With a last name like “Flahaven,” it seems as if Michael Flahaven was born to help people buy and sell homes in Orlando, Florida. This southern haven of sunshine - in the state sometimes referred to as “Fla” – is tailor-made for a real estate agent like Mike who believes strongly in 2 core values:

1.   Personal responsibility, and

2.   Old-fashioned full-service.

Well-versed in the many palm tree-lined neighborhoods, attractive amenities, and bountiful lifestyles of Greater Orlando including Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, Michael enjoys the same sun-filled, outdoorsy, and adventurous life experience that awaits the many who will call Central Florida “home” in the years to come.

While he serves clients of all ages and life situations (and secretly loves helping families and young adults find their Orlando dream or vacation homes) he also became aware a few years back of the complex real estate needs of Orlando's older adults.

“We all know that seniors and boomers (adults 55+) alike often face a unique and more difficult set of emotional, financial, and logistical challenges when it comes time to sell or purchase a home,” says Michael. To better serve these clients, Flahaven made the decision to set forth on a journey of continuing education. Earning the designation of Certified Senior Housing Professional from the Seniors Real Estate Institute, a prestigious course of training and ongoing education, Michael added massive expertise to his already impressive real estate resume so that he could better serve his older clientele.

“We train our Certified Senior Housing Professionals – like Michael – to be advocates, advisers, and business partners with their clients while helping them to navigate the complexities of downsizing,” says Nikki Buckelew, founder and president of the Seniors Real Estate Institute, an Austin, Texas based organization. “People like Michael Flahaven already have a passion for advocacy when they come to us – we just better equip them with more tools and resources to serve the downsizing senior in their local market.”

Whether it's a boomer or younger senior simply downsizing to a smaller apartment or condo, or an elderly senior in need of a late-in-life transition to a retirement or senior living community, Flahaven is specifically trained to guide each individual, couple, or caregiver family, through an often overwhelming aging and relocation process.

"There are too many scams and abuses directed toward the senior homeowner," Michael asserts. "I want to be a trusted resource for family caregivers and also see my elder adult clients age-in-place gracefully. It's about providing seniors the respect and dignity they deserve, while ensuring that the entire moving process is as successful and stress-free as possible for all involved."

A portion of Michael's affinity for working with senior home-buyers and sellers in Central Florida stems from his own experience as a family caregiver. "Both my grandmother and great aunt were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in the 80’s and early 90’s respectively. I was tasked with serving as the executor for my great aunt -- with both medical decision making and financial responsibilities," he notes. “While emotionally and physically challenging, this experience has better equipped me to meet the needs of other families with similar circumstances