"Ken S. Tucker" wrote in news:f7b9c36a-3804-4869- snipped-for-privacy@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
Some of our retired friends, desire to "downsize",
> IMO it's part of a boomer demographic shift.
> Beginning in ~1970 housing prices started to
> rise sharply as boomers spiked demand, now
> I think we're seeing that in reverse, as boomers
> shed large family homes in favor of lower cost
> maintenance and upkeep for freedom.
> I would think part of the de-valuation of homes
> recently, is demographical, with overspeculation
> (bubble) also in the equation.
> The effect of gas/commodity prices are a bit
> more difficult to actually compute in house
> pricing.
>
> They're considering going to trailers/RV's,
> which I think is a bit confining, so I tried
> searching for an old concept I heard about
> called Granny Cottages/Cabins, for easy
> floor plans. These folks have children with
> large lots, so property is not a problem.
> Any leads would do.
> Ken
>
WOuldn't that be similar to "guest house"? Anyhoo, I googled the terms.
The good ol' AARP had this article:
Googling three of the companies/providers mentioned:
A lot of small-space living ideas are applicable, really, with *efficient use* of space being much more important than merely lots of space. I have lots of space in the current place, and very little of it is
*efficient*. OTOH, the rental house I'd been in had lots fo good stoarage that was easily accessible (older home, obviously).
I think that, for older folks looking to "unload", built-in storage becomes more important, in part because it means they don't have to have as much furnitrue, and second because built-ins, *esp.* with doors!, are so much easier to maintain, unlike furniture which collects dust and has to be kept-up with.
I'm not sure what type of info you're looking for, but maybe some of the above will be useful.