedrooms and bathrooms for a growing family, proximity to schools, safe cul-de-sacs. You can even completely reinvent yourself in your next home.

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Finding The Right Home For Whatever Comes Next

Despite popular opinion, empty nesters are not always looking to downsize. It is all about embracing a new freedom, deciding what the next stage of life looks like, and finding the right home to support that vision. We will call this right-sizing. Here are some considerations for those empty nesters looking to make sure that their next home is the right size:

Home Style: As you age, it is important to consider accessibility. Will a single story home be easier to navigate when stairs are difficult to manage? Will apartment or condo living ease the burden of yard care and home maintenance?
Location and Community: Now that your children have flown the coop, are you looking to spread your wings too? Some empty nesters want to enjoy their new-found freedom and live in the heart of the city centre where entertainment and dining options abound. Others are seeking the quiet, slower paced lifestyle of country living. Or perhaps you plan to travel and want to find an apartment that offers security when you are away and leaving your home vacant for long periods of time.
Size: As we mentioned, smaller is not always better. Some empty nesters are ready for the easier upkeep a smaller home affords. But some empty nesters may actually be looking for a larger home to accommodate aging parents, adult children, and grandchildren.

The Kelsey Smith Home Buying Process

We have streamlined the home buying process to make it as easy and stress-free as possible. You can count on transparency, availability, attention to detail, and strong negotiating at offer time. This is what you can expect with the Kelsey Smith home buying process.

Consultation for Home Buyers

Are you buying a house in Regina or the surrounding area? You may want to jump right in and schedule viewings. However, prior to starting the physical home search, I ask that buyers meet with me for a “Buyer Consult” session. During this meeting, I explain what to expect at every step when buying a home. We discuss the criteria of your dream home, what defects are important to look for when viewing homes, and everything else from the home inspection, and negotiations to how to choose your real estate lawyer.

Mortgage Pre-Approval

Home buyers should be pre-approved for a mortgage so that they know exactly how much house they can afford. If you don't have a pre-approval, you could be disappointed to find out you cannot afford the house you find or you could lose the deal while waiting for approval. Even if you’re certain you qualify, getting a pre-approval from a Regina mortgage broker can streamline the process and ensure your finances are set to go when you are ready to make an offer. It also makes the final mortgage approval process much faster and less stressful for you!

View Listings

Once we’ve had our “Buyer Consult” and you’ve received your pre-approval, we can start looking at homes seriously. I encourage buyers to use any of the available platforms when looking for Regina MLS listings. KelseySmith.ca has up-to-date listing information and the ability to customize your search criteria for an elevated search experience. As your Regina Realtor®, I will also search for and send you listings that meet your requirements. Once we have a handful of possibilities picked out, I will schedule the viewings on your behalf and we will go house hunting together.

Making An Offer

When you’re ready to make an offer, I will explain to you the terms, conditions, and legalities of the contract. Most importantly, I perform a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on the property to ensure you pay no more than fair market value and ideally a little less than that! I will help you formulate a strong offer that has the highest likelihood of being accepted by the sellers. Remember that using a buyer's agent is a free service to you as a home buyer. The commissions for a buyer’s agent are paid for by the seller.

An Insightful Real Estate Partner And Guide To Buying Or Selling Your Home

Kelsey Smith is committed to providing an exceptional experience for home buyers and home sellers in Regina and the surrounding areas. An in-depth understanding of the unique Regina real estate landscape and years of experience navigating the buying and selling process inform Kelsey’ strategy for successfully closing hundreds of real estate transactions. Her formulas for searching, listing, and marketing guarantee an unparalleled journey to homeownership and home sales. Connect with Kelsey by calling 1-306-552-7047 and choose Regina’s ideal real estate partner.

Buyer's Handbook FREE Home Evaluation

Buying, Selling, Or Both

If you are an empty nester, you are probably somewhat familiar with the process of buying and selling. This isn’t your first rodeo. But there are certain complexities when buying and selling as an empty nester that you may not have encountered before.

Buying a different kind of home: Buying a family home is a lot different than buying a smaller home, a home in a retirement community, or buying an apartment or condo. You may have to consider additional costs like condo fees and condo document analysis reports, memberships, and HOAs. And you may need to consider smart storage solutions, accessibility, and multi-functional spaces that were not deciding factors when buying your family home.
Selling your family home: This can be an emotional sale. Your family home holds a lot of memories and probably a lot of stuff. This nostalgic love of the home where you raised your children can impact your ability to remain impartial during viewings and negotiations.
Buying and selling at the same time: Most empty nesters are faced with selling their current home while looking for their right-sized home. This adds a layer of complexity. Should you sell first then look for a new home to purchase? Make an offer on your new home conditional on the sale of your current house?

If you are an empty nester looking to sell a home that is no longer right for you, buy a new home that will support your lifestyle now and for years to come, or both, partner with Kelsey Smith. A smart strategy for buying and selling will ease the process and position you to begin living the next chapter in the perfect home for you.

Why Kelsey's Clients Love Working With Her

Right-Size With The Right Realtor®

Selling the home where you raised your family and making the best choice for a home base for your next stage of life can be emotional and stressful. Partnering with an experienced Realtor® can help ease the transition. Kelsey Smith can leverage years of experience helping empty nesters find the perfect home for now and for years to come. With in-depth market knowledge and a commitment to educating clients to help them make the best decisions to meet their goals for buying and selling, Kelsey can help you right-size. Choose Kelsey Smith and choose a partner to guide you as you find the right place to live your best life. For empty nesters looking to buy, sell, or both in Regina and surrounding areas connect with Kelsey by calling 1-306-552-7047 or fill out the online contact form.

The Kelsey Smith Home Selling Process

We have streamlined the home selling process to make it as easy and stress-free as possible. You can count on transparency, availability, attention to detail, and strong negotiating at offer time. This is what you can expect with the Kelsey Smith home selling process.

Consultation With Sellers

Are you selling your home in Regina or the surrounding area? It is important to understand the current Regina market conditions, the other properties currently for sale, how much similar properties have sold for recently, and more. It is also important for me to understand your reasons for selling, what makes you home unique, your timelines, and more. Are you looking to sell fast? Do you want to hold out for top dollar? I recommend we start with a “Seller Consult” session. This is an opportunity for me to view your property, understand more about your goals for this sale, and let you know what you can expect from the home selling process. Let’s connect and make a plan to sell your home.

Determine The List Price

The first step to selling a Regina home is to determine the list price. A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is automatically provided as part of my service. The CMA will highlight comparable properties that have already sold in your area. I make upward or downward adjustments based on the similarities, differences, and upgrades between your property and the comparables. A home appraisal can also determine a home's value. If you are unsure of the value of the home, consider having both a CMA and a professional home appraisal done.

When I assess the market value of a property, I consider many factors. Average prices in a neighbourhood, how many active listings, sold listings, and Regina's market as a whole are all determinants when pricing a home effectively. Most importantly, I will take the time to explain these reports to you so that we can decide on the best price to list the home, together. I promise transparent education to you, the homeowner, on the condition of the local market so you can make the most informed decisions.

While The House Is On The Market

Once the list price has been decided, we will review the listing contract which outlines the desired possession, real estate fees, legal description, and many other terms and conditions of the sale. I will help you prepare your home for the market by providing staging consultations and providing you with my "Ultimate To-Do List For Selling A Home In Regina." (link to list)

Among my other responsibilities, my priority is to communicate with my client. I send weekly market updates, keeping you aware of any new listings, conditional sales, or properties that have sold in your area. The Regina real estate market can change quickly if a large number of homes come onto the market or sell within a short time frame. I keep analytics of how all my Regina MLS® listings are performing online by tracking how many views they get on Realtor.ca, Facebook, and other social media platforms.

I have a unique approach to marketing Regina homes for sale. I always take professional photos and showcase the listing using SEO-friendly video and written content. The goal is to attract as many buyers as possible.

Receiving An Offer

Once you receive an offer, I will negotiate with the buyers on your behalf and we will work together to get an acceptable sale price for you. The “conditions period” is the 7-10 day period the buyer requires to get approval of a mortgage, and complete the home inspection and any other inspections they need. I will act as a liaison between the buyer and their agent and you to provide any additional information they request.

Once conditions have been removed, the seller can disconnect utilities, meet with their lawyers, and move forward with the sale process. The home is not officially SOLD until mortgage funds have been transferred.

Be sure to read through my Home Sellers Guide for FAQs, detailed offer to purchase information, and so much more!

Buying And Selling Regina’s Best Homes

Kelsey Smith is Regina’s choice for buying and selling homes. Buying or selling can be complex and stressful. Selecting the right Realtor® can ease the process. Kelsey Smith brings market insight, extensive experience, a streamlined strategy, top-level marketing know-how, and expert negotiating skills as your real estate partner to ensure the best outcomes for your sale or purchase.

Empty Nesters FAQs

I am considering condo living, but I don’t want to be downtown.

There are many suburban homes that offer the benefits of apartment or townhouse living. If you like the idea of maintenance-free living and the security of a multi-family dwelling, reach out and we can explore your options for condo living in a quieter, slower-paced neighbourhood.

Which is better, a house or a condo?

There are benefits to owning each of these properties. Condos in Regina meet the needs of all kinds of people. They are low maintenance, convenient, and you can buy them brand new! Single-family homes offer other benefits like land ownership, privacy, freedom from condo boards and HOAs, and space for things like gardening.

Can I save money by downsizing?

You can, but you don’t necessarily have to. Some empty nesters choose to leverage the equity built in their current home and buy something less expensive to free up money to travel or to help their children. But some empty nesters want to splurge and spend some of their hard earned equity to indulge in a more luxurious lifestyle because they have worked hard for a long time to be able to afford it. However you envision your retirement years, we can help you find the perfect home to meet your goals.

A Partner For All Of Your Real Estate Goals

Providing my clients with an exceptional home buying or selling experience is my top priority. First-time home buyers, empty nesters, sellers, and investors can expect current data and insight to make the most informed decisions regarding their real estate transactions. I promise to share my knowledge, my experience, and my time as we work together to achieve your Regina real estate goals. Connect with me for a free consultation at 1-306-552-7047 and let’s partner to make it happen.

Kelsey Smith Is Regina’s Choice

Choosing the right Realtor® is key to ensure a positive and successful real estate transaction. Kelsey Smith promises to deliver the education and time necessary to buy or sell your Regina home. Call 1-306-552-7047 and rest easy knowing you have made the right choice.

Empty Nesters