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The Boomers are BACK!... and You'll Need to Know What They Want!

By Kathy Streib

Home Stager

February 16, 2011 02:48 AM

The Boomers are back... and you'll need to know what they(we) want.

For Sale A recent article in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel discussed the reemergence of Baby Boomers as a force in the housing market. Silenced these last few years due to the economy and vanishing retirement funds, Baby Boomers were once a prime target audience of builders.

Here in South Florida, whole areas west of I-95 were developed just for the 55+ Boomers. Gated with community amenities, shuttles to shopping and entertainment areas, fitness centers, walking trails, and much more they were ideal for the snow-bird or permanent boomer.

According to the article, Boomers are once again a force but with perhaps some altered requirements. Here are some ideas on what may now be in a Boomers retirement dream.

          * Boomers still want a community restricted to older buyers but they want more choices in home designs.
* Boomers may not want the big house, but they want it more efficient, with less wasted space and a home office.
          * Many Boomers will continue to work so developments closer to businesses and transportation will be important.
          * Security is still important so gated communities without appearing to be "stockades" will be a plus.
          * Multi- purpose rooms will be important. An Air-Conditioned Garage was mentioned!
          * The need for rental properties within these boomer communities (not all want to buy).
          * Some Boomers may want to help offset their mortgage by becoming landlords, with "casitas" on their property that can be rented.

mature couple What does this mean for you?

That's up to you... but if you're working with Boomer Buyers, it's helpful to know what may be of importance to them. They may not know it yet because for some it will be a very new lifestyle for them.

If you're working with Sellers, either as a Realtor or Stager, and if Boomers will be part of their buying demographic, then it may be important for you to know what's going to "sell". For example, staging a third bedroom as a home office if your buyers are more interested in that rather than a 3rd bedroom.

And What About YOU?

If you're a Boomer... what's important to you if you were choosing a house?

Realtors, what have you found to be of importance?

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Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Janice- I hear more and more people saying they want to down size. But you're right, they still want to maintain their lifestyle. We need to know who the target market is.

Feb 16, 2011 05:26 AM

Judy Klem

Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT

Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Kathy - This is really good information. I hadn't really thought before about how boomers expectations have changed since the economic downturn - but now I will give it some thought and figure out some marketing ideas. I hit Suggest.

Feb 16, 2011 06:20 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Judy- Thanks for hitting the "suggest" button. So many of our Boomers have had their portfolios affected (we had some here who had invested with Madoff). An example of the difference is that there is a development that must be 20 years old and built for boomers. I think the builders felt that boomers would downsize to 1 car because all of the houses have a small 1 car garage. Try reselling that!

Feb 16, 2011 06:30 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Having just returned from visiting my parents in their gated community in Florida, I can relate to this post. My parents took full advantage of having their own personal stager and I helped them redesign, declutter and organize while I was there. Their community is beautiful and I can totally see myself living that lifestyle someday.

Feb 16, 2011 06:58 AM

Wanda Richards

Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions - Roanoke, VA

Shows Great Home Staging

Great info. The boomer generation has driven the real estate market since they became homes buyers in the later 60's and early 70's. Glad to know they are coming back.

Feb 16, 2011 08:56 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon- Ohhhhhh I want to hear more.. where were you??? It can be a great lifestyle. One community here has movies, dinners, speakers and many activities for the residents.

David- Seriously... I saw one two months ago. All of the exercise equipment was in the garage.

Wanda- yes... We're Back! And, there will be more of us. Look out!

Feb 16, 2011 09:33 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

This is important information for us all to know Kathy and I have seen an increase in requests from Senior Retirement living communities to have real estate professionals come out and share their knowledge with those "boomers" who want to buy into their communities. They first must need to sell a home before moving in. So then we are tasked with explaining to them why they need to consider the demographic of buyer who will be buying their existing place (a reversal perhaps of what they are now looking for in a home). I think it's about to be a huge segment of the market.

Feb 16, 2011 11:32 AM

Roger D. Mucci

Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH

Lets shake things up at your home today!

Sounds quite lovely............when I get to that age I'll consider.............cough, cough, hack.........ummmmmmmmmm, oh yeah, I'm way past that mark!

Feb 16, 2011 11:44 AM

Steve Hoffacker

Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL

Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Kathy,

Great report. There are also a lot of people who want to remian in their current home - opening the door for remodeling. :)

Steve

Feb 16, 2011 11:52 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- I'm part of that group and it's a huge group. Most are still very active and want a lifestyle and home that will reflect that.

BARFF-you sound like I did this weekend! I'm hobbling and hacking my way through Boomerville.

Steve- Absolutely. When we were growing up there was always the "family home", then people began to move or have second homes. I think many are rethinking moving, especially here where we are, because of the market, their own tax base and other reasons.

Feb 16, 2011 02:09 PM

Tim Peterson

Wisconsin Realtor Safety and Concealed Carry Classes - Madison, WI

Realtor Safety Training Classes

Hi Kathy-never thought about the air conditioned garage-but here in Madison Wisconsin we do have heaters in most

Feb 16, 2011 02:11 PM

Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Kathy, your posts are always so informative. Air conditioning garages-I would love that as I keep my florals and lamps in my garage! LOL-I am so spoiled.

Feb 16, 2011 04:31 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Tim- Love your profile pic! I have a fan in my garage but no AC(yet)

Cathy L- I would love it too... I have items in the garage too and while I have a fan, during our summers it can get really hot!

Feb 17, 2011 12:03 AM

Malcolm Johnston

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON

Trenton Real Estate

Kathy, the Boomers have been an incredible consumer force over the years, and have pretty much driven the entire economy. In the not too distant future it will be the funeral directors who will be rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of the Boomers coming. Yikes, that's a morbid thought.

Feb 17, 2011 03:00 AM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Kathy,

It really is important that we know what "Boomers" want and need... since more and more are moving into retirement age. Great post...I'm suggesting it!

Feb 17, 2011 03:40 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Malcolm- There's probably going to be a "rush" on for plots and it will be a "sellers" market. I mean seriously ...Malcolm... where are they going to put all of us???

Linda- Thanks for the "suggest".... We're living longer. and hopefully more healthy... families are scattered... so Boomer's may want something very different from what our parents wanted.

Feb 17, 2011 03:54 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

My parents live in Summerfield. They live near The Villages. I forget the name of their community, but it is very nice...beautiful golf course, club house, and pool...lots of activities. I may write a post re: my "working vacation" soon.

Feb 18, 2011 11:29 AM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Kathy, you are right about the "boomers" being back in the market. I frequently have requests for "no steps" so I can age in place. It is interesting how generation labels are defining homes.

Mar 13, 2011 02:24 PM

Tony Hammer

LoKation Real Estate - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Luxury Homes & Condos For Sale

You brought up some interesting points. The baby boomers never expected this downturn in the economy. That being said, they are a very powerful force to the economy and the real estate business. This is the greatest opportunity for them buy in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida area. The economy will change, what goes down will come up. The properties available for the boomers right now is perfect.

Dec 07, 2011 06:02 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Tony- No one expected this kind of downturn, for sure. I think there are boomers out there who are ready to go from a 2 story to a one-level home and maybe something a little smaller. And, yes, they have a wide choice now!

Dec 08, 2011 03:37 PM