Slow pace of remodeling may present opportunity
The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) dropped two points to 45 in the second quarter, indicating a decrease in remodeling activity.
The RMI reached 48 twice in 2011, but has been below that level during every other quarter since 2006. During the second quarter of this year, the component measuring expectations for future business was stable at 44 while the decrease was fueled by slightly worse current market conditions, which fell from 49 to 46.
Regionally, the index dropped from 48 to 42 points in the Northeast and 50 to 46 in the Midwest, while the West’s RMI was stable at 47. Remodelers only reported improvement in the South, where there was growth of one point to reach 47. Despite this, remodelers did indicate they expect business to improve slightly in the near future.
Professionals noted that financing and other factors are limiting their activity. The lows posted suggest that owner-occupiers and investors are not doing much to keep remodeling professionals busy. While the availability of foreclosure has dropped significantly in many areas, the low RMI suggests that investors may be able to get favorable pricing if they want work done on any new acquisitions.
That could be particularly useful for converting single-family homes into rentals, which there may still be strong demand for. Some distressed properties may have spent enough time vacant that minimal remodeling is a necessity before rental agents can begin looking for tenants.
Many remodeling to market to?seniors
With the elderly population growing as Baby Boomers age, a recent Harvard University study suggested that remodelers will have major business altering homes to cater to their needs. “Age-in-place” retrofits may provide work for many contractors, although most people prefer to postpone thinking about their need for such adjustments, BusinessWeek reports.
While some will stay at home as they age, others may look for new housing, especially if it can be smaller or more comfortable. Property owners may be able to cater to this market by anticipating their needs as they put off planning. Some say that improvements in accessibility and comfort may also appeal to families with children or other demographics.
While many own a home by the time they reach that age, not all do. It is also fairly common for the elderly to sell larger homes because they no longer need the space and the maintenance requirements become inconvenient.
Category: Rental Property Management
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Its good to see some healthy discussion on renovation. I must say, I have never considered renovating for the elderly market, but it is an interesting area. Many landlords are afraid of that territory as they don’t wan the burden of becoming a carer. You cannot reclaim your home as easily with an 80yo as you can with younger tenants without causing significant distress.In Romania, where we operate, the domain is a long way behind the US thinking also, because there is a distinct lack of pension funds available to the elderly.
Damian Galvin
President Reagan changed the tax code to stiaulmte investment in real estate in the 1980 s. Why do we not have anyone bright enough in the Government to copy that plan to stiaulmte a large employment sector again. Home ownership may never reach the highs of a few years ago. So we may need to offer investors tax credits and accelerated depreciation to invest in the excess inventory we have today. Or are we going to just let foreclosured, vacate property decay and further decline the values around them. WAKE UP CONGRESSMAN, SENATORS, GOVERNORS, PRESIDENT. (if you would like more employment ideas that pay a wage to support a family let me know. OH, by the way, the Tickle down bailout methods don’t work)