Tomorrow Never Knows

My last opinion poll dealt with the motivation of people to purchase a home right now. The response was that downsizing was the number one motivator. I have put forth this idea in previous postings. All you have to do is look around you and you will see the "graying of America".

We are an aging bunch, we baby boomers born 1946-64. We are a product of post war parents coming home from WWII and the Korean War (they had a lot of catching up to do.)

We have always been a force to reckon with. We made rock and roll a permanent fixture; as hippies we almost changed the face of the nation, and at the very least we brought the morass that was the Viet Nam war into the fore. We attended college in record numbers and became the most formally educated group to date.

We became the "Pepsi Generation", we consumed, we became affluent, we had kids (we spoiled them terribly-oh generation "Y").

Then we started to retire. The first of our numbers just turned 60 last year. Our kids are grown and, hopefully, out of the nest. We've worked hard, been in the rat race and have come to the conclusion that we don't have to work as hard as we used to. We may still be working at our jobs but the idea of then coming home from work to work in our homes has become not so important anymore.

We want to downsize. Why do we need that big house now. Why do we need that big yard. Look at all that stuff we've accumulated. It's time to have a yard sale and buy a smaller home or condo.

So, too, are our kids' lives different. They get married later. They have kids later. Because we as parents have finally been in that unique situation of being able to provide so much more for our kids, those kids tend to mature a little slower.

They want to stay downsized. A sleeker, more active and fun lifestyle does not leave a lot of time to fix up a home or landscape a yard. Kids these days (okay, I said it) want condos or apartments with club houses, pools, gyms and other fun stuff.

Wait! Their parents want almost the same thing! The circle meets.

With all that said, Wilmington is finally catching up with the rest of the world. Bennett Realty is in the fore front of providing alternative housing for our downsized lifestyle.

We will be working closely with a developer to build a new subdivision, within walking distance of shopping, that will provide a variety of condominium configurations to accommodate our shifting demographics. (Try saying that ten times fast.)

I look forward to being a part of this and am breathing a sigh of relief. The 21st century has finally arrived!