As we get older, short distances become increasingly important. A sprawling villa district in the countryside may seem appealing, but are doctors and shopping facilities within easy reach?

Being prepared for emergencies is a good idea at any age. However, this becomes increasingly important in retirement. What if you fall down the stairs? It is definitely good to have a hospital nearby. This ensures that an ambulance can get there quickly and you can receive prompt medical attention. It is also a great advantage for your partner, who will not have to travel far to visit you in the hospital.

In old age, walking becomes increasingly difficult and driving is no longer as much fun as it was when you were younger. Therefore, when choosing a place to live, you should make sure that food can be easily obtained on foot. Find out in advance whether there are supermarkets, smaller grocery stores, or other shops where you frequently need to buy things in the immediate vicinity of your new home.

The distance to family is another important factor when it comes to living in old age. After all, family is not only an important part of your social life, but also a great help in old age. If you ever need help or care, it would be ideal if your family could drop by at short notice and assist you. What's more, if you live close to your family, you have the opportunity to watch your grandchildren grow up and be there for them. As we all know, this is the best anti-aging remedy there is.

For most homeowners, age-appropriate features are not a priority during the construction phase of their home. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a forward-looking view of the future in order to keep additional costs and renovation work to a minimum later on: Do I have stairs that can be converted or rebuilt to make them age-appropriate if necessary? Do I have as few raised thresholds and structural obstacles as possible? Is the entrance area in front of the house easy for me to reach and can I enter the property even if I am no longer very steady on my feet? Are the sanitary facilities and shower(s) large enough to be upgraded with appropriate seating and handholds? Many construction companies have now recognized the market potential and offer conversions to create living spaces specially adapted for seniors: From accessibility to a separate area in the house for a caregiver, many measures can be financed through subsidies.

However, these conversions are not always structurally feasible. It is therefore important to consider how sensible it is to continue living at home. Ask yourself this question: Can I continue to live here without compromising my quality of life? If you have any concerns, selling or renting out your property may be an option.

Many owners would like to remain in their familiar home into old age, but would like to "liquidate" the considerable capital tied up in their property and use it to support themselves. The good news is that this is possible! In any case, it is important that a lifelong right of residence or usufruct is stipulated in the purchase agreement. You sell your house and receive a pension in return, which can be agreed as a lifelong or temporary monthly payment, a one-off payment, or a combination of both.

Anyone who has a right of residence should have it entered in the land register. This is the only way to ensure that it is legally secure. If it is not entered in the land register, it can be contested or even revoked, for example in the event of a change of ownership. If, on the other hand, the lifelong right of residence is entered in the land register, it cannot be withdrawn or terminated. In addition, it makes sense to grant yourself a right of reclaim. This allows you to reclaim the property if the children to whom it was transferred by gift become insolvent. The property is then protected from enforcement and instead reverts to the parents.

In contrast to the right of residence, the right of usufruct includes a right to use a property. This right is useful, for example, if the holder of the right of residence becomes in need of care and has to be looked after in a nursing home. In this case, the right of residence is of little use to them. The right of usufruct, on the other hand, also allows them to rent out the rooms they cannot or do not wish to live in themselves. The rental income can be used to finance care costs, but also provides a source of income if they emigrate or are absent from their place of residence for a longer period of time.

We know from our everyday work that many older homeowners are stuck in properties that no longer suit them. High demand and low supply in the real estate market often make it difficult to find something new, as the market has been completely cleared out. On the other hand, numerous young families are desperately looking for a house with a room for each family member and a garden where the children can play. A property swap would be just the right thing for both sides.

The best thing to do is to contact a local real estate agent. In principle, a property swap works no differently than a "normal" sale: each party buys the other's property, and the purchase agreements for both sales are, of course, properly concluded by a notary, for which the usual documents are required. with a notary, for which the usual documents are required. However, your big advantage if you have a property to offer in exchange is that there is much less competition than on the "open" real estate market. You differ from other prospective buyers in that, ideally, you can offer the seller exactly what they are urgently looking for—namely, your own property, which no longer suits you. This means that your search for a new home will be more successful.

If you enjoy the company of other people and want to be part of a community, living in a multi-generational home is an interesting alternative. After all, living together with grandparents, adults, and children offers a number of advantages. Each generation has something to offer the others. While the seniors play with the children or help them with their homework, the parents can work or take care of other things. In return, they help the seniors by driving them to the doctor or going shopping for them, for example.

However, if you prefer peace and quiet and are easily annoyed by children's laughter and shouting, this type of living arrangement is probably not for you. Many multigenerational projects also pursue a specific lifestyle and pay particular attention to sustainability or religion, for example. It is important to consider whether the lifestyle of the community fits in with your own lifestyle.