UC Irvine Extension Now Offers Courses Toward 'Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing' Designation
Sequence of Classes Helps Professionals Secure CAASH Certification; Assists with Entrance Into Fast-Growing Segment of Housing Industry
IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - February 24, 2010) - The University of California, Irvine Extension,
the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, today announced the availability
of three new courses, "Designing for the Active Adult," "Trends and
Research Methods to Define the 55+ Lifestyle" and "Selling to the Active
Adult," which aid professionals to become a Certified Active Adult
Specialist in Housing (CAASH). The CAASH designation, developed by the
National Association of Home Builders, provides the essential knowledge,
tools and skills needed for professionals to work within this burgeoning
industry.
"The 55+ market is the fastest-growing segment of the housing industry
today and into the foreseeable future," said Rita Lamkin, MIRM, CAASH, and
course instructor at UC Irvine Extension. "NAHB members who complete these
three CAASH courses by June 30th can save $50 on their NAHB CAASH
designation application."
The three courses offered by UC Irvine Extension -- developed by The NAHB
University of Housing and sponsored by the Building Industry Association of
Southern California and 50+ Housing Council -- are electives in the UC
Irvine Extension Light Construction and Development Management (LCDM)
program which provides university-level education to assist builders,
developers, marketers and architects in gaining a greater and more in-depth
understanding of homebuilding industry opportunities in a recovering
economy.
"Designing for the Active Adult" will take place on April 16-17 and will
provide an overview of design factors to consider when planning
single-family and multifamily housing for active adults. In addition,
students will learn how to meet the needs of this growing market and how to
provide prospective buyers with a variety of housing options.
The second course, "Trends and Research Methods to Define the 55+
Lifestyle," will be held June 4-5. Participants will enhance their
understanding of how to identify the location, product, community and
amenities that create the best opportunities for success, and learn the
critical importance of market research before development. Upon completion,
students will be able to gather vital information via a variety of consumer
research methods, explain how to find the best site, and project sales
before a project is started.
Rounding out the series, "Selling to the Active Adult" is designed to equip
participants with techniques to effectively communicate with, qualify,
handle objections from and close sales with potential active adult home
buyers. Held June 25-26, the session allows students to complete all three
courses in time for the June 30 CAASH application $50 discount deadline.
For more information or to register for the courses please visit
www.extension.uci.edu or call 949-824-5414.
About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC
Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning
experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and
programs to local, regional, and global constituencies via online
curriculum as well as through on campus classes. UC Irvine Extension offers
a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse
audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus
activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu or fan
the school at www.facebook.com/UCIExtension.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California,
Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and
community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing
University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and
graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest
employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic
impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.