Children’s bedrooms left intact, a converted but empty attic, a large living room used only at Christmas… In France, hundreds of thousands of seniors live in houses designed for a family life that is no longer theirs. The Notariat Services survey, carried out among 1,990 owners, puts figures on this observation: 45% believe that their accommodation is no longer suitable, 32% objectively judge it too large, and 9 out of 10 have at least one unused room.
On paper, everything encourages them to move. But, in reality, the vast majority remains immobile, frozen between attachment to the family home, fear of losing money and concern to preserve the children’s inheritance. “Many seniors today live in homes designed for another era: large family buildings of 6 or 7 pieceswith garden and stairs, perfectly maintained but become unsuitable for their lifestyle. The paradox is that these goods no longer really meet current demand either.notes Yann Vettraino, director of the Address Success agency in Serris (77).
Falling prices, rising expectations: the reality shock
When it comes time to sell, many homeowners notice that their large house is not worth the expected price. Located on the outskirts, energy-intensive, requiring work, it is less attractive than recent, well-located apartments. “Owners often refuse this discount. They prefer to wait, sometimes until the inheritance, which freezes a significant part of the French real estate stock”observes Yann Vettraino. Result: for fear of “selling off” their property, many seniors give up on a project that is nevertheless necessary for their comfort and health.
Succession: the mistake of waiting too long
Many families postpone the decision until later, telling themselves that the children will manage. Bad calculation, warns the professional: “The most common mistake is towait for the succession to address this issue. Due to a lack of anticipation and information on existing solutions, many owners keep a property that is not at all suited to their needs.” In the end, heirs are sometimes forced to sell quickly, below the market, to settle the estate or finance entry into a nursing home. Anticipating while you are alive, on the contrary, allows you to choose the right time, the right price and the right rehousing project.
Life annuity, dismemberment… tools for rehousing without dispossessing yourself
However, there are solutions to adapt your home without sacrificing your assets. “Mechanisms such as life annuity or other asset solutions make it possible to organize the transition smoothly, preserve the value of assets and prevent heirs from being forced to sell quickly at a price below the market”underlines Yann Vettraino. Occupied life annuity, dismemberment of property, sale with purchase of a smaller but better located home, with the support of a notary or an advisor, seniors can transform a house that has become too large into a new start, more comfortable and often more peaceful for the whole family.
