The Future of Baby Boomers

With baby boomers more active, and more tech-savvy than ever, and many still working 9-5, 55+ communities are faced with meeting the demand of this discerning go-getter generation. Active adult home buyers are repaving the road to retirement and expecting builders to step up to the plate designing communities where boomers can be near the office, entertainment, and even close to universities for college-bound retirees. Today’s active adult wants a home in a desirable location, close to the action with options for low-maintenance or maintenance-free living.

According to U.S News and World Report, by 2030 over twenty percent of our population will be 65 or better. The future of the baby boomer generation means working longer and playing harder. Rewriting their parent’s retirement plan of downsizing, the desire for more square footage and high-quality construction is trending upward. Boomers want to be able to work at home, and have plenty of space for entertaining, and storing tech gear. Myth number one, if you weren’t raised using a computer, you’ll never know how to use one. Notice how many baby boomers are in line for the newest smartphone or tablet!

The goal to start one’s own business is driving the demand for home office space. Based on a Gallup study, boomers make up a fast-growing demographic of entrepreneurs. Earning a living after leaving the corporate world is exciting and empowering for the active adult who’s spent their entire working life dreaming about what they wanted to do when they grew up. Many baby boomers purchase their retirement home before retiring is even on the radar because they love the lifestyle of a 55+ community, and for those working out of the home, it’s the perfect mix of work and play.

Millennials aren’t the only generation with eco-friendly concerns. Premier builders such as Lennar and Shea Homes are known for designing 55+ communities equipped with green living features such as LED lighting, solar panels, and tankless water heaters. Environmentally sound, organic living has made its way from the table into the building materials used throughout the home. Energy efficient “green” communities such as Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria, Arizona appeal to the growing number of 55+ homebuyers concerned with minimizing their carbon footprint.

Boomers are more financially stable than they’ve ever been, with the ability, and expectation to find a home that meets or exceeds their high standards. This isn’t the retirement of yesteryear; this generation is dreaming big.