What active adults want, need in housing

This year, 2006, more than 21 million Americans will be 55 or older. Active adult homebuyers are not dramatically different from most buyers, but they do have unique needs from the conventional family home market. One constant is the desire for a casual, relaxed lifestyle.

A general understanding of retirement lifestyle is key to formulating a home design. Usually, there are only two people living in the active adult home, a husband and wife. They are retired or semi-retired, no longer climbing the ladders of success but enjoying the fruits of their labors. They no longer have to rush to meet schedules and adhere to routines.

Retirees generally are receptive to changes in their lifestyle, but the longstanding values, beliefs and principles that have guided their lives remain and usually strengthen through age. These changes, combined with traditional values and beliefs, are evident in their choice of a new home. For their lifestyle, they want a home with a fresh style and new ambiance. At the same time, they want a home that will perform and function efficiently and yet be cost-effective.

Active adults seek a home that is:

•Light, bright and airy.

•Casual, relaxed and open.

•Accommodates “us,” “our stuff” and the “things we do.”

•Easy, convenient, and comfortable to live in.

•Allows “us” to stay here longer as we get older.

Many active adults prefer home sites that back up to an amenity such as a golf course, park, natural open space or common area. The primary living areas are planned so they open to the rear of the house to allow the outdoors to flow in and the homeowner to enjoy the view or take easy advantage of amenities. Many active adults prefer the master bedroom in the rear area of the home so that it is away from traffic.

A home office, ample storage space and large rooms are important to the active adult. A home office provides an area where the semi-retired active adult can continue to work. Ample storage holds the treasured collections and possessions accumulated over their lifetime and large rooms with good wall space accommodate their furniture. Popular storage options include floored attics with pull-down stairs, full or partial basements, extra utility room cabinets and expanded garages.

A larger master bedroom allows for two dressers and twin beds with a nightstand in between. The second bedroom is also larger since it may have to accommodate the kids along with the grandchildren.

A home that is easy, convenient and comfortable to live in is a requirement for the active retiree’s new lifestyle. Good circulation patterns through the house and good transportation between the garage, kitchen, and the rest of the house are key elements. The retiree is still wed to the automobile (or golf cart), and therefore, the garage is the primary entrance.

In today’s open and casual home, halls are still important. With the use of low walls, windows and wide archways, those halls visually can become part of the adjacent room and still function in the manner the mature market desires.

Another desirable element of circulation, which has become lost in recent years, is an entry foyer. A well-designed foyer can enhance the open and casual plan by setting the stage for the rest of the house. Finally, a convenient route from the kitchen to the outdoor living area or patio also is important.

A well-designed plan can accommodate aging and make the home easier to live in. A cardinal rule is to keep the home on one level. The American Association of Retired People also suggests some simple design changes: use door handles, faucet levers, high wattage light bulbs and grab bars in the bathroom. Adding a short ramp in the garage will accommodate wheelchairs with assistance and wheel large objects in and out. The new active adult home allows retirees to age in comfort and security.

Whether you are considering buying or building a new home, or you want to update your existing home, please call the Spokane Home Builders Association (SHBA) at (509) 532-4990.

We are a local association comprised of nearly 1,000 professional companies affiliated with the residential building industry, ready and able to assist you achieve any project you have in mind.

All of us at SHBA wish you and your loved ones a most blessed and Happy New Year!