“Today’s mature home buyers simply don’t identify themselves as ‘seniors,’ and the 50+ Housing Council wants to be in touch with our members and the dynamic consumers they serve...”
— Randy Rinehart
The National Association of Home Builders’ Seniors Housing Council has changed a name change: it’s now the NAHB 50+ Housing Council. The new name, officially launched last month during the 2006 International Builders’ Show, better reflects the council’s membership and the wide range of housing types currently being built for the 50+ market.
A NAHB spokesman said the more inclusive name mirrors the council’s broad membership which includes builders, developers and other industry professionals who build active adult, assisted living, independent living, continuing care retirement communities and other 50+ housing. It also will position the council, which serves nearly 1,200 members and 11 local councils across the country and abroad, for continued growth in the future.
“Today’s mature home buyers simply don’t identify themselves as ‘seniors,’ and the 50+ Housing Council wants to be in touch with our members and the dynamic consumers they serve,” said Randy Rinehart, chairman of the 50+ Housing Council and a custom builder from Charlottesville, Va. “The new name is more marketable and will allow the Council to attract and serve a wider range of builders, developers and other professionals involved in the 50+ market.”
According to NAHB, consumers ages 50 and older accounted for one-quarter of the 1.267 million new home sales projected for 2005 and are the fastest-growing market segment of the housing industry.
“This name change is a significant step forward for the association and will have a positive impact in the council’s growth in the coming years,” said Jeff Smedley, council member and national sales and operations manager at Mature Living Choices in Lawrenceville, Ga. “The name 50+ Housing Council is inclusive of all housing for the 50+ market and not limited to seniors. As the market grows, more builders will turn to the 50+ Housing Council as the leading source of valuable information needed to grow their business.”
In addition, Seniors’ Housing News, the NAHB 50+ Housing Council’s quarterly trade journal, has relaunched as 50+ Housing Magazine starting with the Winter 2006 issue.
50+ Housing Magazine has articles written by builders, developers and other industry experts as well as sharing market research. The NAHB 50+ Housing Council has also updated its other publications, as well as the Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium, a spring conference that in 2005 attracted nearly 700 industry professionals involved in 50+ housing.