Baby boomers at present do not want to “settle” for ANY retirement home. 55+-year-olds of today know what they are looking for in a retirement home and will not rest until they have it. Today’s empty nesters represent the Baby boomer generation and they have exacting standards and their own idealistic views of life. They are not a generation that will settle for less than what they deem as their due. This is a good thing! They have done their part for society and the world and would like to retire in peace and relax in a bit of luxury. Seniors of yesteryear did not have the choices which active adults of the present day. Therefore, they had no choice but to settle for what was offered. Now, however, because there are so many active adult communities that are especially dedicated to catering to the 55+ age group, choosing an awesome community to settle down in will be much easier.
What do Active Adults Want in a Home?
Successful builders and developers of active adult communities consider this question very seriously. They build the homes within these communities based on the data they gather. Most active adults, according to them, wish for smaller homes. This is because they do not want to be plagued with repairs and upkeep of a large home. However, although they want smaller homes, they do not wish to compromise on the amenities or spaciousness of rooms. These needs and desires are directly catered to by the homes built within most active adults communities. Boomers, empty nesters, and active seniors want open floor plans that enable them the space to move freely throughout the home and also to entertain their friends and family. They want an outdoor living area, such as a courtyard or a patio, high ceilings, studies, breakfast bars in the kitchen as well as all of the modern touches and conveniences that come with today’s homes. They also want items within easy reach so that they do not have to bend too much to reach them.
Most 55+ adults are saying “no” to bathtubs, probably because they are dangerous, and saying “yes” to shower stalls. They may otherwise request for walk-in bathtubs that are specially created for active adults who value their independence as well as a luxurious soak in their tub. They also focus on one-story homes so that they do not have to climb stairs every two minutes. However, if they do wish for two-story homes, they want the master bedroom and the study on the first floor. Seniors today also demand energy-efficient homes with low gas and electricity bills – and of course, high-speed internet capabilities – preferably fiber optic! Mostly, active adults see this as their last home and they want this home to reflect their personalities.
55+ adults of the present day do not wish to just sit and while the day away. They wish to be active and therefore, seek vibrant communities with active lifestyles. They want activities that keep them occupied and they want to be physically fit. Amenities such as fitness centers, yoga studios, golf courses, swimming pools, walking trails, and tennis courts are much in demand by active adults.
Active adults also wish for homes they can lock and leave whenever they want without having to worry about security issues. They also want to settle down in communities where there is out-door maintenance and upkeep because they do not want to mow their own lawns or shovel snow in the wintertime which can be extremely stressful on the joints.
As you can see, these empty nesters are a demanding pack and catering to their housing needs calls for special expertise. There are over 8,400 such active living communities listed in the ActiveAdultLiving.com web site. A few randomly chosen ones are mentioned below:
- Evergreens at Columbia Town Center – Columbia, MD
- Trilogy at Redmond Ridge – Redmond, WA
- Solera Chandler by Del Webb – Chandler, AZ
- The Villages Golf & Country Club – San Jose, CA
- Regency at Dominion Valley by Toll Brothers – Haymarket, VA
If you need further information on active adult communities, you can visit ActiveAdultLiving.com, a comprehensive national directory of more than 5,800 communities where you are sure to find the one you wish to spend your retirement years.
