“Now I have no worries and all the room I need,” he adds. “I’ve got a great view of the woods and Brooksby Farm. I sit out on my balcony, read the paper, and have my coffee. I’m close to the café, Levy wins prestigious award the Windsor restaurant, and the pool. I swim every Tuesday evening and I use the hot tub. It’s really the perfect location—it’s great!”

Tazzini says Nesbitt’s and Levesque’s stories are familiar ones. “People often tell me that when they think about the rooms that they actually used in their former houses, the items in those rooms fit perfectly in their new homes at Brooksby; they don’t need all the extra space,” she says.

Demand for one-level living soars
Nesbitt and Levesque are not alone in wanting a little more convenience in their living space. A survey by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) finds an increasing demand for single-level home designs, not just among older Americans, but baby boomers as well. One-level homes provide greater accessibility and are generally more cost-effective— benefits that appeal to busy people of every age.

New homes are also moving away from the boxy rooms, narrow hallways, and divorced living and dining rooms of years past in favor of larger, more flexible spaces. In fact, 66% of firms surveyed by the AIA report that more and more homes are being designed with this open space layout.

With the increasing demand for one-level living, Tazzini says she encourages List. It holds a person’s place for when they are ready to move and the home style they want becomes available.

According to Brooksby Sales and Marketing Director John DeCecca, estimated wait times could range from one year for smaller apartment homes to as much as two years for larger homes. “Special amenities like patios and balconies will also add to a person’s wait time,” DeCecca says.

Nesbitt says she is thrilled with her home at Brooksby.

“I love the country. So when I saw the view from our apartment, I knew right away it was perfect. We have a big picture window that looks out over Brooksby Farm. We have a great view of the trees and in the fall when the leaves turn, it’s just gorgeous,” she says.

Levesque says he often jokes with people when he tells them how easy his onelevel home is to clean.

“I tell them my apartment is self-cleaning: I just open up both the balcony door and the front door on a windy day and a gust of wind just blows through and cleans the place out.”