This post sponsored by Windsong Properties

Housing prices have fallen, foreclosures are pennies on the dollar, the buyer’s market continues to thrive. None of this is good news for a new home builder. Yet, new home builders in the Active Adult niche continue to sell.

Builders of Active Adult communities offer a product different that most new home builders and different than most current homes; single story ranch living in an energy efficient home. Built in a community designed to foster connections, relationships and active lifestyles; these elements are what is keeping the sales pace going for these builders.

The marketing demographic of the Active Adult home has been identified as those folks over 50. Many of them are ‘empty-nesters’ or soon will be. They realize they have much more house than they need and they are ready to give up the care and maintenance. Others are looking for resort type communities with activities, events, and social clubs to connect with. Some move to be closer to their family. What ever the reason, the 50+ club is buying and moving — Until the housing market crash.

The truth is, the Active Adult niche market is still selling homes, but not for the reasons the niche was created. The truth is, active adult homes are selling primarily to those over 65 who either want (need) to move closer to their children or they have a health issue that forces them out of their current (two story) living arrangements. Gone are the days when the prospect that saunters in the door is 50 and yet to retire, looking for the active lifestyle offered in a new active adult community.

Many of the 50-65 prospects no longer dreaming of a downsize move – they are waiting out the market. The buyers now are coming to Active Adult communities to solve a need. Many want to escape the maintenance, cost (and stairs) of their current home. They are downsizing, but not always because they want to. Emotional needs also drive buyers to move. The desire to be closer to their children and grandchildren is an emotional draw that empowers Active Adults to move.

Due to the market conditions, with out a powerful need, buyers in the Active Adult niche market are not moving. Addressing those needs and helping these buyers navigate the difficult market how builders in this niche market are continuing to succeed.

This post sponsored by Windsong Properties

Active Adult Communities are springing up all across the country. These communities are designed for empty nesters, pre-retirees and retirees. Many do not allow children to permanently live in the home (visits are welcome – of course). Some have resort type amenities while others have none. What really sets these communities apart is the home design.

Successful Active Adult builders have found that the single story ranch home is an extremely popular floor plan with the 50+ buyer. One floor living strikes a chord with achey knees, tired of climbing stairs. Smart design, use of space, and the inclusion of ample storage make the ranch home an attractive buy for the empty nester.

The details make an active adult home equally attractive to the pre-retiree and retiree. Bathrooms with levered faucets on the sinks become more and more appreciated as the body ages. Raised sinks to reduce bending, shower seats for added comfort and stability as well as low profile shower bases make the bathroom more user friendly.

Doors with lever handles (that can be opened with elbows when loaded with an armful of groceries) are easy to operate. Windows and skylights that flood rooms with natural light as well as light fixtures and options to illuminate kitchen workspace make living easier on the eyes.

Pre-programmable thermostats, energy efficient lights, appliances and heating/cooling systems, coupled with efficient building materials and a tight building envelope add the benefit of lower energy costs.

Long lasting building materials reduce the maintenance and upkeep responsibilities. With lawn care and landscaping included in homeowners dues, the active adult ranch home community is an easy place to enjoy life to the fullest.

Call it an Active Adult community, retirement community, or an empty-nester community: whatever it is, builders who are getting it right are striking a chord with buyers. Design and details made for living. That’s what special about an Active Adult Home.

This post sponsored by Windsong Properties

From the flurry of activity and sales at our three communities over the last 3 months, we can tell that something has changed in the mind of the mature buyer. Have they adjusted to the new economy? Are they tired of waiting? Have they succumbed to accepting a depressed price for their current home? We don’ t know for sure, but what we do know is that the market is ripe for those who can pick buy right now.

Through experience, the mature buyer knows the economic environment will be changing soon, and not for the better. Interest rates will rise, material and labor costs are already increasing. Accordingly, the cost of building a low-maintenance, easy-living ranch home is going to rise as
well.

Interest rates have been held to unnaturally low levels for an extended period of time. Not only will a rise in interest rates affect the affordability of a home with a mortgage, it will increase the cost of building that home. Builders often finance the construction of a home, and will thus be required to borrow at a higher rate, passing that cost along to the buyer. Mature buyers who need to sell their home before moving into a more suited ranch will once again struggle to find buyers who can afford the payments with a higher interest rate.

The first half of 2011 saw much of the United States blanked with damage from tornados, floods, and fire. The demand for building materials is growing as communities start to rebuild. The 2011 hurricane season is predicted to bring additional damage as well. Japan is also beginning major reconstruction programs that will create an international market for even the basic building supplies like framing material and plywood. While storm damage keeps economies going, it will put pressure on the supply of building materials. The old “ supply and demand’ rule will come into play, rising prices.

The juncture of price and interest rates is optimal right now. Many mature buyers recognize this and are taking action. Just how long until this precarious balance will be tilted? No one really knows for sure. Those able to take advantage of the situation are doing just that, and enjoying a new lifestyle home and community.

This post sponsored by Boral Bricks.

On June 21 the summer solstice occurred, marking the beginning of summer for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Atlanta area, the beginning of summer not only means longer days, festivals and time at the pool, but also humidity interchanged with dryness. These climate changes can cause an increase in wall moisture, which takes a toll on your home.

To better understand which wall assemblies perform best, and remain dry, in mixed-humid climates, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory and the Brick Industry Association to conduct a year-long field moisture study. The study examined eight popular and commonly used sidings, which include: Vinyl Sided Wall, Stucco Clad Wall with One Layer of Felt, Stucco Clad Wall with Two Layers of Felt, Stucco Clad Wall with Vented Cladding, Stucco Wall with Plywood Sheathing, Wall Clad with Manufactured Stone, Fiber Cement Siding Wall, and finally Brick Veneer.

Throughout the 12-month testing period, 44 sensors designed to detect and analyze moisture content, temperature, and relative humidity were attached to the wood framing or sheathing in various locations on each sample. The moisture that was recorded included natural elements like precipitation and wind driven rain, as well outdoor and indoor temperatures and humidity. The 44 sensors were dispersed on the sampled walls to take into account varied temperatures –– increased coolness closer to the ground or excess warmth near the roof. To ensure accuracy, each sensor on each wall transmitted its readings every 30 minutes during the testing period.

At the end of the testing period it was clear that of all the assemblies tested the brick veneer wall assemblies were the most consistently dry. This is because typical brick veneer construction contains a nominal one-inch air space behind the brick. The results of the study proved that such construction consistently produced a wood stud wall cavity with lower humidity. The one-inch air space can allow for rapid drying, inhibiting the growth of bacteria that damp wood can promote. Additionally darker claddings, like brick, maintained the highest wood stud wall cavity temperature. Because lower humidity can inhibit mold development, brick veneer wall assemblies meet the “Conditions Necessary to Minimize Mold Growth” of ASHRAE Standard 160.

No matter where homeowners live, brick wall assemblies, like those offered by Boral Building Products, can promote dryness that helps maintain the structural integrity of a beautiful home. Boral has five locations across Metro Atlanta. Visit www.boralbricks.com and look for the “Boral Building Products” navigation button or call 678-625-4051 for more information.

AARP’s Lark McCarthy talks to Mary Jo Peterson, interior design consultant, and Andrew Carle, founding director of the program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University, about cutting-edge housing trends that may become more popular and available in the near future.

This post provided by Gilbert & Sheppard Group

Surveys consistently show that Americans aged 65 or older are happier than younger adults. The 2010 General Social Survey, for example, found that 33 percent of people aged 65 or older were “very happy” compared with 28 percent of younger adults. The GSS measures happiness by asking a single, simple question. Other surveys probe people’s feelings of happiness more extensively, by measuring it throughout the day and during a variety of activities. These studies confirm the greater happiness of older Americans. Why?

Entire books are devoted to this topic. One of them (Measuring the Subjective Well-Being of Nations: National Accounts of Time Use and Well-Being) solves the mystery.

To get at what makes people happy, well known Princeton economist Alan B. Krueger (the editor of the book) and author of one of the chapters (along with Daniel Kahneman, David Schkade, Norbert Schwarz, and Arthur A. Stone), measures the percentage of time in which people’s feelings of sadness, stress, or pain exceed their feelings of happiness–all by demographic characteristic and activity. The results show that people aged 65 or older spend only 16 percent of their time with feelings of sadness, stress, or pain greater than their feelings of happiness. In contrast, people aged 25 to 64 feel bad rather than good a larger 20 percent of the time. By controlling for activity, the researchers nailed it: older Americans are happier because they spend more time engaging in activities that generate happiness (socializing, relaxing, gardening). Working-age adults must work, after all. Most of the happiness gap between older and younger adults is due to differences in their daily activities.

This post provided by Gilbert & Sheppard Group

The list of the largest senior living providers is out and Emeritus Senior Living was named the largest assisted living provider, with 46,777 resident capacity according to the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).

The next largest operators are Sunrise Senior Living and Brookdale Senior living with 28,131 and 27,568 resident capacity respectively.

The rankings include the top 80 private and publicly-traded senior living companies and provides a good look at the players in the senior housing sector. This year, the list also includes information on independent living and memory care communities.

“The senior living business continues to grow and evolve to serve the growing number of seniors and their families seeking residential services and care for themselves or loved ones,” said Richard P. Grimes, President and CEO of the Assisted Living Federation of America, “The Largest Senior Living Providers list fills an important informational gap for senior living executives and is a powerful tool for everyone with a stake in the senior living industry. Many of our members have now embraced senior living, so as a result ALFA has also broadened its advocacy and business excellence initiatives to serve senior living, inclusive of assisted living, and the seniors and families our members serve.”

This post sponsored by Boral Bricks.

When it comes to home design, homeowners don’t want limits; they want options. That is why Boral® is committed to offering more choices and solutions. Now builders and homeowners alike can turn to the new Boral Building Products, formerly Boral Bricks Direct, for all of their exterior finishing and outdoor living needs. From siding like brick, manufactured stone, EIFS and stucco and fiber cement siding, to hardscapes, such as pavers, fireplaces and retaining walls, Boral Building Products has the selection to suit any design tastes.

For its stylish appearance, low maintenance and durability, brick continues to be a classic option for homeowners and a key component of the Boral® offering. In fact, a recent study shows that 90 percent of homeowners find brick appealing. And, with a wide range of colors, styles and textures, brick offers a distinctive elegance that can help create the ultimate dream home.

When your design calls for other exterior siding options, Boral Building Products can now help you address your Fiber Cement and EIFS and stucco siding needs. We are able to meet your shake, lap siding, soffit and trim board needs with a full line of Nichiha products and your EIFS and stucco needs with BASF’s line of high quality Finestone wall systems and finishes.

To further customize any home exterior or outdoor space, or add charm to fireplaces, columns, planter boxes, and retaining walls, Boral offers Cultured Stone®, the preferred name in thin veneer stone. Cultured Stone products offer a natural stone look without the installation hassle and weight. A Builder Magazine’s study has recognized Cultured Stone as the number one manufactured stone brand for 12 years running. Available in more than 21 textures and over 100 colors, the design options are limitless.

With FireRock Fireplaces, one of the leading pre-engineered masonry fireplace systems, Boral helps address the entire spectrum of outdoor living design, providing homeowners a way to enjoy the outdoors for many months throughout the year. FireRock’s collection of fireplaces, fire pits and outdoor ovens are recognized for performance and design flexibility.

In addition to Boral’s beautiful clay pavers, the offering now extends to Calstar’s line of environmentally responsible pavers, which offer a reduction in energy footprint without sacrificing any of the performance.

Whether homeowners want a classic brick home, stucco, fiber cement or are interested in a home with multiple cladding options, Boral Building Products offers the products you’ll need to create and customize a beautiful home and outdoor living space. Boral has five locations across Metro Atlanta. Visit www.boralbricks.com and look for the “Boral Building Products” navigation button or call 678-625-4051 for more information. or call 678-625-4051 for more information.

Provided by Anresa Davis of Park Springs

Recently the Atlanta Journal Constitution posted this article on the “graying of Atlanta.” Please enjoy.

The Atlanta “over 65” population grew by 44% between 2000 and 2010! Nationally, the growth was only 13%. The “baby boomers” are becoming “senior citizens” and older adults are living longer. That means a lot of people will need a multitude of services now and for the long forseeable future.

This poses the question: how do we prepare to meet the current 65+ needs/desires and also be ready to faces changing needs/desires when this group is 80+? Physical changes lead to social changes, such as, decreased vision may mean loss of driving privledges. Is your business ready to change with them?

This situation begs attention from every aspect of wellness and will need the cooperation from everyone involved in offering products and services. There is not a “one size fits all” answer, and, gratefully, metro Atlanta has the talent and resources to craft a plan that will work for the good of today’s and tomorrow’s older adults. How will you and your business participate?

Anresa Davis
Senior Residency Counselor
Park Springs
anresadavis@parksprings.com
www.parksprings.com

This post provided by Gilbert & Sheppard Group

Builder confidence in the 55+ housing market was markedly more upbeat in the first quarter of 2011 for apartment production and demand than for sales of single-family or condominium homes, according to a new survey released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The NAHB’s expected demand index for 55+ multifamily rental units rose 10 points, to 44, from a year earlier, while the 55+ Housing Market Indices for single-family units and condos declined 2 and 3 points, down to 17 and 8, respectively.

“Builders in the 55+ market are still finding that some customers are hesitant to buy,” said Ken Simons, a New Jersey developer and chair of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council Board of Trustees. “Many prospective 55+ buyers are having trouble selling their existing homes, a problem often made worse by low appraisals.”

The 55+ single-family HMI measures builder sentiment based on current sales, prospective buyer traffic and anticipated six-month sales for that market. A number greater than 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. Among the index components, present sales dropped two points, to 15. Expected sales (six months into the future) dropped six points, to 24. And traffic of prospective buyers fell one point, to 17.

The 55+ multifamily condo HMI also showed weakness, with an index level of 8, down from 11 at the beginning of 2010. All three index components – current sales, expected sales and buyer traffic – declined during this period.

In contrast, indices of current and expected production of 55+ apartments gained 7 and 8 points, up to 20 and 27, respectively, in the first quarter of 2011. The index measuring current demand jumped 11 points, up to 39.

“The increased sense of optimism in the 55+ multifamily rental market is a welcome sign and consistent with other indicators of relative strength in rental housing markets,” said NAHB’s Chief Economist, David Crowe.

“Builder responses also indicate that demand for existing 55+ rental apartments is running ahead of production. A shortage may even emerge in that segment of the market, if pent-up demand emerges quickly but builders’ inability to access credit continues,” he said.

The 55+ Housing Market Index is a quarterly report issued by the NAHB Economics and Housing Policy Group that tracks expectations of present and projected demand based on sales, traffic and market conditions.

(via NAHB)