Page 7 - Greenfield Hill Neighbors

rEsidEnt FEaturE rEal EstatE trEnds
ExpErt Contributor
are kind, they will humbly point to their community as the true In-Laws on The Rise!
champions. Having traveled the world and worked at churches
across the country, David insist he has never seen anything By Lori Auerbach, Real Estate Agent, The Vanderblue Team • Most in-law suites have a separate entrance and consists of
like Greenfield Hill neighborhood families and their inherent a bedroom with closets, a full bath, a living area/den and a
openness to care deeply for humanity, demonstrate tremendous There’s no doubt that our country has an extremely large aging kitchenette/kitchen.
compassion for the world and willingness to make a difference. population. The Federal Administration on Aging published their • A full kitchen with a stove is not necessary, just having a small
Far from small-town provincial, this theme that resonates amongst predication that by 2030, there will be 72.1 million people in the kitchenette with a sink and refrigerator with a separate convection
their neighbors is one of the cornerstones that sits at the heart of United States over the age of 65. cooking surface will suffice.
the philosophy that Alida and David practice. Families are now considering the needs of their aging parents as • A small outdoor space like a deck or patio is an added bonus and
often very appreciated.
“I have never seen anything like this community well as the expense involved in housing and care. Many families are • Universal Design Principles will support the long-term safety and
choosing to have their elderly relatives move into their homes as
in all my travels. They care deeply for humanity opposed to facing the increasing costs of assisted living facilities. comfort needs of those who occupy the suite: wider doorways
and hallways, grab bars in bathrooms, lever handles for opening
and have a tremendous willingness to make a WOULD YOU CONSIDER SELLING TWO HOMES TO doors.
difference in the world.” BUY ONE HOME WITH AN IN-LAW SUITE OPTION? LONG–TERM BENEFITS OF HAVING AN IN-LAW SUITE?
There’s also another generation that is cleverly sneaking back into
As we finished our conversation, when discussing what their the family home in order to save on expenses-- the Millennial. They • The homeowner that desires to “age-in- place” down the road
family motto might be, David mentioned “Carpe Diem.” Well like the comforts of the family home but also seek some form of will have an in-law suite to accommodate an in-home caregiver.
know, it is a phrase that means something extra special to this independent living space. As a result, in many cases, the single-family • In-law suites can also be converted to a home office for a growing
Greenfield Hill family. They find that the simple phrase brought home is morphing into a multi-generational home at a faster pace business.
famous by the late Robin Williams character Professor Keating in than you might imagine. • Residential rental potential.
Dead Poet’s Society, is something that is important to them and in In Fairfield County, the number of homes sold with in-law suite In a 2013, a survey by the National Board of Realtors revealed that
turn to all the people that look to them for support including their accommodations over the past 3 years continues to rise significantly, approximately 20% of buyers would be willing to pay more for a
4 children and now 2 grandchildren. To so many, Alida and David upwards of 20%! house with in-law accommodations, and those numbers are rising.
are leaders, healers, confidants and an indelible support. By the Even in our fast-paced society, keeping family close by and
nature of their work and the commitment to their neighbors, What makes up an in-law suite really depends on your family’s needs independent, at any age is a growing trend and in-law suites are rising
but here are some considerations...
Alida and David must seize each day and personally walk the to the occasion!
talk. Being the very best they can be each day and living their • A converted space, for example over the garage or reconfigure
best life, has a trickledown effect to those fortunate enough to pre-existing spaces within the home. The Vanderblue Team of Higgins Group www.Vanderblue.com
Visit EspDivision.com to view our ever-growing inventory of properties
find themselves part of this family’s journey. Professor Keating • Square footage is not as important as the content of the space not yet on MLS!
and this is where you must consider the needs of the planned
goes on to say in his oft-quoted speech to his students… be occupant.
extraordinary. Something else that this little church in the beautiful
rolling hills of Fairfield aspires to do. There is very little doubt
in this tight-knit neighborhood amongst those who make up
the GHCC congregation and countless others in receipt of their
service and goodwill, that these two amazing, selfless people are
extraordinary. Marketing Fairfield

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Top 1% of REAL ESTATE Teams

in the Nation by the WSJ!

Julie Vanderblue Lori Auerbach

CEO, Vanderblue Team | President, Higgins Group Realtor®
203.257.6994 646.734.3514

Julie@Vanderblue.com Lori@Vanderblue.com

203-259-8326 | VANDERBLUE.COM

6 Greenfield Hill Neighbors January 2018 7