Housing

Boost in New Home Demand for Americans 55 and Older

New home
Thinkstock
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported today that its housing market index for 55+ single-family housing rose to 46 in the first quarter of 2013, up 19 points year-over-year and the highest first-quarter total in the 5-year history of the index. A score above 50 indicates that more builders see market conditions as good; below 50 indicates that market conditions are poor.

The important thing about the index is that this demographic, usually called “baby boomers,” is very large and the older people get, the more likely they are to own a home. In a conferenc presentation today, homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) noted that 77.6% of people aged 55 to 64 own a house and of those 65 and older, the ownership rate jumps to 80.7%.

If older Americans are going to buy new homes in communities designed for active adults, they must be able to sell their existing homes. That could mean that builders like Hovnanian and others will need to be wary of over-building for the older buyers unless the housing market really starts to take off again. There could be a very fine line between success and failure in the market for new homes for older Americans.

Is Your Money Earning the Best Possible Rate? (Sponsor)

Let’s face it: If your money is just sitting in a checking account, you’re losing value every single day. With most checking accounts offering little to no interest, the cash you worked so hard to save is gradually being eroded by inflation.

However, by moving that money into a high-yield savings account, you can put your cash to work, growing steadily with little to no effort on your part. In just a few clicks, you can set up a high-yield savings account and start earning interest immediately.

There are plenty of reputable banks and online platforms that offer competitive rates, and many of them come with zero fees and no minimum balance requirements. Click here to see if you’re earning the best possible rate on your money!

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.