Let's face it, moving is not high on most people's list of fun things to do before they die. That's why some Twin Cities developers are building homes that baby boomers can enjoy for the rest of their lives.
"By 2050, a quarter of our population will be over 65. Our population is aging and in particular, in Minnesota," architect George Cundy, former chair of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities 50+ Housing Council. "The senior population is a specific market looking for a specific kind of housing, and many of them have a fairly good budget."
One-floor living is the hallmark of these homes. Neighborhood associations provide lawn maintenance and snow removal. Builders offer the option to build out the basement with bedrooms and a bath for visiting children and grandchildren.
Builders are not necessarily marketing these homes as having universal design, but some come with three-foot doorways to accommodate a wheelchair, door handles instead of knobs for easier opening, and accessible — but attractive — bathrooms.
These home buyers don't want their bathrooms to look institutional, according to Shawn Nelson, BATC president and owner of New Spaces, a Burnsville home remodeling firm.
"You can make an accessible bathroom look amazing," Nelson said. "I think a lot of builders are looking at that."
Norcutt Homes is building single-story townhomes with two bedrooms and two full baths in Woodbury's Stonemill Farms. They vary from 1,523 to 1,636 square feet with two-car garages and an option for a third. Prices range from $318,000 to $463,000. Most buyers are active adults in their late 50s, looking for a smaller, more luxurious home, according to Jay Fletch, an Edina Realty agent representing Norcutt.
"One common thing I see with all the buyers is not necessarily where they're coming from but rather why they're coming," Fletch said. "Most of the buyers either have kids or grandkids within the immediate area."
