Taylor Morrison Targeting Baby Boomers at "Verandas at Mar Bella" in League City, TX; "Lock and Leave" Garden Home Collection

HOUSTON, TX, April 13, 2011 (Press-News.org) How baby boomers live, spend their time and money has been the focus of marketers since they spawned the first of several housing booms 65 years ago. Today, boomers nearing retirement have marketers rethinking just about everything from family dynamics and leisure to home design and travel.

Taylor Morrison, a Phoenix, AZ-based builder, has spent two years planning and perfecting its new Garden Home Series with the help of Boomer home buyers, focus groups, surveys and statistical data accumulated in three states, including several resort communities in Florida.

Home buyers in the Houston-area can see the results of Taylor Morrison's research at the Verandas at Mar Bella, a gated section of Mar Bella in League City, when the Hawthorne model opens June 23rd. Mar Bella is a 454 acre master-planned community 4.5 miles south of the Kemah Boardwalk. Home sales are slated to open in early May.

The Verandas at Mar Bella features 55-ft. by 120-ft. home sites. Of the 108 home sites, about two dozen homes will have lake or park views. Taylor Morrison is offering 11 low maintenance one-story garden home plans with 2,300 to 3,100 square feet priced from the $230,000s to $270,000s. All of the plans have covered side or back porches.

"Boomers may be retiring, but they aren't ready to give up the things they enjoy. Entertaining is a must," said Steve Von Hofe, President of the Houston Division. "Everyone wants an outdoor living area. "Lock and leave" is definitely popular with people who travel extensively or travel for business. Boomers don't want to give up quality for low maintenance, both are important. Niche communities that cater to specific interests, cultures and/or age groups are going to be huge."

Most of the plans have a master suite along with a second full suite (bedroom/full bath) and options for another bedroom or suite. Some plans have a guest room with bath upstairs. There are luxury features to match every lifestyle; traditional, rustic, casual and modern-contemporary. Not only are the homes low maintenance, the entire community including front yards will be maintained by the homeowners association. Each plan has two elevations and a two-car garage.

The Hawthorne model with 2,592 square feet has two bedrooms with a study/third bedroom option and two full baths. The Hawthorne has a large covered back porch, centrally located off the master suite retreat and family room. What you won't find is a formal living room, a space-eating flex room or grand hallway. You will find lots of architectural features and details from archways and built-in entertainment centers to sloped ceilings with pot shelves and grouped windows to maximize scenic views.

"Our Garden Home Series is about scale and function. Boomers want space in areas they use most often, like the family room, kitchen and casual dining areas. Flow and versatility are extremely important," said Amy Haywood, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Taylor Morrison' s Houston division. "Some buyers want formals, but most would rather have an exercise room or private, cozy room for watching television or reading."

While The Garden Home Series was designed for Boomers, Haywood says the plans will also attract young professionals seeking low maintenance and quality, especially single women. "The versatility in the plans opens up options for multi-generational families, friends living with friends or extended visits. The Hawthorne has a guest suite that can connect to another room making it two full rooms with a bath."

Taylor Morrison is developing Mar Bella, a Mediterranean-inspired community, around a series of lakes, green belts and walking trails. Homes are currently available in three separate villages in Mar Bella priced from the $160,000s to the $600,000s. At the Verandas at Mar Bella, a Mediterranean-style community center will sit on a third-acre site overlooking a lake. Inside the center will be a full size kitchen, serving bar and a family bathroom. A large covered patio with a fire pit is planned.

Taylor Morrison builds in 17 communities in the greater Houston area. Home prices range from the $110,000s to over $600,000. In 2010, Taylor Morrison was named Home Builder of the Year by the Greater Houston Builders Association. Visit us on Facebook or www.taylormorrison.com.

Taylor Morrison is the No. 1 private homebuilder in the United States, according to Builder magazine, building a wide range of product for discerning home buyers across the country. With more than 150 communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida and Texas, Taylor Morrison offers first-time, mid-market and mid-to-upscale housing in both master-planned communities and urban infill neighborhoods. The company also operates under the Monarch brand in Ontario, Canada, where it builds single-family homes and high-rise condominiums. Taylor Morrison, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Taylor Wimpey plc (LON: TW), a home building company with 125 years of experience.