When she hit age 70, a teacher married to a university dean anticipated a long and rewarding retirement. But that was before the dean died from a rare disease. Suddenly, the teacher became a widow.

The wife’s new status feels emotionally overwhelming. It’s also raising numerous questions about her housing plans. Should she sell the couple’s commodious Tudor house and move to a retirement community? Or should she retrofit the suburban property to age in place?

Cindy Hounsell, president of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (wiserwomen.org), doesn’t know the teacher in this true story. But she urges any woman entering widowhood to make real estate decisions slowly and thoughtfully.

“For every widow, the answers are different. You have to figure out your own thing. That requires forethought and good counsel,” she says.

Hounsell’s nonprofit organization, known informally as “WISER,” helps guide women through secure and satisfying elder years. It operates as a national clearinghouse for tools and information on retirement planning, including complex financial issues.

“Our goal is to advocate for the economic security of all older women, but especially those with low to moderate incomes,” Hounsell says.

To advance its mission, WISER sponsors numerous events and publications, including those focused on the needs of widows struggling with housing challenges. One brochure, called “Going It Alone: A Guide for Widows,” includes step-by-step advice for newly widowed women on how to evaluate their real estate options. This 18-page booklet is available free of charge from WISER’s website.

Obviously, all housing decisions carry financial implications, and many widows face income limits in retirement. But Hounsell says there are several ways widows can handle a housing change within their means. For example, some widows wishing to stay in a long-time residence might consider finding a housemate who helps cover mortgage and utility expenses, along with property taxes. Another option would be to sell a large house and use the proceeds to buy a smaller one-level residence.

Patricia Nowak, the author of “The ABC’s of Widowhood,” agrees with Hounsell that it’s ideal for widows to delay making major housing moves until they are emotionally ready.

“If you can afford to wait, don’t make any big decisions for the first six months, because you’re in a fog for at least that long,” says Nowak, who was widowed at 47 after her husband died in a car accident.

Loneliness and confusion make it especially tough for widows -- who outnumber widowers -- to determine the best possible life trajectory for themselves after a spouse is gone. Nowak says their first order of business should be to organize their finances.

Though many young women now take a vital interest in money matters, she says those who become widowed at a later age often need financial counsel to make solid choices. But she advises against turning to relatives for such help, because they typically lack objectivity.

“Don’t hire that cousin for your accountant, attorney or real estate adviser. People who do business with family are often left in a bad way,” Nowak says.

Rather, she recommends seeking advice from neutral third parties whose names you obtain through business or professional associates, just as you would if hiring an employee at work.

Arlen Olberding, a financial planner affiliated with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (napfa.org), says widows who own a big family house should think carefully before deciding to sell and move to a small condo.

“Trading down to a condo can have financial benefits -- including a reduction in energy costs and upkeep demands. Yet after taking your monthly condo fees into account, you may save less than expected. And your lifestyle could be compromised,” Olberding says.

Here are a few pointers for widows (and widowers):

-- Consider housing choices as part of your overall financial plan.

Mark Nash, a real estate analyst and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home,” says many people see their real estate choices in isolation from their larger plans and dreams. But where you live can affect your lifestyle in important ways.

To whom should you turn to help chart your lifestyle planning for the next stage of your life? Nash says that sometimes a real estate agent who’s willing to listen to your story (and won’t push you to sell) is a good bet.

“Besides consulting a financial adviser, you may wish to discuss your plans with a therapist, counselor or life coach,” he says.

-- Don’t discount your emotional attachment to a family home.

After becoming widows, some women are less interested in recasting their lives than in strengthening their ties with children and grandchildren. Some are strongly attached to the home where they raised their children and want to keep a place with extra bedrooms for extended family visits.

Nash, a longtime real estate broker, says he’s worked with many older women who live to regret the sale of the spacious family home.

“Once it’s gone, they feel like a fish out of water,” he says.

-- Weigh the pros and cons of moving near your grown children.

As the years pass, many widows are drawn to the idea of moving to a place close to the home of one or more of their children. But, as Nowak says, you don’t necessarily need to move permanently to see more of your extended family.

“Why not rent an apartment near your kids for a few months of each year? That could allow you to remain the rest of the year in a part of the country where your friends live and your favorite activities are based,” she says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

As pandemic constraints gradually lessen, many seniors who’ve been vaccinated are exceedingly restless. Finally, they’re revisiting home-selling plans that were on hold for months due to COVID-19.

“There’s enormous pent-up demand to leave the big family manse for a more comfortable and economic lifestyle in a happier place,” says Mark Nash, a real estate broker and analyst.

Meanwhile, a severe shortage of available properties has brought major heartache for wannabe homebuyers who’ve been facing intense competition among rival bidders. Hence, any sign of greater supply is welcome news for buyers.

A new report from Coldwell Banker Real Estate is offering hope for buyers. A company survey of homeowners found that a remarkable 20% are considering a home sale in the next 12 months.

If even a fraction of those pondering a sale put their properties on the market, that could “take the edge out of the inventory disconnect,” says M. Ryan Gorman, Coldwell Banker’s CEO.

Why are more owners looking ahead to a possible sale in the post-COVID period? Gorman says the motivations are multiple. Some seek to move to another state to save on taxes or enjoy a better climate. Still others hope to take full advantage of the strong seller’s market for as long as it lasts.

Nash says some income-constrained seniors need the proceeds from the sale of their property to support themselves in their retirement years. Others choose to move to simplify their lifestyles and reduce upkeep obligations.

“The old story about the pleasures of downsizing still resonates for many elders,” says Nash, the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

But in the post-pandemic period, numerous potential downsizing seniors are facing a barrier to their plans: grown children who moved back home during COVID after their schools or workplaces closed.

Arpita Chakravorty, an economist for Zillow, the national real estate company, calculates that the number of so-called “boomerang kids” living in their parents’ home plateaued last October. Yet more than 780,000 are still residing there.

Nash says many senior owners who have grown children living under the same roof have mixed feelings about downsizing.

“Of course, they’re sympathetic with their children’s legitimate housing needs. But at the same time, they’re anxious to move forward so their own housing game plan can play out. And this might involve downsizing to a retirement community where younger people aren’t welcome,” Nash says.

Here are a few pointers for senior sellers with adult children at home:

-- Don’t jeopardize your own moving plans.

Michael Crowley, who runs an independent real estate brokerage, says he’s observed how some clients have sacrificed their retirement dreams to maintain quarters for grown children.

Of course, many young adults living in the family home are unaware of their parents’ financial situation. Nor do they grasp the full cost of owning and maintaining a large property. That’s why Crowley suggests that an important first step toward your housing transition could involve a family meeting to go over these realities.

“Sit down and outline your situation with your children. Describe all the costs associated with ownership of your big house and why it’s important to reduce these expenses in retirement,” says Crowley, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Obviously, many young adults are well intentioned, and once they realize how important it is for their parents to downsize and reduce costs, they’re more motivated to find their own housing solutions, he says.

-- Consider the concept of offering a temporary rent subsidy.

Given how difficult it is for many young adults, including recent college graduates, to obtain a well-paying job, it can be a jarring transition if they’re jettisoned from the family home without sufficient funds to cover their own housing.

Should you help them pay to rent a place of their own? Crowley says that might be a reasonable way to proceed with your home sale without fear that your offspring could become homeless.

“Parents with the financial means might give their kids the equivalent of six to 12 months’ worth of rent for a modest apartment, along with money to cover their security deposit,” he says.

-- Stay focused on protecting your retirement assets.

By the time parents reach their late 50s or early 60s, many need to focus much more intensely on their own finances rather than on subsidizing their grown children.

“At a certain stage, people have to get on with their own lives,” says Donna Goings, a real estate broker affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

If you have a grown child or two living with you yet you wish to downsize, it might be feasible for the offspring to remain in your next household for a short while, assuming you’ll have a spare bedroom there. But in that case, Goings says you should charge them at least a minimal level of rent -- proportional to what income they can bring in.

Should you feel guilty about asserting your own need to downsize, even if that means your boomerang kids can’t go with you to the new place and must find alternative housing? Not at all, Goings says.

“The best thing you can do for your kids is to see that they get on their own two feet so they’ll develop the skills for independence,” she says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

As America emerges from the pandemic, which imposed severe restrictions on family gatherings, there’s greater appreciation for multigenerational lifestyles. That’s prompting more seniors who can afford to buy a domain near their grown children and grandkids to do so.

Take the case of a retired federal administrator and his homemaker wife. The pair sold their mid-century modern suburban Maryland house, using the proceeds for a brand-new place with double the space. Not by coincidence, they chose to live just two blocks from the home owned by their grown daughter, her husband and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter in North Carolina.

Sid Davis, a Utah real estate broker with seven nearby grandchildren of his own, isn’t surprised by the quest of so many seniors for closer contact with relatives.

“At this point in our history, people are hungry for family connections. All but a few seniors would love to engineer a way to see their kids more often,” Davis says.

As he notes, these post-COVID lifestyle changes come in many forms. But all involve closer family ties --especially to grandchildren. To illustrate the point, he cites the example of one senior, a retiring school principal and neighbor who lives across the cul-de-sac from his home.

“This lady gave $70,000 to her divorced son, a computer programmer, to help him buy a house on our same cul-de-sac. Her goal is to see more of the man’s 12-year-old son. Both the boy and his grandma share a love for hiking and biking,” Davis says.

Of course, not all seniors who aspire to live closer to offspring can afford to buy a nearby home or to assist their grown children financially to make a purchase possible. But an increasing number of retirees with discretionary funds are doing just that.

“In many instances, these are people who upsize to terrifically large houses where everyone in the extended family can enjoy holidays and vacation time together,” says Davis, the author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

Fred Meyer, who operates an independent realty firm in Massachusetts, says many retirees who buy property near family are pleased with their decision. But he cautions seniors against planning such a move without first making sure their grown children welcome the prospect.

“Ahead of a move, it’s important to have an in-depth family discussion with all involved,” Meyer says.

Here are a few pointers for seniors pondering a more family-oriented lifestyle:

-- Consider a place with genuine appeal to your family.

If the vision of a family mecca seems attractive to you, Davis says you’ll want a place that’s convenient for as many family members as possible.

“Take stock of your family and their future work plans,” he says.

Perhaps you have a grown daughter who’s made partner in an established law firm near where you wish to buy a home. Or maybe you have a son committed to his medical career in the same area. If so -- assuming good relations within the family -- you can be reasonably confident your grown kids and their families will visit often if you live close by.

But what if your children have careers in the military or foreign service and might even be moving overseas? Then you may want to delay a move until they settle down more permanently.

“You can’t chase your adult children all around the United States and the globe. Better to pick a spot that’s easily accessible for them to travel to you,” Davis says.

-- Select a setting that will attract family vacationers.

Perhaps you and your spouse would like to move to an age-restricted community. Yet you’d also like to see your kids and grandkids as frequently as possible. If so, you could well give a second thought to this plan.

“In reality, children aren’t going to find a whole lot of fun things to do in a retirement community. Rather than moving in with other seniors, pick an alternate area with more recreational attractions for the kids,” Davis says.

He suggests you consider buying a house near a neighborhood swimming pool in an area where lots of young families live. You might also look for an area well suited to fishing, horseback riding or hiking.

“Quiz the kids on the kinds of activities they really enjoy. Also, don’t forget to ask the teenagers what they think,” he says.

One advantage of buying a family-oriented home close to a vacation area is that it’s likely to be well served by a nearby airport.

-- Choose a property well suited to overnight family visits.

Do you intend to upsize to a location that will draw family members for extended stays? If so, you’ll want the right home features to accommodate everyone who comes by.

“Look for a house with at least three bedrooms and, even more important, as many bathrooms as possible. The kids can always double up in the bedrooms. But if you have only one bathroom, you’re bound to have bottlenecks,” Davis says.

Also, he recommends that those seeking to create a family mecca look for large common areas in their upsized property.

“Families love to hang out in a big kitchen with places to sit and talk. That’s why upsizers often go for a large eat-in kitchen connected to an even larger ‘great room’. This is also great for retirees who relish family fests,” Davis says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)