Boomer Housing: New Changes, Trends, and Opportunities for the Boomer Lifestyle

Boomer housing alternatives are being viewed very seriously by developers...and should be! 78 million American baby boomers who will “retire, relocate, and eventually withdraw from the housing market”.

We who are now in our mid-60s tend to sell more often than buy. We're viewed as a “dominant force" in the market. Some retirees will be looking to downsize, others will relocate to warmer climes, while others (older seniors) will move to nursing homes.

We are beginning to retire and in the process, developers are building more 55-and-older developments, which often are packed with luxury homes, clubhouses, billiard rooms, cafes, walking trails, community centers and gyms. Many of us are - or will be - selling our homes to downsize. We tend to want a more appealing retirement than our parents had, and our demands are reshaping the housing market.

This market is much trendier and more sophisticated. We want activity, and many will want to be closer to theaters, restaurants.

We tend to not want the weekly yard maintenance that comes with larger,single-family homes. Many of us will want lock-it-and-leave-it convenience,meaning they can take extended trips at their leisure and at a moment's notice,without having to worry about taking care of their house.

Finally, unlike previous generations, we are more likely to look for retirement housing not far from where they spent most of their adult lives, a trend that has slowly developed over the last decade.(Source: Washington Post.com, Saturday, November 5, 2005; Page F01).

With all the decisions we'll have to make now and in the future, I've provided a list of resources below that will educate us to make sound choices for our future dwellings!

Everything is going "green" these days, and more and more builders and homeowners are actively seeking to incorporate energy efficiency elements into their residences. Boomer housing is no exception!

The U.S. Building Council has sponsored this site to provide expert know-how on how to create green information regarding countertops, bathrooms, landscaping, stone & tile coverings, and flooring. First-time visitors can get a sense of the site's mission by looking through some of the recent "Ask A Pro" questions. This section provides interested parties with the opportunity for concerned parties to ask experts questions such as "How much will it cost to install solar panels on my 2000 sq. ft. home in San Francisco?".

In the "Know-How" area, visitors can browse over sections that include "Furniture" and "Kitchens" to learn how to choose low-toxicity finishes, energy-efficient appliances, and durable surfaces.

Finally, visitors can also use the "Search for a Green Pro" feature to look for a professional in their area who adheres to such methods and principles.

When trying to sell your home in a buyer's market, the competition can sometimes be pretty stiff. Many retirees are caught in the Boomer housing syndrome of wanting to downsize, but are having trouble off-loading their current home in a competitive market.

Sure, you get to buy in a down market, BUT, you also have to sell your home too. That's why staging your home for selling has become any increasingly popular addition for home sellers!

Home stagers set up your home with either existing furniture, add additional furnishings (and yes...they assist you in GETTING RID OF THE CLUTTER!), or completely move out your stuff, paint, and redecorate.

Visit the site, International Association of Home Staging Professionals to find a local stager, or ask your agent for a referral. It can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars - a cost that is most often recouped in the sale of your more-appealing home, which could potentially sell faster.

This is definitely a site worth a look if you're looking to sell anytime in the near future.

What a great site for boomer housing! Planned Seniorhood states that its site is "For Active Seniors and those on the road to becoming one!"

Here's a quote from their home page that really sums up what they have to offer:

Planned Seniorhood offers one of the largest directories of Active Adult Communities on the Internet. If you’ve become an empty nester and are looking to find just the right retirement community, we think our Website is the No. 1 place to go. Whether you’re looking for an active adult community, assisted living residence or just a really nice place to live, we’ve created links to every community in the U.S. that we’ve been able to find. And we’re continually adding more. We’ve even included a wide selection of international active adult and retirement communities. All of our active adult community and other retirement community links are absolutely free for you to browse. So have fun.

Boomer housing needs rely heavily on where we want to live. This directory lets you search geographically for various types of living styles. It also provides helpful tips for your relocation needs.

Boomer housing is the primary focus of this great site!

RetirementLiving.com, operated by the Retirement Living Information Center, is a convenient, easy-to-use resource designed to assist individuals in planning and making decisions about their retirement. The information offered is of particular value when deciding whether or not to move, and if so, finding the right location, lifestyle and housing opportunity.

Their site provides access to an array of resource materials, including reports on great places to retire, tax information on each state, monthly reports on new retirement communities, an online newsletter, books and online publications, a guide to state aging agencies, access to information about special assistive products and services, and links to online stores.

Additional resources are added when appropriate.

~RetireNet

"The Retirement Net offers visitors a single site to explore a variety of retirement lifestyles throughout the US, Canada, and the world.

The first site of its type on the Internet, The Retirement Net has remained the world's leader in connecting retirement communities with buyers."