NATIONAL CENTER FOR SENIORS' HOUSING RESEARCH CELEBRATES OLDER AMERICANS MONTH - MAY 2003 This month, the National Center for Seniors' Housing Research (NCSHR), established in 2000 as a cooperative effort between the NAHB Research Center and the U.S. Administration on Aging, celebrates older adults as part of Older Americans Month. The NCSHR's goal is to offer the home building industry and consumers the most current information on older adult housing issues and options so that all Americans can live comfortably, safely and independently in their own homes as they age regardless of income or ability level. Charlotte Wade, NCSHR program director, said, "The National Center for Seniors' Housing Research was created in response to the overwhelming desire of people age 55 and over to age in place. Using the resources of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the NAHB Research Center, the NCSHR helps the home building industry address the housing needs of this rapidly expanding population." Two of the most popular NCSHR publications are the annual "Directory of Accessible Building Products", and the "2002 National Older Adult Housing Survey (NOAHS) Report." A one-stop resource for addressing residential accessibility, the Directory features existing products and assistive technologies available to seniors and their caregivers. It includes pictures and detailed descriptions of accessible building products in the following categories: kitchen and laundry; bathrooms; doors, windows and assistive hardware; climate control; home automation; flooring; plumbing systems; ramps and handrails; stair lifts and elevators; and accessible house plans. The Directory sells for $5.00 in the NAHB Research Center's online bookstore at http://www.nahbrc.org/bookstore. The 2002 NOAHS Report describes the choices that older adult homeowners make with respect to community amenities, home features, and living arrangements. Implemented in collaboration with the Joint Center for Housing Research of Harvard University, it may be used as a reference for builders, remodelers, developers, manufacturers, marketing professionals, and members of the aging profession interested in providing products and services targeted to older adult consumers. The NOAHS Report sells for $45.00 in the NAHB Research Center's online bookstore at http://www.nahbrc.org/bookstore. To demonstrate available aging in place housing options, the NCSHR designed the LifeWise Home, which was built by the NAHB Research Center in the National Research Home Park in Bowie, Md. Building on the success of the LifeWise Home, the NCSHR now offers consulting services to builders, developers, and others who are interested in serving the older adult market. To inquire about the services of the NCSHR, contact Charlotte Wade at cwade@nahbrc.org. For more information on the National Center for Seniors' Housing Research, go to http://www.nahbrc.org/ and click on "Seniors Housing." back to top RECORD RESPONSE FOR ANNUAL CONSUMER BUILDING PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES SURVEY WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED INDUSTRY RESOURCE The NAHB Research Center announced this month that through its new Internet-based process, feedback from over 40,000 respondents for its 2002 Annual Consumer Practices Survey. This represents a nearly five-fold increase from the 8,200 respondents for the 2001 Survey. The Survey is designed to assist the construction industry in understanding trends in consumer purchases of building materials. It covers a wide variety of topics, including the types and amounts of materials purchased, who purchased and installed the materials, and where materials were purchased. The Survey is slotted to become an accurate new tool to study the purchasing habits and conventions of seniors. With upwards of 18,000 responses from people 55 and older, the NAHB Research Center plans to analyze the data to better understand the remodeling needs and expenditures of older Americans. Ed Hudson, market research division director for the NAHB Research Center, said, "The NAHB Research Center began implementing the Survey in the early 1970s, and has continued to refine the methodology to provide the most accurate estimates for building materials demand. To determine this demand and develop credible results, market research staff members combine industry expertise and robust methodologies to develop market demand data for our clients." NAHB Research Center president Michael Luzier said, "The uniqueness of the NAHB Research Center, including its accredited in-house laboratory, access to the over 200,000 members of the NAHB, nearby National Research Home Park, and staff of highly-qualified research professionals, has always provided clients with opportunities for researching products and services targeted to the home building industry. Specific to market research, these capabilities allow the NAHB Research Center to identify and interpret new trends effectively, and to understand the industry's complexities. Expanding the Annual Consumer Practices Survey sample simply strengthens our position of leadership in the marketplace." The NAHB Research Center has the ability to tailor a comprehensive research package from new concept development through market introduction. Research initiatives often combine analysis of survey data with qualitative research, product design, laboratory testing, market assessment, development of market and distribution strategies, field evaluations and other related activities. The data reports from the Annual Consumer Practices and Annual Builder Practices surveys will be available beginning in May 2003. Pricing is based on the volume of data purchased and the geographic detail requested. For more information on the NAHB Research Center's market research-related products and services, contact Ed Hudson at ehudson@nahbrc.org. For a more comprehensive understanding of the NAHB Research Center offerings, visit http://www.nahbrc.org/ . back to top GRANDPARENTS ARE RETURNING TO COLLEGE, TO RETIRE A growing number of retirement developments promoting the pursuit of intellectual invigoration have sprung up in recent years. These college-linked retirement communities, available at 60 locations nationwide, including Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Michigan, are slotted to become more common over the next two decades as baby boomers reach retirement age. Prices of homes in the college-linked communities vary, as do residency requirements. In one community, for instance, the developer buys back the property when residents leave. Former residents, in turn, receive 90 percent of the price they paid. A tie to the university, as an alumnus, former faculty or staff, or relative of someone who works or attends the school, is a prerequisite in some cases. Leslie Marks, executive director of the National Council on Seniors Housing of the National Association of Home Builders, said consumers are likely to pay more for housing that offers access to a university, just as it might cost more to live next to a golf course, "Whether it's on a college campus of a gated golf community, what they are buying is lifestyle," she said. "The active adult consumer is very knowledgeable and will pay for what they want and knows what they want." Community residents are often alumni and former faculty members. Communities may offer amenities such as access to university health care services and gerontology experts, the opportunity to attend classes and cultural events on campus. For more information go to http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/business/yourmoney/ back to top NEW AARP REPORT FINDS AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES AGE 50+ STRIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE DESPITE LACK OF COHERENT SYSTEM A new study from AARP reports that more than anything, Americans with disabilities age 50 and over want independence and control in their daily lives, but are too often thwarted by the lack of affordable options to help meet their needs. Further, the absence of an organized system for delivering services means many persons with disabilities and the family members who assist them are unaware of existing support sources. The report, "Beyond 50 2003: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and Disability," includes results of the first ever national survey of Americans age 50+ with disabilities. The report documents the gap between what they need and what is available. It also raises concerns that, in the coming decades, the U.S. is ill prepared to meet the demand for independence among people over the age of 50 who will experience disabilities. "Long-term independence for persons with disabilities is an increasingly achievable social goal," AARP Policy and Strategy Director John Rother said. "But it will require time and the collective creativity of the public and private sectors," he explained. "Meanwhile, even minor changes can lead, at least in the short term, to important life-style improvements for those with disabilities today. Broader long-term improvements will require fundamental policy changes," Rother said. The "Beyond 50" report found that, on average, people with disabilities 50 and older give their community a grade of B-/C+ as a place that makes it possible for them to live independently. While some community features receive good marks, others-most notably, public transportation-are rated poorly. More than half of respondents (59%) currently give their communities a "C" or lower rating for having dependable and accessible public transportation. Based on the reports findings, AARP outlines a number of proposals for critical long-term improvements, they include: Public funding for long-term supportive services needs to be reoriented toward more options for home and community-based care. The nation also must provide more options for "consumer-direction" in publicly funded programs. Communities need to be made more physically accessible for people with disabilities. Information and services need to be more navigable for those who are trying to learn more about available long-term services and whether or not they are eligible.
To read the full report visit http://research.aarp.org/general/beyond_50.html. back to top MID-LIFE AMERICANS NOT FULLY PREPARED FOR THEIR FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS, STUDY FINDS According to a new study, many mid-life Americans want to remain in their houses as they age but aren't making the necessary changes to age in place. The study on housing among the 45+ population is titled "These Four Walls…Americans 45+ Talk About Home and Community." "One of the most consistent findings from the study is that people think they will be able to stay in their current homes for the rest of their lives," said Elinor Ginzler, manager of AARP's Independent Living/Long-Term Care Initiative. "We also found that community characteristics and services are just as important as home features for successful aging in place. We have a lot of education to do in these areas." The good news is that most Americans 45+ have a full bathroom and bedroom on the main level and the percentage goes up after age 65. "These are very important features for 45+ homeowners because they facilitate living on one floor," said Linda Barrett, senior research advisor for AARP. "While only half of homeowners anticipate that they will need to change their home as they age, our gap analysis shows that Americans 45+ consider some home features important that are not currently available in their home." Survey respondents noted the importance of community services that would help them remain in their homes as they age, including door-to-door transportation, home delivered meals and health monitoring services. However, it is important to note that a substantial proportion of respondents say they do not know if their community offers services such as nutrition programs and contractors who specialize in home modifications. To view the full study, go to http://research.aarp.org/il/four_walls.html. back to top LOW RATES DRAW CONSUMERS TO 10-YEAR MORTGAGE LOANS A growing number of homeowners are doing something that was almost unheard of a year ago, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. In light of recent "how low can you go" mortgage rates, a growing number of homeowners are taking out 10-year mortgages. The reasons for taking out a shorter mortgage vary from wanting to get rid of debt before retirement to saving on interest costs. Ultimately, the recent surge in popularity of the 10-year mortgage is about quickly paying off mortgages by taking advantage of the lowest interest rates in over 40 years. The phenomena known as the 10-year mortgage loan becomes much more understandable when one looks at the interest savings provided by a 10-year mortgage. Borrowing $250,000 at 4.5 percent results in interest of $60,915. By contrast, interest payments on the same amount for 30 years at 5.375 percent total $253,974. The 10-year loan results in a wealth of savings, but only if you can afford the monthly payments. Monthly payments would be $2,591 with the 10-year loan, compared with $1,400 for the 30-year. Borrowers have been gravitating to 15-year mortgages from 30-year loans for some time now. Though 10-year loans have only recently gained in popularity, they account for roughly 15 percent of mortgage loans at Countrywide Home Loans, a division of Countrywide Financial Corp. For more information go to http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/5914507.htm. back to top RETIREES BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO FADING TOWNS Retirees have come to the rescue of cities like Gasden, Ala., Hanna City, Ill., and Lincoln, Calif. They are restoring these once prosperous industrial towns to their former luster simply by relocating. When people relocate in retirement they also shift to the new community their money, their leisure, and their community interest and involvement. Retirees have long been thought to strain services, particularly healthcare. Instead, it is by luring those residents that many of these cities have begun to regain a measure of their former prosperity. "Attracting retirees is probably the best type of economic development," says Gene Warren of the consulting firm Thomas, Warren and Associates in Phoenix. "Every study shows that retirees are a tremendous benefit to the community where they settle." States and cities alike have created programs to lure seniors to relocate. The American Association of Retirement Communities estimates that one relocating retiree can have as great an economic impact on a community as three to four factory workers. This is because retirees are, in general, wealthier than working people, and therefore spend more money in the community. A study by Thomas, Warren, and Associates, for instance, suggests that residents 50 and older brought $2.7 billion to Florida in 2000 and cost the state only $1.3 billion in services. For more information go to http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0527/p01s02-usec.htm back to top | 
