When a parent starts to talk about moving, the house usually isn't the first thing on anyone's mind. The first question is where she'll live. Maybe she can stay home with some help. Maybe a smaller place makes more sense, and you're wondering what it would cost.
Most families don't think much about selling until they know where Mom is going. That's a fine time to call me. I'm Lisa Dunn, a realtor with RE/MAX Results, and I help Minneapolis families with this kind of move.
While you work out where she'll live, I can come see the house and tell you what it's worth and what's worth fixing. Once there's a move date, we'll pick a time to sell that fits it.
You don't need to have it all figured out first. Plenty of families call me before they've decided anything.
Can she stay home with some help?
That's often the first thing to sort out, and there's free help for it.
Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) offers free statewide help comparing housing options, Medicare and long-term care.
1-800-333-2433, weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · mn.gov/board-on-aging
Hennepin County Front Door gives information and referrals for senior services.
612-348-4111, weekdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. · hennepincounty.gov
Longfellow/Seward Healthy Seniors is a Living at Home/Block Nurse program for older adults in the Longfellow, Seward, Cooper, Howe and Hiawatha neighborhoods. It offers nurse visits, rides and caregiver support.
612-729-5799 · lshealthyseniors.org
If you're not sure she wants to move at all, take the Stay, Modify or Move scorecard.
What senior cooperative and 55+ options are in Minneapolis?
There are fewer senior cooperatives in the city than you might expect. The seniorcooperatives.com directory lists two inside Minneapolis. Bloomington has six, and Burnsville has four.
Both Minneapolis co-ops are 55+. Becketwood, at 4300 W. River Pkwy. S. (55406), sits on wooded land along the Mississippi River. Nokomis Square, at 5015 35th Ave. S. (55417), is near Lake Nokomis.
If neither has an opening, two 55+ co-ops are just over the city line. Aquila Commons is in St. Louis Park, and Woodbridge Cooperative is in New Hope.
Co-op fees and openings change, so check seniorcooperatives.com for what's current. My senior co-ops page and Senior cooperative vs. condo explain how buying in works.
What if she'd rather rent?
Augustana Minneapolis, at 1510 11th Ave. S. (55404), has senior apartments plus independent and assisted living.
On Park Avenue, Loren on Park (Ebenezer, 2625 Park Ave.) has independent and assisted living for 55+. Ebenezer Park Apartments (2700 Park Ave.) has affordable senior apartments.
What if she needs more care?
Assisted living in Minneapolis licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health includes:
- Jones Harrison Senior Living on Cedar Lake Avenue
- Walker Place by Vivie (formerly Walker Methodist Place) on Bryant Ave. S. in East Lake Harriet
- Minnehaha Senior Living at 23rd Ave. S. and E. 38th St.
- Abiitan Mill City downtown
Before you sign anything, look up the license on the MDH website.
Should we sell the house before she moves?
It depends on whether she needs the money from the house to make the move, and on how long you can carry two homes. Once you know where she's going, we can talk it through.
Should you sell before moving to senior living? · "What will I net?" worksheet
What has to be fixed in an older Minneapolis house before it sells?
About 4 in 10 houses in Minneapolis were built in 1939 or earlier. If your parent has lived in one for a long time, she probably knows every sticky window and every repair she meant to get to. It's natural to worry about how much of that has to be done before anyone will buy it.
When I come out, we'll walk through the house together. I'll tell you which repairs are worth doing and which ones a buyer won't care about. If the move might be a year or two away, this free home review is a good place to start.
Who helps with the rest of the move?
I sell the house. If she needs help with her belongings, a move manager or an estate sale company can handle that part. I don't pack or run estate sales, but I work with them on timing. If there's an estate or trust involved, an attorney may be part of it too.
If the house belonged to a parent who has died, the steps are different. Start with Probate and inherited homes.
How do I choose a realtor for my parent's move?
I hold the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation, and I use that training to plan the sale around your parent's health and your family's schedule. My full checklist is in How to choose a realtor for seniors.
Do you come to the house in Minneapolis?
Yes. I come to homes anywhere in Minneapolis and the rest of Hennepin County. My office is in Edina.
Free 30-minute call
Not sure what comes first?
Whether the move is a year or two away or just a few weeks, I'll help you sort out what to do first. The call is free, and there's no pressure.
612-599-3484
Nearby areas: Edina · St. Paul · Bloomington
This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Please talk with an attorney, tax professional or financial advisor about your situation.