Selling Your Home to Move to Assisted Living
Selling Your Home to Move to Assisted Living: Where to Start
By Emily Cressey, Broker, HomePro Associates at Keller Williams Greater Seattle. Updated October 2026.
Dear Friend,
You may be reading this for yourself, or for a parent or someone you love. Either way, I imagine this is not an easy time. Leaving a home that holds a lifetime of memories is one of the hardest things a person does, and it is okay to feel sad, tired, or unsure where to begin.
I am Emily Cressey, a Seattle real estate broker. I am not a care planner or an attorney, and I do not recommend one community over another. What I can do is walk with you through selling the home, one step at a time and in the right order, and point you to the people who know the rest. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Assisted Living, Memory Care and Nursing Homes: What Is the Difference?
The names overlap, and every community describes its services a little differently. Here are plain-language starting points. Please ask each place what is included, what costs extra, and what happens if care needs change.
| Type | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| Independent living | A private apartment or cottage in a community, usually with meals and activities, and little or no hands-on care. |
| Assisted living | Help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing or medications, in a licensed community with your own apartment. |
| Memory care | A secure setting with staff trained for dementia and similar conditions. |
| Adult family home | A licensed care home in a regular house, with a small number of residents. Common in Washington. |
| Skilled nursing | Round-the-clock nursing care, for people with greater medical needs. |
Washington licenses adult family homes, assisted living and nursing facilities, and the state keeps public lookup tools. You can search adult family homes and read their inspection history with the state’s adult family home lookup.
Selling the House for a Parent Moving to Care: Step by Step
Here is the order I would suggest. We can go as slowly as you need.
- Who is able to sign? If the owner can no longer manage the sale, a power of attorney or a guardianship matters. Please talk to an elder law attorney before you list. This is the step that most often slows a sale down.
- What is the home worth? I will give you a free estimate, so you know what the sale could provide for the next place.
- Sell first or move first? Many families need the sale proceeds to pay for care, so the dates have to line up. I will show you the options, including a short stay in the home after closing (called a rent-back).
- The belongings. Decades of things and a short window. I can help line up cleanout, donation and estate sale help, so you are not carrying it all yourself.
- The sale itself. Listing, showings and closing, timed to the move-in date.
- Money and benefits. Selling a home can affect eligibility for some benefits. That is a question for an elder law attorney, and I will tell you when to ask it.
Helping a Parent Decide: Start With a Conversation
Please start with a conversation about what your parent wants, not what the house is worth. Bring in whoever else is part of the family decision, and agree on who will handle the paperwork. If your parent is still able to decide, the sale is theirs. My job is to make it as gentle as possible for them, and for you.
One practical tip: keep a folder with the deed, the latest property tax statement, the mortgage statement (if there is one), the power of attorney and a list of who has keys. It can save you days.
Three Common Plans for Selling a Home Around a Care Move
Most families I talk with end up with one of three plans: sell the house before the move, sell it after the move so there is time to clear it out, or make some repairs first. Each has trade-offs in cost, time and stress. We will pick the one that fits your dates and your budget, and we will keep it flexible.
Selling a Home for Assisted Living: Common Questions
Should we sell before or after the move?
It depends on the money and the calendar. If the sale proceeds pay for the new place, you may need to sell first. If not, moving first can give you time to clear the house and get a better price. I will lay out both on paper.
What if my parent can no longer sign?
Then you need a valid power of attorney or a court-appointed guardian. Please ask an elder law attorney before you list.
Do I have to fix the house before selling?
Not always. Some homes sell well as they are. I will tell you what I think is worth doing and what is not.
Will selling affect Medicaid or other benefits?
It can. That is a legal and financial question for an elder law attorney.
Can you recommend a community?
No. I do not rate or recommend care communities. I can point you to the state lookup tools and to professionals who help families choose.
How long does it take?
From the first call to closing, often one to three months, depending on the condition of the home and the move-in date. A rent-back can make the dates easier.
More Help for Families Selling Around a Care Move
For the downsizing side of this, see my downsizing guide for Seattle homeowners. If the home is part of an estate, see the Washington probate process.
Talk It Through With Me: Seattle Help for Families in a Care Move
If you are not sure where to begin, I can sit down with you and your family, walk through the home, and give you a rough timeline, with no pressure to list. Call or text me at (206) 245-8813, or book a time that works for you.
With care,
Emily Cressey
Broker, HomePro Associates at Keller Williams Greater Seattle
Office visits are by appointment: 1307 N 45th St #300, Seattle, WA 98103.
Serving King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. This page is general information and not legal, tax, medical or financial advice.