For the last couple of decades birthrates have declined drastically here in the good ole USA. This is due to better contraception, better sex education and the higher cost of living. Folks are just not having as many children as they used to.

This is why the number of seniors in the marketplace has mushroomed way beyond the number of boomers and young adults. As people age and move into the senior segment, there is simply not enough back-filling occurring by the younger generations. In addition, thanks to better food and better health care, seniors are living much longer than ever before.

It will be a minimum of 50 years before this trend can possibly change, and it won't do so then unless another baby boom happens very soon. So, the senior segment will just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger; and you better focus your sales efforts on them ASAP! They are the best marketplace of the New Millennium (probably for all 100 years of it).

Some of the main things seniors are looking for in homes are first floor master bedrooms, first floor full baths, two car attached garages, walk out basements and most of all few (if any) stairs inside or outside.

So promote houses with these amenities as being "senior friendly" homes and not only will seniors call about them, you and your company will also gain a reputation as being senior oriented. The former senior market "niche" is rapidly turning into a sales "grand canyon" so focus some marketing efforts here and dig up tons of new sales.

Published: December 23, 2002

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Gary Onks, founder of Sold On Seniors, Inc., is an author and marketing consultant who has been featured in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Times, CBS Radio Marketwatch, Microsoft bCentral and other publications. His book "How You Can Reach & Sell the $20 Trillion Senior Marketplace" is acclaimed as "the 'Art' of pleasing senior customers." Onks has sold millions in goods directly, one-on-one to seniors. His experience includes serving as executive director of a large retirement community and selling to seniors for over a decade. His trademarked Seniorized marketing methods deliver exceptional results. You can reach him at 800-416-8785, GaryOnks@SoldOnSeniors.com or at his website www.SoldOnSeniors.com.