PRECONSTRUCTION: For boomers, the house of the future

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

For boomers, the house of the future

NEW YORK – March 13, 2007 – By the end of the decade, 33 percent of Americans will be in the 50-and-up age segment; but a growing number of baby boomers already are considering accessibility when purchasing a new home.

Universal design features aim to make dwellings more accessible to the elderly and disabled, and many Boomers are preparing their residences now so that they can live independently as they age. Universal design once conjured images of institutional and unattractive features, but the emergence of aesthetically appealing components that can make life easier for people of all ages have made the concept more popular among today's home buyers and builders.

K. Hovnanian, Standard Pacific and Centex Homes are just a few of the national builders offering universal design options – which range from sloped sidewalks and wider entryways to lower cabinets and built-in shower seats. Sensor-operated faucets, lever doorknobs, ovens with swing-out doors, higher electrical sockets and raised toilets are also popular.

In addition to accommodating demand, builders are jumping on the universal-design bandwagon in response to state and local laws requiring accessible homes or providing incentives for such feature.