Baby Boomers Prefer Single-family Homes

Every homebuyer is different but it turns out baby boomers do have more than a few things in common when it comes to what they want out of a home. According to a 2015 survey by the National Association of Home Builders of recent and prospective homebuyers, a whopping 63-percent of baby boomers prefer a single-family home. That’s nearly identical to the percentage of all homebuyers who prefer the exact same thing. The study also found that about half of baby boomers want a new home and nearly a third are willing to pay cash for it, slightly higher than the total percentage of all buyers. Some of the major differences come in what baby boomers are and are not looking for. The same study found about 75-percent of baby boomers would rather stick with a single-story home but a majority of them feel a living room is very important in a home. They also ranked having a full bath on the main level of the home as increasingly important in the study. Other key features critical to this demographic include energy efficiency. The survey found that the top home feature that boomers are interested in is the inclusion of Energy Star appliances. Compare that to overall buyers who most desire having their own separate laundry room. As for what else baby boomers aren’t looking for it boils down to location. While two-thirds want to live in or close to the suburbs just seven-percent are mostly interested in living in an urban, city setting. While the city may have nearby convenience, most baby boomers are searching for a quiet cul-de-sac to call home. Finally in discussing what would influence a move, baby boomers stayed consistent with other homebuyers in ranking increased physical limitations or health changes as likely considerations. Other life events that ranked high for baby boomers in making a move included retirement and losing interest in their current living situation. The Fort Myers area is blessed with a plethora of 55+ active adult communities that have much to offer baby boomer residents.