Almost one in four boomer households have a high net worth of $500,000 or more, and this ratio is expected to increase in the future as the generation ages. Virtually all high-net-worth households are homeowners (97 percent), and 47 percent are likely to also own other real estate in addition to their primary residence. More than a third expect to help children or grandchildren with a downpayment on a home. Wealthier boomers want amenities where they retire, including cultural activities such as museums and art galleries. As a result, they are more likely to retire in an urban area or city.

Although most boomers are married couples and 27 percent have children under the age of 18, nearly two out of five baby boom households are nontraditional households, most of which are headed by women.

Non-traditional households may have different needs and desires about where they want to live. For boomers with children, neighborhood schools are of obvious concern, but for those without children, security may be a bigger issue.

Twenty percent of boomer households are headed by women, but because women aged 60 to 69 account for a quarter of homeowners in that age group, the number of women boomer homeowners is likely to increase much faster than average as they age.

Francese said there's little doubt that the vast majority of baby boomers will delay retirement. "Some will put off retirement because they have to, but many because they want to," he said. "Many will have a larger income stream to purchase possibly two homes, which they may use to move back and forth between their retirement life and their working life."

"However, some caution should be exercised here regarding retirement preferences," Francese said. "Surveys of future intentions often include a dose of wishful thinking, and attitudes can be influenced by the media and other outside pressures. For example, many are probably not going to be able to, or even want to, retire in a small rural town far from their current home, even if they may dream about it currently."

Preliminary study results were released May 18 at NAR's Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, with a focus on the real estate and second- home appetite of boomers. The more extensive analysis released today is also supplemented with context and data from the Census Bureau's mid-2006 estimates of population characteristics; it offers an abundance of information helpful for planning to Realtors(R), builders, mortgage lenders and others connected to the housing industry.

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