Report: Baby Boomers want smaller, manageable space

COURTESY PHOTO With three bedrooms, 2½ baths plus a study, the Saranac design, available at Toll Brothers' Belle Lago in Estero, is an open floor plan suitable both for Baby Boomers or young families. With 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, it is no wonder that builders and developers look to this generation of "Baby Boomers" as trend setters in the housing market. So when Hanley Wood, a leading-edge business media and information firm, and DYG research firm, surveyed home-owning Baby Boomers to find out what they want in their homes, builders were eager to apply the information.

The Hanley Wood survey, published in part in Big Builder Magazine, indicated that 58 percent of those surveyed wanted to move to a smaller home. More than a third wanted to remodel or move in order to have a single-story home. Instead of a single, large home in one location, 44 percent of those surveyed indicated that they would prefer a second home and "split" the square footage between two houses, prompting many national builders to reintroduce the vacation home — a smaller, lower-priced home. The detached, singlefamily home was the preferred housing type for 72 percent of those surveyed.

Toll Brothers has created designs that range from around 1,500 to 2,500 square feet to provide a variety of options for that homebuyer.

"Smaller doesn't mean sacrificing the amenities that buyers are accustomed to in larger homes," said Ken Thirtyacre, president of Toll Brothers Florida West Division. "They still want architectural details, gourmet kitchens, and luxurious master baths. They want lots of options, such as custom cabinetry, granite countertops, and perhaps a tropical garden surrounding a pool. But this all must be available in smaller homes."

At The Reserve at Estero, a Toll Brothers community of single-family homes on Estero Parkway, designs range from 1,473 to 2,545 air-conditioned square feet.

"The homes at The Reserve at Estero were designed to meet the needs of the buyer looking for a smaller home, yet they offer all of the luxury features found in larger homes," Mr. Thirtyacre said. "In addition, the community includes the type of resort amenities to enhance leisure time."

One of the popular designs at The Reserve at Estero is the San Rio, a singlestory three-bedroom, two-bath home with a family room and breakfast area as well as formal living and dining rooms. The home encompasses 1,981 air-conditioned square feet, and with a two-car garage, covered entry and lanai, 2,687 total square feet.

Belle Lago, a Toll Brothers community of single-family homes also in Estero, offers eight larger villa designs that range from 2,058 to 3,024 square feet of air-conditioned square feet in addition to the community's estate homes.

Belle Lago's amenities include a community clubhouse with a multi-purpose room, fitness center with weight and cardiovascular equipment, multi-purpose aerobics studio, library/craft room, game room, billiards room and card/TV lounge. The men's and women's locker rooms each have a dressing area and showers. Outdoors, there are lighted Hydro-grid clay tennis courts, a half-court basketball court and a resort-style pool.

Overall, the characteristics described by Boomers surveyed indicated that they want homes that are open, airy, userfriendly and seamlessly mix indoor and outdoor spaces. They want big master suites, spa-like master bathrooms, big state-of-the-art kitchens, casual gathering spaces.

A big surprise, perhaps, was the lack of interest in age-restricted communities. Only 13 percent liked the idea, while 56 percent wanted multicultural, richly diverse neighborhoods. Outdoor activities ranked significantly higher than golf.

According to Mr. Thirtyacre, the trend to smaller homes is not just for Baby Boomers, and that creates friendly, multigenerational communities similar to the small town neighborhoods in which many of the Boomers grew up.

"The trend is really toward 'manageable' spaces," said Mr. Thirtyacre. "In some cases, retirees and pre-retirees are downsizing or purchasing second homes, but the trend is not limited to that segment of the market. Many families are focusing on their lifestyle, which doesn't necessarily require a large home. They have activities outside the home — travel, sports, hobbies."

Toll Brothers Florida West Division includes Belle Lago, a single-family community on Estero Parkway in Estero from the upper $300,000s; The Reserve at Estero, a community of single-family villas and estate homes also on Estero Parkway priced from the upper $200,000s; and Firano at Naples, a new community of single-family homes off Davis Boulevard in Naples from the low $400,000s.