By: Dave Hodges / HomeFinder.com
Baby boomers, a generation of Americans who share numerous cultural and social characteristics, still do their part to shape the housing market, especially as they get older.
Just ask the Realtors, homebuilders and developers in the Big Bend, many of whom want to make sure they cater to this very active part of the market.
“The thing that I keep running across is they are a whole different generation and they have so much in common. It’s really interesting,” said Realtor Ann Cleare, an agent for new home builder Premier Fine Homes.
At Premier’s Velda Oaks community on Velda Dairy Road, the two model homes in the 48-lot neighborhood are attracting plenty of attention, especially from older buyers who’d like a bit less house to look after.
“It’s a steady stream of traffic out there. They are definitely looking,” said Cleare, who saw a similar boomer interest in Premier’s successful Adiron Woods community east of Tallahassee. There, the company expected young families to buy those homes and move in there, but 60-70 percent of the buyers were downsizers who liked the neighborhood, too, she noted.
Boomers are a demographic phenomenon described as Americans born during the post-war period from 1946 to 1964. They grew up in the 1960s and ’70s, raised children, built careers and businesses, and had a profound impact on the country’s population. Today they are empty-nesters, grandparents and are retiring at the rate of about 10,000 per day.
One typical case for Cleare is a couple with a house of 4,000 square feet they intend to sell in favor of something around 1,700 square feet. It’s less space to clean, care for and it makes more sense as the occupants get older.
Velda Oaks residents will have their lawn care provided by the homeowners association. The two models that are three-bedroom, two-bath layouts range from 1,520 to 1,684 square feet. Premier may also offer a two-bedroom, 2.5-bath design as well.
“They are all very livable floor plans,” Cleare said. “The doorways are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker.” Floors are level, living spaces are open, and bathroom walls have extra bracing for grab bars to be added later.
“They are all very livable floor plans,” Cleare said. “The doorways are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker.” Floors are level, living spaces are open, and bathroom walls have extra bracing for grab bars to be added later.
Builder Noel Nash, who owns TriCon Builders Inc. with business partner Jason Crawford, has two projects underway now in which the owners are remodeling to incorporate features they’ll find more desirable as they get older, and to update their houses.
Nash says it’s a common occurrence. “There are plenty of times they come to me and ask what they can do in their current home as opposed to moving to a new place,” Nash said. “They are staying where they are and we are working within their budget.”
TriCon is also preparing for new single-family home construction this spring at The Preserve on Buck Lake Road. The company bought half the lots there and has baby boomers among the anticipated markets.
Nash says he has spoken with potential buyers who want to move closer to grandchildren and give up bigger houses. “That trend is still widely popular,” he said of the urge many homeowners have to downsize their residences.
Realtor Reggie Jahn of Keller Williams Realty in Tallahassee has observed much the same thing.
“I think that they are moving down. They are scaling down their housing. They are ready to get a smaller home because their kids are moving on and they have already had the big house,” Jahn said.
Each boomer client has individual preferences. “There are different houses that fit their criteria,” Jahn added, depending on where the buyers want to be. “Sometimes they want to get out and have some land. Other times they want to stay in the same neighborhood, just in a different house.”
Baby boomers, however, are not ready to park themselves in rocking chairs on the front porch. This active group of older adults is the basis for the Choose Tallahassee marketing push designed to acquaint boomers with the attributes of this area as a place to live.
Among the highlights of that campaign are Tallahassee’s trails, parks, sporting events and festivals, as well as its educational institutions, culture and arts.
Nash says it’s a common occurrence. “There are plenty of times they come to me and ask what they can do in their current home as opposed to moving to a new place,” Nash said. “They are staying where they are and we are working within their budget.”
TriCon is also preparing for new single-family home construction this spring at The Preserve on Buck Lake Road. The company bought half the lots there and has baby boomers among the anticipated markets.
Nash says he has spoken with potential buyers who want to move closer to grandchildren and give up bigger houses. “That trend is still widely popular,” he said of the urge many homeowners have to downsize their residences.
Realtor Reggie Jahn of Keller Williams Realty in Tallahassee has observed much the same thing.
“I think that they are moving down. They are scaling down their housing. They are ready to get a smaller home because their kids are moving on and they have already had the big house,” Jahn said.
Each boomer client has individual preferences. “There are different houses that fit their criteria,” Jahn added, depending on where the buyers want to be. “Sometimes they want to get out and have some land. Other times they want to stay in the same neighborhood, just in a different house.”
Baby boomers, however, are not ready to park themselves in rocking chairs on the front porch. This active group of older adults is the basis for the Choose Tallahassee marketing push designed to acquaint boomers with the attributes of this area as a place to live.
Among the highlights of that campaign are Tallahassee’s trails, parks, sporting events and festivals, as well as its educational institutions, culture and arts.
Cleare noted that people often come back to Tallahassee because they have fond memories of their days at FSU and FAMU or of the college town where they once lived. Climate doesn’t hurt either. “I have a feeling that we are going to get more boomers because of our location. Tallahassee is a wonderful place,” she said.
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