| If you're a home builder, don't overlook the | | | | a chance for you as a builder to incorporate |
| importance of the fastest-growing segment in | | | | the latest information technology into your |
| the real estate market today: aging Baby | | | | homes. A large percentage of Boomers want a |
| Boomers. They may not like to admit it, but | | | | sunroom, as well--somewhere they can relax in |
| the Boomers are now entering what people used | | | | the morning with a cup of Starbuck's and the |
| to call the "Golden Years," and | | | | New York Times. They have worked hard all |
| they're beginning to look for homes that | | | | their lives and are determined to reward |
| offer amenities geared toward older people. | | | | themselves with quality leisure time, whether |
| If you can offer homes that fit their tastes | | | | on vacation or at home. Entertaining and |
| and specific demands, Baby Boomers will seek | | | | entertainment are important to Boomers, too. |
| you out--and they generally have the money to | | | | Many look for wet bars in their new homes to |
| spend on the things they want.One of the most | | | | offer even greater entertaining |
| important considerations for the aging Baby | | | | opportunities, and a sizable number express a |
| Boomer segment of the market is | | | | desire for a media room that's geared toward |
| functionality. Although many Boomers are | | | | the latest video and music technology.Boomers |
| looking for specific amenities, a sizable | | | | are also health-conscious, so exercise rooms |
| number of them are actually downsizing, since | | | | can be a strong selling point, and can |
| they have raised their families and are now | | | | relatively easily be incorporated into a |
| looking for a home that offers both comfort | | | | multi-use space such as a family room or |
| and luxury. The types of floor plans that | | | | good-sized computer room. As a general rule |
| Boomers look for in their new homes often | | | | Boomers also like to see upgrades when it |
| feature spacious, open kitchens that offer an | | | | comes to things like floor coverings, |
| opportunity to entertain guests while | | | | cabinets, and kitchen countertops. They're |
| creating culinary artwork. Boomer women who | | | | often looking at their new home as a place to |
| worked at a fulltime job most of their adult | | | | stay after trading up several times, so they |
| lives are now looking to be able to spend | | | | want it to be both comfortable and luxurious, |
| considerable amounts of time in the kitchen, | | | | inside and out. So don't skimp on patios, |
| making up for lost time, so a great kitchen | | | | porches, decks, and landscaping, and make |
| is vital to attracting their attention.A | | | | sure your overall community is appealing, as |
| large segment of the Boomer market also wants | | | | well.Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. |
| a home office in their floor plan, since many | | | | FisherInterior design psychology expert |
| of them will continue doing some sort of | | | | Jeanette Fisher works closely with custom |
| business-related activity from home after | | | | home builders in Pennsylvania and California. |
| retirement from their fulltime jobs. This is | | | | |