Massey's remarks came at the home builders association's January

meeting at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree City.

Two of the significant factors she mentioned included increased demand for housing for the 55 and older population and the Hispanic/Latino population.

"Some builders are already aiming at the 55 and older market, which will be increasing in Georgia," she said. "As the population ages, builders should begin looking at such features no-step entrances, wider hallways and nearby or in-community healthcare and services."

Massey said that Spanish-speaking residents face many obstacles in obtaining decent affordable housing. These include language, discrimination, lack or information and economic factors. Noting that the Hispanic/Latino population grow 300 percent between 1990 and 2000, she said since financing methods are different in many of the countries these new residents came from, they can also have difficulty understanding how housing loan programs here work.

She also noted that during the 1990-2000 period, Butts, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Jasper and Pike counties' populations grew faster than the state average, while Meriwether, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties' populations grew less than 10 percent. She said that the bulk of the growth came from in-migration, and that while family households are still in the majority, the percentage of non-family households is growing at a rapid pace.

The home builders association's meeting was sponsored by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.

Information for Massey's talk came from a study by the Housing and Demographics Research Center at the University of Georgia. The study was prepared for the Department of Community Affairs.

The Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia serves builders in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper counties. More information about the group can be obtained by calling Sandy Boda, executive officer, at 770-716-7109.

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