By Lesley Deutch, Principal
Thinking of building communities for boomers? Focus on food!
Grocery stores and restaurants topped the list of most desirable amenities, according to our Consumer and Product Insights survey, which includes responses from more than 9,000 registered new home shoppers born from 1946 to 1965. Fitness centers and walking trails came it at #3 and #4! Golf courses ranked #49 out of 60!
We have watched this shift play out at The Villages, the largest active adult community in the country. Originally conceived as a golf course community, the Town Squares are now as vibrant as almost any suburb in America. Pulte’s Del Webb communities, also originally conceived as golf resorts, now focus on proximity to existing retail and services, such as Tidewater in Fort Myers or Ponte Vedra in Jacksonville.
In summary, survey your prospective buyers before making multi-million amenity commitments. Preferences shift over time, and opportunities vary by geography. Our national consulting team sees these shifts play out throughout the country and can help you make great decisions.
