A recent article published in the Vermont Housing News Section revealed an investment opportunity that caters to a growing housing market, baby boomers and retirees.

The news article highlighted that many older people are moving out of their homes into smaller quarters, including Allen Provost, who recently moved into Northern Meridian, a new 88-unit apartment complex on Lime Kiln Road in South Burlington. "I'm old, 79 years old," he told Channel 3. "So I sold my house and moved into something like this."

Provost waited until he was in his 70s to make the move. Many more will follow as the tip of the Baby Boom generation enters its sixties. For him, renting made more sense, and so he moved here, into one of South Burlington's newest housing developments.

"What I like about it? he continued. "They have a nice swimming pool, I go down and take a swim every day. They've got workout rooms." And with a laugh, "I don't have to shovel no snow, don't have to mow the lawn, don't have to do nothing."

Boomers like independent living and amenities but without the hassle

John Wilking, president of the Neville Companies, a property management firm, said, "What we've got here is a slice of the senior housing potential. Obviously, there's nursing homes, there's assisted living. And this is Independent Living."

It's a new trend in housing for the growing number of older people. Wilking says the residence is wired with an alarm system. "If somebody did fall," he said, (or have) some issue, they can literally hit a switch and the ambulance is on its way."

Otherwise, the residents are on their own. You have to be 55 or older to live here. The rents are not cheap, ranging upward from $1100 a month. But that covers large two-bedroom apartments with two baths, and includes utilities and underground parking. The appeal to older people is not hard to explain, Wilking said.

Economist Art Woolf of Norhtern Economic Consulting says independent living appeals especially to the Baby Boom generation. "There's private entrepreneurs who are responding to that demand by providing rental housing, condominiums, things that basically require people to do less work on their houses," he said. "That's what renting and condo ownership do. And also living closer to Burlington, where there's a lot more services."

This housing trend makes investing in apartment or multi-family buildings a great opportunity. Finding a niche to cater to, like seniors, should also increase your investing success.