Jay QuigleyReal Estate Broker Associate, Florida Executive Realty · Tampa Bay REALTOR® & Real Estate Instructor | Helping Buyers, Sellers, Seniors, Military Relocation, Divorce and Probate Clients Make Confident Moves | Believer | Husband

Should You Remodel or Move to Age in Place in the Tampa Bay Area?

21 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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1:17

In this video, Jay Quigley advises older homeowners who have lived in their house for many years to carefully evaluate whether to stay and remodel for aging in place or to relocate to a 55+ community. He notes that fewer than 4% of existing homes already have age‑in‑place basics such as single‑floor living, no‑step entries, and wide hallways, meaning most people would need to remodel. He outlines that while some modifications (e.g., grab bars) are minor, larger projects like converting a bathroom to a walk‑in shower involve significant construction, noise, and dust. Quigley then presents an alternative: using the equity built up in the current home to purchase a residence in a 55+ community where accessibility features and amenities (fitness classes, social events) are already provided. He offers his Seniors Real Estate Specialist expertise to sit with homeowners, compare the remodeling versus moving options, and help them choose the path that best fits their lifestyle.

Chapters

If you've lived in your house for a long time, you've probably pictured staying there for good, or aging in place. But before you decide, here's what you should think about. Fewer than 4% of homes have the basics for aging in place, like single-floor living, no-step entries, and wide hallways. So for most people, staying put means remodeling. Now, some projects like adding grab bars are relatively small, but others like redoing a bathroom for a walk-in shower are bigger jobs. And you'd be living with the noise and dust of all that work while it gets done. But here's another option. After years in your house, you've probably built up a good amount of equity. That money could go toward a home in a 55+ community where important features are already built in and things like fitness classes and social events are just a short walk away. Not sure which way to go? Let's put my Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation to work. We can sit down and compare both paths, and you can make the choice that fits your life.