Methodology

The short version

A 0–100 score with six weighted inputs.

The Shift-Score blends six weighted inputs: ownership tenure (22%), estimated net equity (26%), goal clarity (14%), desired timeline (18%), priorities-to-goal alignment (8%), and local market conditions (12%). Computed server-side, versioned, recalibrated quarterly.

Why a single score at all

The core friction in senior real estate transitions isn’t information scarcity — it’s information overwhelm. The Shift-Score synthesizes the variables into a single trustworthy number designed to act on.

The six inputs and their weights

  • Estimated net equity — 26%. Financial bedrock of the entire transition.
  • Ownership tenure — 22%. Long-held homes are categorically different.
  • Desired timeline — 18%. Stress-test on the other inputs.
  • Goal clarity — 14%. Most-underweighted variable in standard tools.
  • Local market conditions — 12%. Refines rather than drives.
  • Priorities-to-goal alignment — 8%. Discounts mismatched priorities.

Data sources

  • Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) — mortgage rates, HPI, aggregate equity
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS — population, age distribution, median home value
  • HUD USPS ZIP Crosswalk — ZIP-to-CBSA mapping
  • ATTOM Data Solutions — parcel records and AVM
  • Shift-Certified network outcomes — anonymized transaction data

Calibration and versioning

Recalibrated quarterly. Current version: 1.2 (April 2026).

Three minutes to clarity.

No cold calls. Always free.