The market for single-family homes among buyers 55 and older is booming, according to the most recent 55+ Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders. During the first quarter of 2014, builder confidence in the market for new homes among older buyers reached its highest level ever after 10 consecutive quarters of year-over-year improvement. Steve Bomberger, chairman of NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council, said rising home prices and low mortgage rates are helping baby boomers sell their existing homes at a good price and purchase new homes more suited to their lifestyle. This trend, spurred by last year’s spike in home prices, is expected to lead to more homes being put up for sale this year, which will help slow the rate of price increases by building up the supply of homes available for purchase. Also in the report, the index’s individual components measuring current sales and expected sales both rose significantly from one year ago, while the gauge of prospective buyer traffic remained unchanged. More here.