The EBA Way - A Better Way to Buy a Home

According to a RISMEDIA article dated January 30, 2010, retirement living on a golf course is OUT. And, not surprising to us at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, Florida and Arizona no longer top the list of preferred retirement destinations for those planning to retire in the next ten years. Those states have been trumped by North and South Carolina! Warmer climates are still a motivating factor for today’s retirees but cost of living has become equally if not more important. RISMEDIA studies indicate “Between 30-40% plan to move to a new home in retirement, about the same as in 1996, and half of those plan on moving to a new state.”

What do retiring homebuyers want in their ideal retirement homes? Builders are encouraged to develop retirement communities with a different set of amenities, including walking and bike trails. A National Association of Home Builders survey reveals the most important design features that 55+ buyers want in their homes are practical:

• Washers and dryers in their units
• Storage space
• Windows that open easily
• Garage-door openers
• Easy-to-use thermostats
• First-floor master bedrooms
• Private patios
• Porches
• Attached garages
• Bigger bathrooms with aids such as grab bars
• An entrance without steps
• Accessible public transportation
• Wider doorways
• Nonslip flooring
• Security systems
• Energy management
• Structured wiring and lighting controls
• Home interior and exterior maintenance, landscaping, repair, housekeeping, health-care, and transportation services onsite
• Universal Design Features which include wider hallways, lever-handled doors, roll-in showers and no-stair entries