{"id":26493,"date":"2024-10-21T06:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=26493"},"modified":"2026-03-27T07:09:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:09:36","slug":"can-a-person-with-dementia-sell-their-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/can-a-person-with-dementia-sell-their-house\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help a Loved One With Dementia Sell Their House"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning that a parent or spouse has dementia<\/a> can leave you reeling. Even if the symptoms are mild \u2014 Mom\u2019s been losing her purse more often and missed some appointments \u2014 you know the day is coming when she won\u2019t be able to manage her affairs or live on her own. As you contemplate her future and the cost of care, you wonder if a person with dementia can sell their home.<\/p>\n

The answer is yes. But it\u2019s essential to understand the complex legal issues related to an individual with dementia\u2019s rights, as well as what you can do to help them sell their house. With expert advice, we created this guide to help you navigate this often-difficult journey.<\/p>\n

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How Much Is Your Home Worth Now?<\/h3>\n

Home values have rapidly increased in recent years. How much is your current home worth now? Get a ballpark estimate from HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Estimate<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dealing with a dementia diagnosis<\/h2>\n

Triggered by abnormalities in the brain, dementia is an umbrella term that covers a variety of medical conditions.<\/a> Alzheimer\u2019s is responsible for 60% to 80% of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n

A dementia diagnosis doesn\u2019t strip away a person\u2019s power to make their own choices. This is true even for major financial transactions, like selling a house.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimply being diagnosed with dementia doesn\u2019t mean someone lacks the capacity to sell their home,\u201d explains attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell<\/a>, shareholder of Hook Law Center, P.C. and former president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).<\/a> \u201cThey still have the same rights as everyone else \u2014 that\u2019s really important to remember. They have the right to find a Realtor\u00ae, list their house, and go to closing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be a strong ally<\/h3>\n

While you can\u2019t sign sales documents for someone with dementia, you can help them avoid costly mistakes. For example, you can help review contracts to make sure everything is in order. You can be with them when they meet with a real estate agent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe diagnosed person is still in charge, but a loved one can guide them,\u201d says McDowell.<\/p>\n

You can also help them find a real estate agent experienced in working with seniors. Look for someone who\u2019s a designated Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)<\/a>, like Susan Fixsen,<\/a> a top-producing agent based in Hollister, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny kind of extra knowledge or education around senior life transitions, and how to successfully communicate with them, is important,\u201d says Fixsen.<\/p>\n

Designated SRES\u2019s also have access to articles and other resources on a variety of topics pertaining to seniors in transition, including information on new forms and changes to laws pertaining to those with dementia. If you need assistance in finding a real estate agent with the right experience, HomeLight would be happy to introduce you to some qualified candidates<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A dementia diagnosis doesn\u2019t strip away a person\u2019s power to make their own choices. This is true even for major financial transactions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":277,"featured_media":49463,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[220,319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-downsizing","category-selling-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Help a Loved One With Dementia Sell Their House<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A dementia diagnosis doesn\u2019t strip away a person\u2019s power to make their own choices. 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This is true even for major financial transactions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/can-a-person-with-dementia-sell-their-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HomeLight Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gohomelight\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T13:00:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T14:09:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/can-a-person-with-dementia-sell-their-house.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"563\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dorothy O'Donnell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dorothy O'Donnell\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Help a Loved One With Dementia Sell Their House","description":"A dementia diagnosis doesn\u2019t strip away a person\u2019s power to make their own choices. 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