Thursday, January 20, 2011

55+ Home Buyer Trends

A joint study by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows the recession has made 55+ buyers more practical when selecting a new home. Design considerations have become less important, and financial concerns have become more prominent, according to the study.  Previous studies from these two organizations found that most 55+ buyers depended on home sale proceeds to finance a new purchase. The most recent data shows that option diminished during the economic downturn.

In 2009, only 55% of new age-qualified active adult home buyers reported that their down payment came from a previous home sale, significantly down from 100% of respondents in 2005 and 92% in 2007. In 2005 and 2007, no active adult community buyers reported having to tap cash or savings for a down payment. In 2009, 45% of the average buyer’s down payment came from cash or savings.

The study, “Housing Trends Update for the 55+ Market,” explores recently released housing data from the Census Bureau’s 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) on the 55+ demographic. The report focuses especially on households living in active adult communities.  “Most 55+ consumers—those who chose to move and those who stay in their homes—report that they are happy with their homes and communities,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. “But those who did move to an age-qualified community—about 3%—reported the greatest satisfaction, rating their homes and communities at nine on a one-to-ten scale.”

“By the year 2020, as Baby Boomers move into this age bracket, almost 45% of all U.S. households will include someone at least 55 years old,” said David Crowe, NAHB’s chief economist. “The number of those households seeking housing better suited to their changing needs will therefore rise dramatically.”  The desire to be near family and friends is the mature mover’s overwhelming motivation, the report noted. The design, amenities and appearance of the residence and the community remain important, but less so than before the recession. Buyers who fall into the 55+ age range that are moving into rental homes, both multi-family and single-family, cited a desire for less expensive housing as second in importance to living near friends and family.

“Proximity to work” was more important than in the past for those relocating to age-qualified, active adult communities—12% in 2009 versus 2% in 2001—underscoring the trend toward delayed retirement in this age group. There was also a reported increase in the share of 55+ single-family homeowners who say they work at home.

Read more at RISMedia.com.  For additional information, visit the Mature Market Institute.

Our part of New Jersey - Mercer County and surrounding counties and townships - offer a wide range of housing options for the 55+ demographic.  Call or email me to find out about your options, including "aging in place" and reverse mortgages.

Joe Giancarli, SA
Short Sale Specialist
Real Estate Advisor
609-658-2612
jgiancarli@remax.net
http://www.joegiancarli.com/
http://www.njhomesource.com/
http://www.newjerseynewhomes.blogspot.com/
www.activerain.com/blogs/josephgiancarli

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