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Americans age 55 and over would prefer suburban living in single-story homes
with amenities for their later years, according to a survey conducted by the
National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute.
The survey asked homeowners and renters about their current homes and the types
of homes, communities and features they prefer as they age. The survey also
questioned builders about specific features provided in new homes and how much
customers are willing to pay for them. While builders seem to be providing more
universal design features (lever-handle/door knobs, wider doors and hallways, a
full bath at the entry level), consumer preferences don’t reflect an equal appreciation of such items. Consumers indicate they want
amenities such as non-slip floors, larger medicine cabinets, lower kitchen
cabinets and emergency call buttons, features not widely included in new homes.
On other issues, builders and consumers are closer to agreement. Consumers clearly want to be close to community resources like shopping and
medical services; builders and developers have responded by placing communities
accordingly. Builders are pro- viding more energy-efficient and environmentally
sensitive features. While many consumers note that they are conceptually
supportive of these efforts, fewer indicate a willingness to pay significantly
more for green homes.
“The data suggests that builders will have to be more tuned in to consumer needs,
but potential buyers may be somewhat shortsighted as well,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute.
“The homes consumers say they want may present difficulties for the long term as
they age in place. They prefer the suburbs and the country, but these areas
generally lack public transportation … and they’ll need greater accessibility later on.”
NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe pointed out that as the housing market returns
to health, builders will need to be increasingly responsive to changes in the
market for 55+ housing.
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“These surveys were conducted as consumers were watching their savings shrink and
as builders were seeing sales grind to a halt,” said Crowe. “So this study reflects the very latest in the changing perceptions of what is
most important in housing for this age group.”
Other survey findings included the following:
• One-third of consumer respondents would choose a close-in suburb and nearly
another third prefer an outlying suburb. About one-quarter would choose a rural
community and 9 percent prefer a center-city setting. Single-story homes are a clear first choice among 79 percent of respondents.
• The five features rated most important by consumers were: in-home washers and
dryers, storage space, windows that open easily, main level master bedrooms and
easy-to-use climate controls.
• While consumers expressed a preference for maintenance-free lifestyles, with
services such as interior and exterior home repair, transportation,
housecleaning, high speed Internet, etc., these amenities are generally only
available in 55+ communities. Few builders offer such services, which depart
from their primary business of construction.
• Ninety-four percent of builders report that their buyers want more energy-efficient new homes. Most builders indicated that only some of their buyers are
willing to pay extra for green amenities. Full research is available at http://www.maturemarketinstitute.com.l
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