It ain't easy being green

Won’t have to worry about planning for home renovations in retirement. In a nod to solidarity with the green movement, almost half of baby boomers surveyed say they want green homes. Of course, only 12 percent would actually pay for it. Kind of like the “man” cave I want in my basement, complete with bar, big-screen and stand-up video games. Think my wife will actually pay for it?

“The data suggests that builders will have to be more tuned in to consumer needs, but potential buyers may be somewhat shortsighted as well,” says Sandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, which conducted the survey.