High Point, NC · Guilford County, Davidson County, Forsyth County, Randolph County
Senior Transition Advisor for the family home in High Point, NC
By Ryan Riggins, Senior Transition Advisor for the family home, NC broker #361546, eXp Realty
Updated
When a parent in High Point moves to senior living, hold off on listing the house until you know who can sign, how long the money lasts against the community's fee sheet, and whether selling, renting or keeping makes sense. Then check which county the house is in. High Point is the only city in North Carolina that sits in four counties, and the answer decides which tax office, register of deeds and DSS you'll deal with.
I'm Ryan Riggins, a licensed North Carolina broker with eXp Realty, based in Greensboro next door. I help High Point families decide the house question before anyone lists it, and I never take the listing.
What I do, in one sentence.
A Senior Transition Advisor for the family home helps a family decide what happens to a parent's house before anyone lists it: the funding math against the community's fee sheet, who can legally sign, and sell, rent or keep. If selling, one vetted local agent. Not a mover, not a placement agent, never the listing agent.
More on what a Senior Transition Advisor for the family home is, and isn’t.
Four counties. Find yours on the tax bill.
Most of High Point is in Guilford County, but parts of the city limits reach into Davidson, Forsyth and Randolph counties. Two houses a few miles apart can have different tax offices, different property tax relief paperwork and a different register of deeds.
The fastest way to know: look at your parent's property tax bill. The county that sent it is the one that matters for everything on this page.
What’s specific to a High Point house.
Each county runs its own property tax relief desk.
The Homestead Exclusion and the Circuit Breaker are statewide, but you apply through the county. Guilford County Tax Department; Davidson County Tax Assessor, 336-242-2160; Forsyth County Tax Administration, 336-703-2300; Randolph County Tax Department, 336-318-6500. The deadline is June 1 in all four.
The power of attorney goes to the right register of deeds.
North Carolina requires a power of attorney to be registered with the register of deeds before a deed signed under it is recorded, in the county where your parent lives or where the house is. In High Point, don't assume it's Guilford. The closing attorney will file it, but the county on the tax bill tells you where.
An empty house can keep its exclusion. A rented one may not.
Under North Carolina law, an extended stay in a rest home or nursing home doesn't cost your parent the Homestead Exclusion, as long as the house is empty or only a spouse or dependent lives there. If you're thinking about renting it, ask that county's tax office first.
None of this is legal or tax advice. Signing authority, deeds and Medicaid belong with an elder law attorney, and the tax side of a sale belongs with a CPA. I tell you when you need one and what to ask.
Local help worth a call.
From my county Senior Help Directories. Start with the county on the tax bill, and confirm details before you rely on them.
- Guilford side: Guilford County DSS, 336-641-3000
Medicaid, energy help and food benefits. Meals on Wheels for High Point and Jamestown through Senior Resources of Guilford: 336-884-6981. - Davidson side: Davidson County Senior Services, 336-242-2290
Local aging programs, meals and caregiver help. Davidson County DSS is 336-242-2500. - Randolph side: Randolph Senior Adults Association, 336-625-3389
The county's lead agency on aging, with a senior center in Archdale. Randolph County DSS is 336-683-8000. - Forsyth side: Senior Services Inc., 336-724-2040
The Forsyth hub for anyone 60 and older. Forsyth County DSS Adult Intake is 336-703-3501. - Legal Aid of NC, Senior Law Project
Legal Aid of North Carolina's Senior Law Project: free civil legal help for anyone 60 or older, including powers of attorney and Medicaid. Senior Legal Helpline 1-877-579-7562, weekdays 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
The full lists: Guilford County Senior Help Directory, Davidson County Senior Help Directory, Randolph County Senior Help Directory, Forsyth County Senior Help Directory.
How working with me goes.
- 1. A free 20-minute call. Phone or video. Bring the community’s fee sheet if you have it, and the power of attorney if there is one. You’ll leave knowing what to do first.
- 2. The funding math. The fee sheet next to what your parent actually has: income, savings, and what the house would really net. How many months does the money last, with the house and without it?
- 3. A written plan, if you want one. The Senior Transition Roadmap is free, by application: an intake form, a call with me, a written plan we build together, a follow-up call and 90 days of email support.
- 4. Sell, rent or keep, on purpose. I lay the three side by side. Here’s how sell, rent and keep compare.
- 5. If selling, one vetted local agent. I refer one agent I’ve vetted for this kind of sale and tell you why that one. I never take the listing.
What it costs: nothing to your family. If you sell, the agent I refer pays me a referral fee at closing out of the commission, through eXp Realty. If you rent, keep or wait, I’m not paid at all.
If your mom or dad is moving right now, start with what to do with the house when Mom moves to assisted living.
Common questions
Questions from High Point families.
What county is my parent's High Point house in?
Most of High Point is in Guilford County, but parts are in Davidson, Forsyth and Randolph. The property tax bill tells you for sure. That county's tax office, register of deeds and DSS are the ones you'll use.
What do we do with a parent's High Point house when they move to assisted living?
Settle three things before anyone lists it: who can legally sign, how long the money lasts against the community's fee sheet, and whether to sell, rent or keep. Take the Medicaid and tax questions to an elder law attorney and a CPA. If you sell, bring in one vetted local agent.
Where do we apply for senior property tax relief in High Point?
Through the county the house is in: Guilford County Tax Department, Davidson County Tax Assessor (336-242-2160), Forsyth County Tax Administration (336-703-2300) or Randolph County Tax Department (336-318-6500). The deadline is June 1.
What does it cost to work with you on a High Point house?
Nothing to the family. If you sell, the agent I refer pays me a referral fee at closing out of the commission, through eXp Realty. If you rent, keep or wait, I'm not paid at all.
Other cities: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill. Or see every city I serve.
Talk to me before anyone lists the High Point house.
A free 20-minute call. It costs your family nothing.
Ryan Riggins, NC Real Estate Broker #361546, eXp Realty. Not legal, tax or financial advice.