The popularity of
age-restricted communities is beginning to boom as Baby Boomers, those born
between 1946 and 1964, are expected to fuel a growing demand for retirement
housing. The number of people age 65 and older is expected to shoot up 137
percent to 82 million in 2050, according to U.S. Census figures.
Builders expect them to flock to everything
from age-restricted communities to smaller patio homes in traditional
neighborhoods. “Not everybody is going to want to live in an age-restricted
community,” said Steve Cramer, broker/owner of Realty Executives MetroNorth in
Denver, Colorado. “Some people will feel younger when they are around younger
people.”
A majority of retiring boomers have said they
want to stay in their own homes. But the generation is so large that even a
small percentage of boomers relocating after retirement would mean a big
market for builders. “This is something that builders have been anticipating
for a long time,” said Mike Rinner, a senior analyst with the Genesis Group, a
Denver based housing market research firm.
In Colorado, six senior-oriented housing
projects were under construction in 2002, according to the American Seniors
Housing Association. States like California, Florida and Arizona still lead
the way for senior housing construction, but states like Colorado are expected
to narrow the gap.
(Source: The Denver Post,
1/26/03)
The “best of the best” in the seniors housing industry
were honored by the National Association of Home Builders during the 2003 Best
of Seniors Housing Design Awards ceremony held at the International Builder’s
Show in Las Vegas.
The NAHB Seniors Housing Council awarded Gold
and Silver Awards to a total of 50 projects in 25 categories, including active
adult, independent living and service-enriched. A 12-member panel of
architects, designers and builders judged projects on how effectively they
responded to the housing demands and design needs of the burgeoning 50+
market. NAHB said projects were evaluated on their ability to meet lifestyle
requirements of the target market, examining the master plan, community
facilities and model homes, as well as marketability, budget and their ability
to work on challenging sites. For the complete listing of award winners visit
www.nahb.org.
(Source: Inman News, February 2003)
The decision of when and where to retire is
often wrought with a myriad of concerns and odds are environmental issues are
just an afterthought. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
community awareness of environmental noise pollution is on the increase.
Noise is defined as unwanted sound.
Noise is an inescapable part of everyday life – the television, a plane flying
overhead, a faulty muffler on a passing car, or dogs barking a block away.
While some nearby residents may ignore the continuous hum of a busy freeway,
others will find it extremely irritating. When this happens, sounds become
noise, which is considered both a health problem as well as a social
irritation.
In addition to the pitch or loudness of
a sound, the repetitive nature, the distraction it causes and the lack of
control over it can make it unbearable. The EPA says that people consider
noise to be the main local environmental problem, sometimes even more
important than air pollution or the quality of drinking water.
Zero Air Pollution Education Committee
is a Los Angeles grassroots group whose focus is on the noise and air
pollution caused by leaf blowers.
Studies referenced on their
www.zapla.org website show that seniors, children and people with existing
respiratory problems are most affected by noise and air pollution.
Seniors may also suffer more stress from
sudden, loud, irritating noises such as produced by leaf blowers. Seniors are
encouraged to keep windows closed when blowers are used in their
neighborhoods. Dust and the Particulate Matter made airborne by the machines
can drift for blocks and remain in the air for days.
Prior to relocating, it is the wise
person who investigates such issues using their Real Estate Agent as a
resource.
(Source: EPA and ZAPLA)
Select a listing agent skilled in working
with seniors. As the population
ages, more real estate agents are receiving special training in helping the
elderly. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist®,
I have the training and resources to work with you on all of your real estate
needs. I will continue to work with you and provide you with information to
benefit you as a homeowner. With my team of professionals I will help you
design a plan that will realize the highest return on your equity and better
prepare you for your retirement years. For more information on this and other
important Senior Issues, call me at: (808-374-8959).