In working with my parents, namely my mother, this week in their consideration to buy a "new" home, something that I had previously took for granted came to light. My parents are not old in any since, 63 and 59, and are now in relatively good health. My father just finished battling lung cancer. After extensive chemotherapy and radiation, we are so pleased that his last scan came back clear and he is officially in remission. My parents are both still very active. My mother even goes roller skating with me and the kids from time to time. But as we began kicking around the possibilities of a new house for them, one of the main and most important characteristics for them is a single story home.
My father is doing quite better but he is still on oxygen and climbing stairs is not something he wants to do. My mother has progressing arthritis and she is no fan of stairs either. With the need to remain ambulatory and in their home as they age, a two-story home is simply out of the question as it for most people from the baby boomer generation.
I know why the home builders favor the two-story home because it has a small footprint land-wise. More two-story homes can be built per acre than single story homes with the wider footprint which causes the lots to need to be a little larger and especially wider. I think in the future as the market rebounds, the home builders of the future need to pay attention to the baby boomer generation who will need single story homes.
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