Get House Smart: Tips for Aging in Place

From Brothers Redevelopment:

Did you know Brothers’ professional housing counselors and navigators stand in the corner of all homeowners — including older homeowners hoping to age in place.

You probably know about housing nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment Inc. for its Colorado Housing connects helpline, free one-on-one counseling and award-winning homebuyer and renter-focused educational workshops.

We also can help homeowners better understand and protect the investment in their home, as well as guide them on other financial and budget considerations that can make them more secure.

Together we can get “house smart!” There is no charge for these services because they are funded by grants from community partners.

Housing Counseling can cover whatever you want to know about. Here are some topics you might want to consider:

• Shopping for homeowner’s insurance: What to know about rates and checking the reasonableness of provisions
• Budgeting for homeowner’s insurance on a fixed or limited income
• Preventing housing insecurity: strategies to prevent or remedy property tax delinquency, mortgage delinquency and other pitfalls
• Protecting your equity: Avoiding scams and below-market purchase offers; understanding home resale value and comps
• Exploring options for budget-stretching, property value-boosting home repairs
• Refinancing pros and cons
• Connecting with trustworthy reverse mortgage counseling

And, for older Coloradans, Brothers’ Aging in Place Initiative offers a full-slate of customized guidance on preparing for retirement and then thriving beyond retirement, including:

• Budget planning for monthly expenses likely in your future
• Identifying potential budget savings, including available benefits for seniors, such as programs for food, transportation, energy savings and other utilities
• Maintaining the home as it ages — and its owners age — by planning for costs as more projects are hired out
• Preparing for future mobility issues through timely home modification
• Keeping a good credit score by using credit, even when credit isn’t needed
• Maintaining photo IDs needed for medical care and other necessities
• If 65 or older (and have owned your home long enough), we help you get a 50 percent break in property taxes up to $200,000 of value
• Estate planning, including wills and who is on property deeds, bank accounts, etc.
• Creative planning for long-term sustainability; maximizing income through available benefits and resources, home sharing and other types of supports and networks.

Call us for more information: 303-685-4216 or 1-844-926-6632
Or email: cindyl@brothersredevelopment.org

About Brothers Redevelopment Inc: Established in 1971, Brothers Redevelopment is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides a range of housing solutions for the region’s low-income, elderly and disabled residents. Its helpline Colorado Housing Connects is the only statewide resource of its kind.

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.