Lisa Dunn, SRES®, CSA®: Twin Cities REALTOR® for older adults

Is Lisa Dunn with RE/MAX Results or another brokerage?

I'm with RE/MAX Results in Edina, Minnesota, and I'm not affiliated with any other brokerage. I lead The Change Agents Group with RE/MAX Results, at 7700 France Ave S #230, Edina, MN 55435.

What do SRES®, CSA®, CSREC, GRI and SFR® mean?

These are designations focused on the clients I serve. I've been licensed since 2003.

• SRES®: Seniors Real Estate Specialist® designation from the National Association of REALTORS®. I also teach the SRES® course to other agents.
• CSA®: Certified Senior Advisor®, from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. I've held it since 2005.
• CSREC: Certified Senior Real Estate Consultant, from Senior Advantage Academy, which I founded for agents.
• GRI: Graduate, REALTOR® Institute.
• SFR®: Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource.

What experience does Lisa have with senior moves?

How I got here

I came to real estate while I was changing careers. I had worked as a health care consultant, and I knew I wanted to work with seniors. My sister-in-law told me, "You can do anything in real estate, give it a try." My husband and I worked on a couple of rehab projects together, I took a real estate class, and the rest is history. I've now worked in real estate longer than I've done anything else, and it's the best thing I've ever done.

My years in health care gave me an inside look at the maze of senior services. That still shapes how I work: calm, patient, and one step at a time.

Who I help

Some of my clients are downsizing. Some are moving to senior living or a senior cooperative. Some are selling a home they've lived in for decades, and some are moving because of a health crisis. My role might be explaining options, being a resource and an advocate, or representing you in negotiations.

As REALTORS®, we often meet people during a stressful time, when they may not be at their best. That's when I get to make the biggest difference. I enjoy sitting down with people who feel stuck and helping them find a clear next step.

Adult children are welcome in the conversation, and the homeowner always stays the decision-maker. It's not just about the house.

Why checking early matters

A 96-year-old client of mine was selling a family home. Before listing, we checked the title and found that a deceased grandparent still had a recorded interest. Nobody in the family knew. Because we found it early, we had months to fix it instead of losing the sale at closing.

Teaching and training

I hold the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation from the National Association of REALTORS®, and I teach the SRES® course to other agents. I've been a Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®) since 2005. I also hold the GRI and SFR® designations.

I founded Senior Advantage Academy, which trains agents to serve older clients safely and well, and its CSREC certification. I'm a professional real estate coach with Workman Success Systems. I've consulted with the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® to develop courses on serving older adults, and I contributed to the LeadingAge certification course.

This fall I'm teaching "The Truth about Senior Services: What No One Tells You (But Should)" for OLLI at the University of Minnesota.

I also publish SeniorCooperatives.com, the Minnesota Senior Cooperative Directory, where co-ops can list vacancies for free.

From 2020 to 2021 I hosted the Change AGEnts podcast, with conversations about senior housing, Alzheimer's support and the decisions families face when a parent moves.

Where I work

I'm a Minnesota native. I serve the seven-county Twin Cities metro and go wherever my clients are, from a Minneapolis high-rise to a suburban senior cooperative. My mission is to positively influence as many people as I can. For me, that means walking alongside older adults and their families as they decide on their next move.

If you or someone you love is thinking about a move, call or text me at 612-599-3484, or book a free 30-minute call.

You can read how I work, see where I speak, or read what clients say. Agents can learn about my training on For agents.

Who else is on the team?

I lead The Change Agents Group with RE/MAX Results. If you'd like to work with us, see Join our team.

Where can I find Lisa online?

• LinkedIn
• RE/MAX agent profile
• Zillow
• HomeLight
• Society of Certified Senior Advisors directory
• Change AGEnts podcast (2020–2021)
• Workman Success Systems coach profile

How do I start?

Book a free 30-minute call, or request a home review if you're thinking about selling. You can also contact me directly.