Fewer Americans are moving, putting the rate at one of the lowest in more than 50 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. One thing that is becoming a bit more common, however, is the long-distance move.

Some 40 million people -- 14 percent of the population -- moved between 2002 and 2003, a drastic decrease from the 20 percent who moved in 1948, the year the Census started collecting information on moving.

What's prompting us to move? Most of us who are relocating -- 51 percent -- move for housing-related reasons, such as moving into a bigger house to accommodate a growing family. Another 26 percent move for family reasons and 16 percent for work-related reasons.

Young adults are the most frequent movers; about one-third of 20- to 29-year-olds had moved in the previous year. Mobility peaked during people's twenties and decreased with age. Among those who moved, those 55 and older were more likely to have moved to a different state.

A separate Census report released last August said Nevada and Arizona were major destinations in the late 1990s, with many new residents coming from California. And Florida is still a favorite retirement state, but is slowly losing ground as retirees seek out other locales.

Meanwhile, owning a home correlates with less frequent moving, according to the report.

"Homeownership is one of the strongest predictors of whether a person moved," the report states. Nearly one-third of people living in renter-occupied housing units in 2003 moved during the previous year, compared with only 1 in 14 people living in owner-occupied housing units."

And homeowners are increasingly improving their homes -- updating their kitchens, creating luxury bathrooms, building mini-resorts in their back yards, and generally incorporating their own stamp and personality -- like never before.

Indeed, the remodeling market, a $214 billion industry in the U.S. in 2003, is projected to grow to $224 billion or more this year. It is estimated that more than a million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling.

A good chunk of the remodeling pie is coming from Baby Boomers, who continue to upgrade and modernize their homes in increasing numbers. Many are refinancing at record-low interest rates and taking out extra cash or using a home equity line of credit to pay for their projects.

Qualified Remodeler magazine and Kitchen and Bath Design News launched a survey that reveals Boomers want luxury and a striking design, including high-tech, stylish appliances, natural stone countertops, custom cabinetry, whirlpool baths, super showers and luxury faucets.

Because 70 percent of them own homes and because they have more disposable income than other age groups, boomers dominate the home improvement market.

Homebuilders and remodelers are picking up on the trend that an escalating number of homeowners want to stay put.

"We (baby boomers) all can't move to retirement villages in Florida or Arizona," Charles Russell, a member of the NAHB Remodelors Council said. "There just aren't enough of them. Besides that, surveys say that an overwhelming majority of people prefers to stay in their own homes as they mature, surrounded by people and things that we know and love."

The NAHB says people 55 and older represent 21 percent of the population. Some 77 million baby boomers -- people born between 1946 and 1964 -- have or will reach retirement by the first few years of this century. And between 2000 and 2030, 82 million people will turn 65 with the over 85 age group becoming the fastest growing segment of our population.

The AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons) in a recent study found that 89 percent of homeowners want to stay where they are. That has prompted NAHB to create a special designation for remodelers. Called Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists, the program trains remodelers how to design and build barrier-free living environments, including allowing people with disabilities access to the home.

Published: March 30, 2004

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