UNCATEGORIZED

Does everybody over age 50 fit the ‘active’ category?

Oct 16, 2013, 8:42 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:52 am

“Will you tell me something?” my friend Stan asked one Saturday afternoon while tossing...

"Will you tell me something?'' my friend Stan asked one Saturday afternoon while tossing his post-hole digger into his pickup truck "Is everybody over 50 an active, freaking healthy adult? What do you call guys like me who simply want to come home, relax, pour something cold in a glass with ice and eat popcorn on the couch?'' (AP Photo/file)

(AP Photo/file)

I’ve known Stan Anderson for more than 25 years. He is 60, divorced and the father of two children, the younger child a girl who will graduate from high school next spring. He’s had the same job since he was 21 and will retire soon on a comfortable government pension with the maximum of 40 years of benefits. He has been known to have more than one cocktail between quitting time and supper, and spouts street-wise wisdom most of the day.

“Will you tell me something?” Stan asked one Saturday afternoon while tossing his post-hole digger into his pickup truck “Is everybody over 50 an active, freaking healthy adult? What do you call guys like me who simply want to come home, relax, pour something cold in a glass with ice and eat popcorn on the couch?”

Stan Anderson, as usual, had a point. Why are potential homebuyers in this country age 50 and older typically lopped into an active adult group even though some of them could be worlds away from being “active?” This bunch would include some of the different buyer types you’ve heard about – move-down, empty-nest, last-time . . . any moniker you would like to place on a resident older than 50.

The bottom line is that Stan is just beyond the upper-age limit of 77.5 million baby boomers that were born between 1946 to 1964. Because so many of these people are now over 50, they are grouped into the largest definable category – active adult.

Harris Interactive conducted the online survey on behalf of Pulte Homes’ Del Webb Division that included 1,802 adults aged 41-69 who live in 10 different regions of the U.S. Of the group in the 60-69 age bracket, 46 percent said they would consider moving to an active adult community. The numbers were about the same for the 50-59 group – 47 percent said they would consider the active adult community while 41 percent of respondents age 41-49 would consider the move.

Housing analysts, designers, builders (Del Webb) and planners have spent millions of dollars in research trying to ascertain what most people around Stan’s age would like in a home IF they were to move. Understanding a retirement lifestyle for a typical buyer in a specific area is extremely difficult. More than 60 percent, like Stan, may move to a smaller home in the same community, or simply stay put, surrounded by people of all ages.

Others, with the kids gone and work finally slowing, have shifted their activities and energies onto themselves and become more aware of their diet, physical fitness, eagerness to learn new skills and hobbies. They now are seeking a home that can better accommodate those changes and allow them to age in an area with more security and comfort with people their same age.

According to Irvine, California.-based John Burns Real Estate Consulting, a national leader in property analysis, the term “active adult” has become linked with the large communities where thousands of retirees join a resort-like club in a sunny climate. In the future, however, active adult will apply to a much wider profile of homebuyers who will buy locally, as well as in the amenity-laden resort communities.

The word “community” has already taken on a new connotation in many Northwest neighborhoods. While most active adult communities traditionally have been built in suburban locations, urban buyers command a greater share of the market, especially for condominiums, town homes and multifamily apartments. Many buyers are empty nesters who expect a high level of service, spend more on upgrades and are less likely to consider moving to an age-qualified community.

Remember, just as so many things in life, a move often does not turn out the way it’s planned. An empty-nester grandpa suddenly is asked to raise a granddaughter, the move-down buyer ends up paying more instead of less for the next home and last-time buyers eventually come to see that they will actually move two more times.

Many, like Stan Anderson, probably will never move again. His pickup will be parked in the same driveway and he will relax on the couch with popcorn and something cold in a glass.

Tom Kelly’s new novel “Cold Crossover” is now available in print at bookstores everywhere and in both print and Ebook form from a variety of digital outlets. Follow real estate agent and former basketball coach Ernie Creekmore as investigates the disappearance of his star player on a late-night boat. Check out the national reviews and put “Cold Crossover” on your list.

Uncategorized

(File photo)...

L.B. Gilbert

NLRB files complaint against Amazon for unlawful confidentiality agreement

A new complaint from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB ) is accusing Amazon of requiring some corporate employees to sign an unlawful confidentiality agreement. The complaint states Amazon had required a former employee from its drone project, Amazon Prime Air, to sign an agreement that forbade discussion of information regarding Amazon, whether or not […]

15 days ago

Image: As of Saturday, Aug. 12, SR 20 North Cascades Highway remains closed between Newhalem (milep...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Seattle City Light voices concerns as Sourdough fire threatens infrastructure, 5% contained

Wildland firefighters continue to fight the flames being emitted from the Sourdough fire near Ross Lake. The fire broke out on July 29.

2 months ago

king county metro audit...

Frank Sumrall

Audit: King County Metro struggling with meeting project deadlines

The King County Auditor’s Office released a report claiming King County Metro consistently fails to meet deadlines on capital projects.

2 months ago

Image: Seattle Police cars...

Brittany Toolis, KIRO 7 News

Seattle sees violent start to All-Star Week

Seattle sees a violent start to All-Star Week as three people were shot and killed within 12 hours.

3 months ago

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown...

Bill Kaczaraba

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announces resignation

Nick Brown, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, announced his resignation Tuesday morning.

3 months ago

A Seattle Police Department vehicle in Green Lake...

KIRO 7 News

Seattle man arrested with about 10,000 files of child porn

Seattle police arrested a man Wednesday with approximately 10,000 files of child sexual abuse material, according to the Seattle Police Department.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Swedish Cyberknife...

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is a busy month on the sports calendar and also holds a very special designation: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Ziply Fiber...

Dan Miller

The truth about Gigs, Gs and other internet marketing jargon

If you’re confused by internet technologies and marketing jargon, you’re not alone. Here's how you can make an informed decision.

Education families...

Education that meets the needs of students, families

Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA) is a program of Omak School District that is a full-time online public school for students in grades K-12.

Emergency preparedness...

Emergency planning for the worst-case scenario

What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the night and heard an intruder in your kitchen? West Coast Armory North can help.

Innovative Education...

The Power of an Innovative Education

Parents and students in Washington state have the power to reimagine the K-12 educational experience through Insight School of Washington.

Medicare fraud...

If you’re on Medicare, you can help stop fraud!

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year and ultimately raises the cost of health care for everyone.

Does everybody over age 50 fit the ‘active’ category?