Seniors Housing e-Source - 12/10/2003 (Plain Text Version)

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Don't Miss The International Builders' Show!

If you haven't made your reservations yet for the 2004 IBS in Las Vegas, you need to get on the bus — or the plane, that is. After Wednesday, Dec. 17, you must register onsite for the housing industry's premier event Jan. 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are three good reasons to register now for IBS.

Save up to $50 off the On-Site registration fees — or pay only $100 if you are an NAHB member attending the Show for the first time.
Arrange housing through NAHB's housing block.
Beat the long lines and receive your badge credentials in the mail.

Of course, there's a fourth reason to register online today: You can't afford to miss the wide array of activities offered the NAHB Seniors Housing Council.

Take advantage of 14 different education sessions geared toward 50+ consumers as part of the seniors housing, multifamily, and tecHOMExpo tracks. Topics range from “Active Adult Housing for a Blue Collar Market” to “Virtual Reality for New Home Sales and the Mature Market.” New this year are five additional sessions called “Meet the Experts.” Get up-close to seasoned industry professionals, who will share their secrets on how to build, design, develop, market, and sell communities and multifamily projects for active adults. Kephart will sponsor lunch during all “Meet the Experts” sessions.

And that's only part of the excitement of Vegas 2004. Make your reservations for the active adult community bus tour, which is a guaranteed sell-out. The tour, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, will feature stops at Siena by Sunrise Colony and Del Webb's Sun City Athem and Solera at Anthem communities. Other highlights include the following:

Leadership Dinner — Siena by Sunrise Colony, Saturday, Jan. 17, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Network with your peers and listen to a panel discussion of industry leaders on the topic of “New Trends in Density and Design — Multifamily and Single-Family.”
Membership Reception — Las Vegas Hilton, Ballroom F, Sunday, Jan. 18, 6-7:30 p.m. Join us for food, fun, and networking. Corian is the official Membership Reception Sponsor.
Best of Seniors Housing Design Awards Luncheon — Treasure Island at the Mirage, Monday, Jan. 19, noon-3 p.m. Find out who won Platinum, Gold, and Silver Awards and who had the most innovative projects. Limited tickets are available at the door, but advance reservations are highly recommended.
Marketing Breakfast — Las Vegas Hilton, Conference Rooms 4-5, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 8-10 a.m. An IBS favorite among Seniors Housing Council members, this year's topic will be“Branding: How to Set Your Community Apart.”

Contact Eucklan Matthews at 800-368-5242 x8220 to RSVP for these Seniors Housing Council events. Check out the complete list of SHC activities for more information.

Also, drop by the Seniors Housing Council's Hospitality Suite, located in N217, Level 2, in the Las Vegas Convention Center, to pick up valuable seniors housing resources and to network with your peers.

Special thanks to Sunrise Colony, Kephart, and Corian for supporting Seniors Housing Council activities at IBS — and thanks to all of our 2003-04 Sponsors for your contributions. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

Chicago Is Famous For More Than Jazz

It's also home to a thriving housing market — especially for 50+ consumers. That's why the Seniors Housing Council selected the Windy City to host Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium 2004 to be held April 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

It's not too early to register online for next year's conference. Register by Feb. 27 to take advantage of the early bird registration fee. Seniors Housing Council members receive a substantial discount. There also is a discount for multiple attendees from the same company or for spouses.

After successful shows in Scottsdale, AZ, Orlando, FL, and, most recently, Indian Wells, CA, Building for Boomers & Beyond heads to America's heartland. On the popular community bus tour, you'll see Cambridge Homes' Carillon Lakes, Lakewood Homes' award-winning Grand Haven, and Sun City Huntley, Del Webb's first active adult venture in the Midwest.

In all, Building for Boomers & Beyond will feature 19 educational sessions, including an expanded track for multifamily, as well as an exhibit area, networking opportunities, and much more. Stay tuned for other evening activities and diversions during your stay in Chicago. Check out the full brochure for a Symposium overview.

Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more details. Or contact NAHB's University of Housing at 800-368-5242 x8338 with questions. For sponsorship or exhibit opportunities or to receive a Exhibitor Prospectus, contact Marlene Adams at 800-368-5242 x8208. [return to top]

Maximize Your Membership And Join A SHC Committee

in 2004. Whether you or your company are neophytes with the 50+ housing market or diehards who have been building for seniors for years, you are encouraged to join one or more of the Seniors Housing Council's 13 different committees. Attending Seniors Housing Council meetings will allow you to play an integral role in shaping the Council's programs and policies. Even better, you can network with others who share your interests, make valuable contacts that could grow your business, and exchange ideas with others in the industry.

Check out the Council's committee schedule at IBS. Or contact Eucklan Matthews at 800-368-5242 x8220 for more information. [return to top]

Rental Apartments May Compete With Seniors Housing

in the near future. That's according to a new report by the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industries (NIC). The report, “Understanding Seniors Housing Demand, Choices, and Behavior,” found that households that choose not to move to seniors housing do not necessarily remain in their homes. Although some seniors eventually move to age-qualified housing, many older residents often downsize and leave their “roots” by moving to apartments, especially market-rate, in non-age-qualified communities.

The report also revealed that seniors who live in age-qualified housing are happier than people who live in all-ages neighborhoods. Specifically, people who receive congregate care and assisted living services are less depressed and lonely than people the same age renting in these all-ages communities.

NIC's press release provides a summary of the report, which was prepared by Seniors Housing Council trustee Margaret Wylde of ProMatura Group, LLC. Click here to purchase a copy of the report. [return to top]

Younger Boomers Could Struggle To Own A Home

upon retirement. An AARP report stated that rapidly appreciating housing prices — even with very low mortgage rates — may make it difficult for many younger boomers to achieve homeownership, especially in markets where housing inflation is highest. According to the report, while retirement plan savings have increased significantly for boomer cohorts between 1989 and 1998, savings remain low, ranging from $16,000 to $32,000 in 1998 for boomers and people slightly younger at the median. The complete study examines boomer pension and IRA coverage as well as personal savings. Other recent AARP reports discuss declining inheritances for boomers and consumer behavior, fraud, and financial planning.

In other news:

The NAHB Seniors Housing Council, NAHB's Remodelors™ Council, and the NAHB Research Center joined forces with the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) and other organizations to celebrate National Aging in Place Week on Nov. 9-15. The goal was to increase awareness of aging-in-place and visitability among consumers and various groups. NAHB hosted an Aging in Place Summit in Washington, DC, and sent out a press release that shows that its members recognize and meet the need to design new homes, and remodel existing ones, to eliminate barriers and allow people to comfortably age in place.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released an unprecedented, comprehensive study of Fair Housing Accessibility. The study reveals that compliance of accessibility measures is high, but that compliance seems to be higher in building plans than in the homes that are built. The lowest scores involved the construction of reinforced walls for grab bars. Others areas of improvement were kitchens, bathrooms, and the location of light switches. Read the press release or buy the full report.

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Do You Want To Know More About Aging-In-Place?

Then you must check out the LifeWise Home, the centerpiece of the NAHB Research Center's National Center for Seniors' Housing Research. Built in November 2002 in the National Research Home Park in Bowie, MD, the LifeWise Home was designed to be energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and accessible for older/disabled homeowners.

Visit NAHBRC's Web site to see the list of features included in the home. It includes detailed information that allows residents to comfortably age in place in their own homes. Or contact Charlotte Wade at 800-638-8556 x6213 for more information or to arrange a tour. [return to top]

Local Seniors Housing Councils Have Been Busy

the past few months. Here's the latest local Seniors Housing Council report:

Atlanta 50+ Housing Council — Atlanta, one of two newly formed local SHCs, sponsored its first educational seminar on Nov. 18 at the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association in Tucker, GA. Chair Roy Wendt of Wendt Builders led a three-part panel discussion of speakers on the topic “How to Become Involved in the 50+ Market.” Contact Monica Saunders at 770-938-9900 x1446 for educational programs and other events or to join.

Maryland/National Capital Seniors Housing Council — The Maryland/National Capital Building Industry Association held its annual Multifamily/Seniors Housing Conference on Nov. 5 in Tysons Corner, VA. Highlights were a CEO Roundtable where multifamily and seniors housing industry leaders shared their vision on where the local market is headed and how to stay on top. Contact Bill Kennedy at 301-445-5407 for more on upcoming events.

New England Seniors Housing Council — New England held an all-day program titled “Active Adult Trends in New England” on Nov. 13 in Nashua, NH. The session touched on local and national trends, including from the builder/developer's perspective. Contact Catie Ruggiero at 617-773-1300 for membership information or a schedule of future programs.

Seniors Housing Council of Metro Harrisburg — Plans are under way for the council's Senior Day, March 1, during the Pennsylvania Home Show in Harrisburg, PA. The council will sponsor a booth displaying accessible kitchen and bath design and other ideas on design and general living, in addition to other activities. Visit www.pahomeshow.com for details. Or contact Linda McMasters or 717-232-5595 for membership information and future events.

New Jersey Seniors Housing Council — The council has a full calendar of events planned for 2004. A breakfast seminar titled “New Jersey Economic Outlook 2004,” is planned for Jan. 27 at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ. Four other educational seminars also are scheduled March 17. Contact Iris Cooper at 609-587-5577 for more information.

Seniors Housing Council of Southern California — The council presented five SAGE awards during its ninth annual awards banquet on Nov. 12 in Costa Mesa, CA. The city of Brea in north Orange County won the SAGE Award for its commitment to addressing the effects of aging on its residents. La Vida Real by Senior Resource Group, LLC, and The Village at Sierra by The Related Companies of California were the SAGE Project of the Year winners. Sharing SAGE Program of the Year honors were More than Shelter for contributing to the quality of life for seniors in low-income apartments and Project S.H.U.E (Safety, Health, Understanding, and Education) for bringing together seniors and children in the city of Westminster, CA. Visit www.shcsc.com for more information.

Find out if there is a local Seniors Housing Council in your area. Or, if you're interested, team up with your HBA to form your own local SHC. Contact Leslie Marks at 800-368-5242 x8235 for more details. [return to top]

Get In Touch With NAHB's Staff Experts

by accessing the NAHB Staff Resource Directory online. NAHB members can find NAHB staff experts on www.nahb.org. Finally, an easily accessible, fully searchable listing of the people you need to speak to at NAHB headquarters is right at your fingertips. Got a question on a specific issue but don't know who to ask? Go to the NAHB SUBJECT Contact Directory and search by topic, program, product or service to find the name, phone number and e-mail address of the person you're looking for. Already know the person you need to talk to, but little else? Try the NAHB STAFF Contact Directory, and search by first name, last name or department. Spread the word about this incredibly useful, members-only resource! Our Member Service Center (x0) has details. [return to top]

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For more information, call 800-782-1500 today. Identify yourself as a NAHB member. To order online and for details on more than a dozen money-saving Member Advantage discount programs, go to http://memberadvantage.nahb.org. Visit www.nahb.org to explore the numerous advantages associated with membership in your local, state, and national home builders association. [return to top]