How seniors are right-sizing into a new home
As millions of baby boomers enter their retirement years, many are trading spacious family homes for more manageable living spaces. Yet today’s seniors aren’t simply downsizing. They’re right-sizing as they seek homes that combine comfort and convenience with opportunities for an active, engaging lifestyle.
Today’s senior housing market has evolved to meet these changing preferences, offering various options that cater to the unique needs and desires of older adults.
Modern seniors prioritize low-maintenance properties with accessibility features such as single-level living, wide doorways and step-free entryways, said JoAnn Echtler, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Cranberry Township.
“Mobility is definitely the top concern,” she said. “Builders are starting to make these kinds of accessible features standard or as an option because it’s what seniors are thinking about.”
When downsizing, seniors are increasingly looking for homes and communities that offer a blend of independence, convenience and social engagement. For some, that means active-adult or 55-plus communities that boast single-level living and a host of amenities designed to entertain while fostering a sense of community.
Shawna Littlejohn, a Realtor with ReMax Infinity in Butler, works with a lot of senior buyers interested in these types of communities for the next stage in their lives. She said the biggest allure is shedding the backbreaking upkeep and maintenance homeowners can spend all their free time on when they own a traditional home.
“Any of these communities will have an HOA (homeowners association), so all that work is taken out of your hands when you buy a home there,” Littlejohn said. “It allows you to simplify your life and do what you want to do.”
Echtler agreed, saying some HOAs include roof maintenance of homes in those communities, alleviating another huge maintenance headache for seniors.
The appeal of 55-plus and active adult communities has grown significantly, though supply struggles to meet demand, both Littlejohn and Echtler said. These communities typically offer single-level patio homes, with minimum sizes ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 square feet — ample space for comfortable living while eliminating the burden of maintaining larger properties.
What puts a lot of people on hold is pricing, Echtler said. People get sticker shock when they realize new homes are far more expensive than they were the last time they bought on the market.
“What they find with today’s market is they are paying a lot more for a lot less, and it sticks in their craw,” she said.
Sometimes her clients must sit with the facts and give themselves time to accept this is what homes cost now, and the prices aren’t likely to go down anytime soon.
“Some just deal with it, while others choose to modify their current homes to stay there as long as possible. The math just does not make sense in their heads.”
Lisa Rodgers is among the Butler County residents who recently bought what she hopes will be her final home as she ages in place. Following separation from her spouse last year, Rodgers wasn’t sure if she wanted to buy another home that included the stress of landscaping and other maintenance. But then she discovered The Villas at Forest Oaks, a Butler Township community that caters to active adults older than 55.
“The amenities were a big part of my choice,” Rodgers said. “It has a swimming pool and a clubhouse you can use. And I didn’t have to worry about upkeep or maintenance.”
Rodgers just turned 59. One of the things she struggled with was whether she wanted to be in a community designed for retirees.
“But then I found out that they’re not just for older people. The community is the biggest benefit of being here. Everyone is welcoming and friendly.”
Residents at The Villas at Forest Oaks get together once a month for an event, which Rodgers said she enjoys.
“There’s a lot of little activities and things to do to make a community and not just everyone in a silo,” she said.
Some advice she offered to other senior buyers considering a 55-plus or active-adult community is to determine if it’s an involved community like hers — and if they even want that type of social situation.
The next issue to consider is space. Littlejohn said some of her clients worry about not having enough space in their homes to host family get-togethers or other events. “But most of these communities have clubhouses you can use for this purpose if you don’t have enough space in your new home,” she said.
Rodgers said she hasn’t had any issues with space or adequate storage. “There’s plenty of storage in my one-floor home, and I was shocked by that,” she said. “It’s everything you need or want in a normal-sized house, plus a two-car garage.”
Even for buyers her age, Rodgers said it’s worth considering a housing option that allows you to age in place.
“Think about the future,” she advised. “You could get something you like and are comfortable living in for 20 to 30 years and think about the things you can do now that you might not be able to do later.”
This article first appeared in the December edition of Butler County Business Matters.
