March 13, 2009 - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced the finalists for NAHB’s 2009 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, the premier design and marketing competition for the 50+ housing industry. A total of 80 entries were chosen as finalists and are eligible for either the Gold or Silver award from NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council.

“We were extremely impressed with the work we saw from this year’s finalists,” said Pat Kelley, 2009 chair of the 50+ Housing Council, and a home builder from St. Louis builder. “It’s clear that top designers, developers and marketers of the 50+ housing industry are identifying what Baby Boomers are looking for, and providing it in a thoughtful, well-built package.”

Finalists were selected in 35 categories representing active adult housing, service-enriched housing and marketing. Judges focused on entries that attempted to re-invent the standard approach to 50+ housing and implement future-oriented, creative ideas. Among the entries, judges noted highlights such as the developers’ creativity in the re-use of existing structures and the use of outside-the-box mechanisms to finance development.

From this group of finalists, Gold Award winners will be named at the Best of 50+ Housing Awards Gala on April 28 during NAHB’s 2009 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium^SM in Philadelphia. Visual presentations of all of the finalists’ entries will be on display during the Symposium.

The NAHB 50+ Housing Council launched the Best of 50+ Housing Awards to encourage quality and innovation in the 50+ housing market. The Council provides information, education and networking opportunities for its members and provides advocacy support to NAHB on key 50+ housing issues.

For a complete list of this year’s finalists please visit www.nahb.org/50plusawards on NAHB’s Web site. For more information on NAHB’s 2009 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium, please visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers.