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As the number of baby boomers entering retirement continues to climb in the US, more retirees are considering downsizing. According to Bankrate, some common reasons for downsizing include the following:

• Economic freedoms. It’s common for many older adults to desire a more affordable home, enabling retirement savings to go further, and allowing more opportunities for travel or hobbies.
• Health concerns. Many seniors downsize to a home where there are fewer everyday obstacles to maintaining good health and mobility, such as a one-story home with an open floor plan.
• Convenience. If you’re tired of doing all the housework that comes with a larger home, you’re not alone. A lot of retirees choose smaller homes where upkeep is less expensive.
• A plan to relocate for retirement. Of those planning to move again for retirement, about half of those surveyed said they’d like to downsize. A projected 10 million retirees will downsize over the next decade.

Choosing to downsize to a smaller home in retirement isn’t always motivated by economics but is always affected by it. Even for higher-income retirees, downsizing is often a goal for practical reasons. A smaller home, particularly in a community or development, is far easier to maintain and clean. This is a priority for people as they age and are less physically able to take care of a larger home.

This is where manufactured housing comes in. Manufactured homes, particularly within a manufactured home community setting, offer important benefits to a retiree looking to downsize. A brand-new manufactured home is low-maintenance, with new appliances and designed to be energy efficient (and utility cost conscious). A home placed in a manufactured home community offers the additional benefit of close social connections and community activities, shared spaces like community clubhouses, pools and fitness centers, and a manageable yard. Communities may also include snow removal or even lawn maintenance with the monthly lease fees. These features also make a manufactured home perfect for a second home, allowing retirees to enjoy part of the year in a warmer climate, while keeping their current home.

If you’re a retiree looking to downsize, be sure to consider a manufactured home as an option. Search for a community sales center near you or your desired local area.