Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

Recently released data from the  National Center for Health Statistics  revealed that 1.3 million Millennial women gave birth for the first time in 2015. There are now over 16 million women in this generation who have become mothers. “All told, Millennial women (those born between 1981 to 1997) accounted for about eight in ten (82%) of U.S. births in 2015.” The data also shows that this generation has waited until later in life to become parents as only 42% of Millennial women were moms in 2014, compared to 49% of Generation X at the same age. A  Pew Research Center   article  discussing the data, points to social influences that may have contributed to the delay: “The rising age at first birth is hardly limited to the Millennial generation. It has been a trend since at least 1970. Many factors may contribute, including a shift away from marriage, increasing educational attainment and the movement of women into the labor force.” Do Millennials Want to Be Parents? “

According to  data  from the U.S Census bureau,  there are approximately 76.4 million baby boomers living in the United States today . Contrary to what many think, there are very different segments within this generation, and one piece that sets them apart are their housing needs. John McManus, editorial director of  Hanley Wood’s Residential Group   says  his company  “is focusing on the preferences of the younger half, or second-wave baby boomers, as they exhibit different needs than the older boomers.” What are ‘second-wave baby boomers’ looking for? McManus says, “ They are seeking a fun, dynamic lifestyle with a home that can also adjust to their changing needs in the future. Living space should either include accessibility features, such as doorway space, lower shelves, and nonslip surfaces, or be easily adjustable when the time comes. ” In a homebuyer study performed by  The Farnsworth Group , the participants  revealed  their reasons for purchasing a new home. The

We hope 2017 is a great year for you, both personally & professionally.