WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

There is nothing wrong with a suburban, exurban or rural home – but realize two things when thinking of an aging or disabled client.

1) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not apply to single family housing, so a landlord is not obliged to pay for a roll-in shower or other modifications.

2) According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, less than one percent of all housing is move-in ready for wheelchair users, and virtually all of that tiny one percent is newly built multifamily housing.

So the hard fact is that newer multifamily housing may be the only option with move-in ready design to accommodate a buyer/renter who uses a wheelchair for mobility.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Is the housing near the center of the city or a town center?

This does not mean the only option is a skyscraper or gritty townhouse.

It simply means keeping an open mind for a condo as a sale option or an apartment as a leasing option – to serve a client who can benefit from having a full range of services within walking/rolling distance.

For half a century, most growth in America was based on separating uses far from each other.

For the past several decades, the trend has been toward mixed-use communities, where jobs, schools, parks, medical offices and shops are clustered in a vibrant community.

Many of Florida’s suburban, new growth cities are actively soliciting major redevelopment that creates a mini-downtown – with pedestrian activity, density and a mixed of uses – where there was none.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Is public transportation nearby and is it efficient.

This doesn’t mean the single or multifamily housing has to be next to a New York City-like subway system or Chicago elevated train network.

Only a few cities such as Miami and Tampa have fixed rail transit.

So in most Florida communities, the question is are there buses, shuttle buses or other public transportation that runs on a regular route and has stops frequent enough to serve a senior or person with a disability that uses it to get to work, healthcare, shopping, recreation and other daily needs.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Are there dedicated bike lanes?

Are delivery trucks and other vehicles ticketed and towed when they illegally block bike lanes?

Many senior citizens can bike to shops and services.

It provides healthy exercise and an alternate means of mobility if driving is no longer an option because of deteriorating physical, visual or cognitive ability.

There are three-wheeled and handcycle bikes that can accommodate people with many physical disabilities.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Does the community have wide sidewalks on both sides of the street?

Are they well-maintained (tree root buckling repaired, landscaping trimmed back) and unobstructed (no speed limit signs in the center of the sidewalk, no dockless scooters allowed to be discarded and blocking safe passage)?

Are crosswalks safe (center median safe harbor to pause halfway when there are four or more lanes)?

Are curbramps consistent or missing?

Without them, a wheelchair user is forced into dangerous traffic.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR

PLEASE HAVE INCLUSIVE SEATING THIS YEAR

Last year’s book fair had an outdoor food court produced by Smorgasboard Miami.

It had 24 picnic tables and another 12 metal tables.

Not one had a space for wheelchair users.

We reported this 10 minutes into the opening day of the street fair.

Nothing was done.

This kind of ableism and exclusion cannot be repeated.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Millions of Florida residential real estate clients are aging and are likely to experience some loss of mobility.

Many just plain enjoy a barrier-free home in a community that doesn’t demand that they drive a car – past the age they can do so safely – to meet their daily needs.

Others are downsizing and want to live close to arts, culture, urban vibrancy and healthcare options.