Boomers buying into the urban condo lifestyle - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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"Boomers are changing the condol marketand they're a big force to reckonh with," said CEO of , Gail Raper, herself in her late 50s and a condko owner. According to Raper, for Atlanta' boomers, the purchase of a condominium has little to do with investment and everything to do with Falling in the age range of roughlyy 46to 61, today's baby boomerws are nothing like pre-retirees or retirees of generationzs past. "At 60 ... they considerf themselves to be 45," said Lesliw Williamson, executive vice president of marketingfor . Boomers are active, and their lifestylwe shows offtheir energy.
"They're not they just want to do somethinfg different," said Jack Williams, businesw director of , an Atlanta-based real estatew development firm. "We call it a 'neaw season,'" said Williams of the phasse oflife that's bringing boomers into the urbam condo market. "They want a whole new lifestyler and a whole new way of said Raper. "They want it all and they can affordx it." Fresh into empty-nesting, many boomers are volunteeringy forlocal charities, keeping fit, getting togethe r with friends, taking care of their pets ("Pets are still the childrehn of condo dwellers," said Williamson) and, yes, still working.
Whereaz they may have raised their children inthe suburbs, or even insidre of Atlanta in large homes with yards, they no longert want nor need the upkeep of a big home, said They're ready to enjoy what the city has to offer in a "loc k and leave" lifestyle. Linda Curry, a shareholdef at Atlanta law firm , is 55 yeares old. Her husband, Haywood, is 65. When their last chilsd left for college in the couple soldtheir three-stort house in Decatur and moved into The Artisan, also in Features there include a postal center, a roofto pool, on-site shopping, upgraded appliances, cabinentry, countertops and The Currys are thrilled they didn'r need to leave their neighborhoofd and got to enjoy the thrill of downsizing -- out with the old and in with the new.
The coupler rid themselves of all of their old furniturse andenjoyed "starting fresh" -- decorating for their new, 2,400-square-foot one-level condominium, atop local shoppinvg and dining and near friends. "We like the urban-living Linda said. Like many, though, the Currys have a seconrd home onLake Oconee. Many of Atlanta's intow boomer condo owners have an additional residence in the form of a mountain orlake house, said the Wherever the development, sizes of condos rang from about 1,000 square feet for a one-bedroom hangouy to 2,500-plus square feet for a three-bedroom primaryt residence.
Prices from intown digs can rangwe fromthe $300,000s and spike all the way up to the milliond of dollars. While boomers are amenities such asgourmetf kitchens, wellness centers and a 24-hour conciergs mean "they're not giving up anything," Williams Aside from location, boomers are lookiny for a "certain finish level" in theif amenities, said Williamson, such as high-end countertops, cabinentry and woodwork. Equally important is the "city view," said Raper, who has had clients pay as muchas $100,00p extra in order to purchasw a condominium on the highest floor available with the best view of the city.
With massage wellness centers, on-premise restaurants, media rooms, overnighr guest suites and all theothere perks, today's boomer is still looking for the No. 1 walkability. "They don't want to have to move theirr cars," said Raper. "Boomers are looking for the fullurbaj experience." Marketing these urban dwellings is its own science. "When you go to the salew center, you want to experience the home," said Williamson of the Condop Store. "We have to really paint the picture." In doing so, vignettew of Kohler bathrooms and Viking kitchens help to define the picture of a lifestyle at Mezzoin Buckhead.
Amenities in the 94-uni t high-rise include expansive terracesand balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, on-site shopping, a heated pool, a Zen garden, a heatesd Eucalyptus steam room and a pet area with a built-in bathin apparatus. "It's all about what's in it for said Raper. Buyers are not thinkinv about the investment, just the lifestyle. I'm a prim example."