UC Irvine Extension Now Offers Courses Toward 'Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing' Designation

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.

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