So hello everyone and welcome to our distinctive women webinar series
My name is Ashley Robson with distinctive women here with us today. We have a Vivian Sharon Vivian is
realtor a real estate broker with Sotheby's International
And she's here today to chat with us about a couple of different topics
She is a realtor she both lives and works in the Yorkville Toronto area and she
Specializes in working with boomers who are going through that transition
downsizing transition so welcome Vivien
Thank you so much pleasure to be here
Yes are a pleasure to have you so as I mentioned. We're going to discuss a couple of different topics
We're actually going to start off with a little bit of a different topic which is
technology and social media trends and
kind of overcoming or having the courage to overcome the fear of
Adapting new technology within a specific industries or every industry as well as social media
Trends and a Vivian has been fantastic
At this and just embracing everything that technology and social media has to offer so Vivien
Why don't you tell us about your experience with adopting these trends and?
Kind of just going along with the learning curves and overcoming the fear of getting used to them
Okay, thank you my pleasure to be here today. I think in any business one has to be very
aggressive in learning the newest trends in technology
Otherwise you get left behind that goes for any industry at all in real estate
in particular, that's the industry I practice every day and I
realized early on that
Everything to do with social media and
technology would put me to a higher level in this business and in order to succeed I
Realized that I had to hire somebody an expert to help me because when I came into this business quite a while back
my skills were really lacking and I was very very aware that not only did I have to deal with all the forms the
real estate forms in this business you have to know how to save them and Dropbox and move things to here and there and
All the social media and technology regarding computer skills are beyond important
So I hired an expert a young millennial
Twenty-something, and I said to him you really have to help me because I do know real estate
But all the technology that goes behind it is
Absolutely crucial we do need to know that 85% of people shop for homes buyer, or seller's
if they're selling and
Thinking of buying they do this online and we know this statistic from the National Association of Realtors in the u.s.
So if you are not computer savvy if you do not have a Facebook account
Personal and business which was the first thing I have to do and learn how to to use it properly then LinkedIn Twitter
Instagram today, which of course is owned by Facebook is so important
certainly for the Millennial audience and
I realized that that that's something relatively new for me that I had to embrace
The other thing is videos video is extremely important, so I do a lot of work with videos new listings meeting clients
Testimonials out there on the street talking about Yorkville
meeting clients everywhere
Video is probably the number one tool that
I'd have to use so all I can say is if you want to be successful in any business and in real estate
You have to be technology savvy and keep going to the next level, which is what I try to do as best I can
And it can be scary it can be overwhelming because there's so many different outlets out there
But just everybody should be like Vivian it just overcome the fear give it a try and see how it goes
Every day I work with fear, and I just overcome it. No matter. What even doing this right?
Do it just do it and do it
So next question is related directly to Vivian's area of expertise so
We want to talk about
Downsizing so Vivien is very very passionate and extremely educated on
Downsizing and when you think about downsizing there are a lot
of things that people may or may not think of when
Addressing the topic so the first thing is who does this topic of downsizing appeal to Vivien?
great question
One would think it's only for an older audience, and I'll be honest with you. It's not
When you talk about downsizing, it's really three levels of
interest and people
demographically it would be the young 30 to 40 year old who have
Parents who are 60 65 plus who are in these large suburban family homes?
Which they've loved these kids have lived there all their life
And now they're grown adults or 30 40 and they see their parents are like in this big house no kids at home
they're all you know married or out of the house or students and
They see that the second level is boomers like myself. Those. That are 55 plus plus
They're thinking of downsizing and the third are boomers again like myself who have seen your parents
so this is the third level I have a 90 plus year-old mother and
She is in her condo still with a caregiver
However, I'm a typical example of a boomer and boomers are something like 29 percent of the population in Canada
Huge and growing they have parents, and we have to think what are we doing to help our parents?
So it's three levels of people that downsizing addresses in real estate
Yep, so Vivian. You've dealt with it directly with your mother
You've also gone through the process of being in your own home and down ours into a condo in Yorkville
What you love so yeah when you're when you're chatting with clients
What are some of the main questions you address with them when they might be contemplating that move to a smaller space well
I'll be honest with you
there are many questions first of all they have to overcome the fear of change, and it's a partner husband and wife or
Spouses that have to agree that they're thinking of potentially making this change
They have to hopefully have a positive attitude. They've grown the family now. It's their time
It's their time if they have good health they can well
That's one aspect
they can make a change and decide to sell the suburban home and
Move to the city or move downtown or Liz near to their children and the benefits would be an easier
lifestyle a more
cost-efficient lifestyle because if you don't have a large family home to maintain the roof the garden the snow shoveling and
The safety when you want to travel and go away who's watching the house
There is a an ease to thinking of downsizing when the couple are on board
Or if you know you're one a single
That it will make make for a much easier
Lifestyles, so that's really very important
We find it happens also to couples who are going through a divorce. They have to they have to by circumstance
It's not just by choice. That was the first thing I spoke about
They might have to downsize because they need to maximize the dollar they have to sell their home
They have to cash out and if a couple is divorced or a spouse's has passed away
They have to downsize by necessity, or if there's a health problem we find that more and more if someone has fallen
Or has a hip problem
can't handle steps or knee problems whatever they have no choice, but to downsize so it's by a necessity or
by choice, which is when you're well and you want to just
Have a new lifestyle. They make a make a change
Yeah, so not just in moving homes
But in life in general a lot of people can be reluctant to change change can be hard for very people for many many people
Yes for a lot of people so once you do overcome this reluctance to change
There's so many benefits
And you just touched on some I think that financial is financial aspects are a huge benefit as well
What other benefits would you say with the?
Would be advantageous to those looking into downsizing well
I would say certainly creating the first thing the financial aspect when one sells a large home
And I'm just giving a typical example of the Toronto real estate market
It's certainly not everywhere like this, but let's say a suburban home in North York
Approximately two million dollars is what it takes
I think that's the average price of the sale of a house in North York
And if one decides to downsize to move to I'll give a geographic area
My clients seem to be interested in
the Yorkville area the
Waterfront one or two have told me they and I moved them to the beach area they want to walk their dog and their
You know change in lifestyle a few young and st.
Clair that I mean, I know I'm trying my clients
And I know I'm hearing the Midtown downtown core and someone is stay in sorry near their children, which could be
You know in the young shepherd young Lawrence
Area as well so it's a change in location
And a change in lifestyle, so let's say that would cost them about a million dollars. They've sold for two million dollars
They will net in their pocket just under a million dollars because there are
Realty fees Commission fees moving fees and legal fees involved
So there's almost a million dollars that they have never in their pocket. They have a retirement fund
They can use this money, and they can put it toward wonderful things such as build their equity
Invest it with wonderful like money managers who will bring them a good return
And I have great information on people that I can you know recommend that will maximize one's dollar
They will have freedom to travel. They will be able to save money
They can go if they want to live in the city from they won't need a car
I see this every day, and I live this every day to two to three days a week
I don't need my car you take the TTC you go to meetings you meet people you go to theatres you go to restaurants
It's just a an
Easier lifestyle it's your time
You've done it the kids are grown and I see a lot of people just want to have a good time and ease their life
Yeah, and I mean again
That's that's specific to the Toronto market
But it can be trans transferred into every market because every city has a downtown core
It's typically condos are easy access so you can walk everywhere
Are you lots of entertainment the amenities as well so I mean a lot of them have fitness facilities and stuff like that so
at the end of the day
Buying a condo isn't for everyone crew
Downsizing is still regardless your area of expertise so if someone is not ready to buy a condo
What are some other choices if they are really considering that or interested in that downsizing transition?
correct very good question
I would say the majority of people do go the condo route, and I'll tell you the other options
Why do they do that?
Because they want to still own something they were raised and bred you have to own something and I can't and I don't feel comfortable
Renting so you have I would say 80% of clients out there, and I've dealt with many they still want to buy
They pay their maintenance fee. They pay their property taxes, and they're comfortable with owning something, too
Eventually for their kids kind of thing if they sell, but that's the one option and the most popular one however
It's not for everybody I have found that there are some people that don't really know where they want to live and they don't want
To spend all this money to buy a condo
And they don't really like condo living or they don't like that location so what's a great option to rent a great option?
Is to rent in the area where you are thinking of potentially buying and give it a one year lease?
Maybe two at the most maybe two at the most two will lock you in for two years
so I find most people do the one-year lease renewable month by month after and they decide do they like this and
Maybe they stay on leasing
Or maybe they decide I like this neighborhood or maybe I want to move more close to the water
I maybe prefer to be in another neighborhood and
Then they decide to buy but leasing is definitely an option another option. That's very popular in the u.s.
that's come becoming a little more popular, but not as prevalent here in Canada is the
multi-generational family living so that means that
You have two to three generations or even four living in one house you might think oh my goodness
That's crazy, but it helps with babysitting it helps when you've seen your parents that let's Annie a Boomer
I know my mother's okay, because she lives in like my house
that's we had an ad on or one ads on a certain wing or has a
You have to have a large home to do this
Let's be honest where you have boomer parents, and you have maybe the grandchildren living there for whatever
Circumstances then their and your children and perhaps an elderly parent that's not the most common, but it does happen
Also another option, I'm finding is a smaller home or townhome if one can handle the steps
so
In the scenario they don't want a condo they don't want to rent. They're not gonna do
Multi-generational living they might say you know what I love my house. I love my garden
I'm just gonna sell my large suburban house and buy something smaller, but it'll be detached
Semi-detached or a townhome, so those are the options last thing if you have a senior parent like I do
Assisted living might that is for the senior element
They you have to think of can you live in this condo the can you be there with a caregiver?
Can you not afford the condo anymore?
Maybe you're better with other people not home alone all the time
Assisted living is a wonderful alternative for the senior market, and I get involved in that and helping them transition
to to make the right choices for them
ya know, that's wonderful and
obviously
Viviane is not just a real estate broker
but she's very very educated on this topic and
Actually less than 30 people in the country have the credentials that Vivian has so with that. It's not just buying and selling
different sized homes, but it's the whole package that comes with it in the contacts and
Education expertise and advice that she can offer as well
Yes, well thank you that that's very true, there is a
Specialty that I have taken and every year I must
Take the courses involved and renew it is called the accredited master accredited senior agent
Aasa which is under my title broker because I have taken days of courses renew that you must take and
It involves everything you need to know about dealing with the senior and the boomer and your market
And I just don't get involved in the transaction getting the deal done sell the house
Buy the work with them as a purchaser for a condo or wherever I sit with the family
You must sit with the Boomer kids
And you must sit with the senior parent together and everyone must be in the room together
you can't just address one side or the other I
You have to sit down with them, and also my specialty is
Bringing in experts. I have a network of exceptional experts who help in the trans
transition not the transaction, that's the deal itself I do that too, but I help in my specialty is helping the
transition process I have lawyers
accountants
Stagers handyman painters
Declares contractors and the lists about 40 people who I have at my fingertips
To help with this awesome task and daunting task of a house that people have owned for 40 years
And they don't have a clue what to do. How do you even begin?
to get the house ready
Who do I need to?
talk to and about the Wills and the estates and the finances and a
visit so I sit down and have a network of a huge bunch of people that I
Advise and help with the transition and that is the specialty that I've been trained in addition to the real estate
sale
Itself so we do have some people on the webinar from Toronto we do have others on the webinar from across Canada so but we
Are a community of distinctive women so I just wanted to put it out there that?
if anybody is in Toronto and going through this process Vivian is the person to talk to but as a
Community if there's anybody outside of Toronto that has some questions, or just wants to seek advice
Vivian is the best person just to chat with as well about this some this transition and for anybody in Toronto
Specifically Vivian does have an event coming up
it is a free event there's only 25 spaces at the event and she just wanted to open it up to the
Distinctive women community, so it's June 6th
It's called the big question is now at the right time to downsize so Vivian
We just have about a minute last
You let everybody know if anyone is interested in coming as your offer for the distinctive women community
Maybe tell them a little bit about the event
Yes, this is an exclusive event it's on all my social media and evite has gone out if anyone is interested
Please please contact me. I think Ashley will give you my contact information
But basically just Google me Vivian Sharon calm. You'll find me and basically it is inviting people on the three levels
I said either you are a young
3040 year old you have parents who you
Really like to invite to come to this event to hear the things you need to know or you're a boomer or have older parents
So who will be on the who will be speaking it will be an expert a lawyer who deals with wills estates
trusts how to handle
Your affairs from a legal point of view the second speaker is a very well-known man, who's on TV all the time on
Local television, and he is a financial guru wealth manager
And he can net people and a return for their money once
They sell their home
Probably one of the best returns one can get so he is is there free
Meaning that these these speakers are giving of their time this event is free
We already have a lot of people interested, and it's the first 25 to register
I will be the host and I will be giving the five top tips you need to know to ensure a smooth and convenient
Downsize for you or for your parents so if you would like to attend I would encourage you to contact me on my website
Vivian Sharon comm and
Because I'm pretty well halfway sold that sold free. It's free, but halfway sold out so
Yeah, that's fantastic though
We don't have any questions at this point we do have a comment
Amazing services Vivian everyone should be aware of your specialty and thank you so much
Yes, so thank you Vivian so much for taking the time to be here with us today
I learned a lot out of this webinar, and I hope everybody else did as well, so thank you for sharing your expertise
Thank you, my pleasure. Thank you. Have a great day. Thank you. Bye
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