How To Choose A 55+ Active Adult Community
By Beth Braverman, Next Avenue Contributor
The first time Mary Hickey, 53, and her husband, Joe, 59, looked at a home in Sun City Peachtree, a development in Griffin, Ga., in early 2016, they didnt realize it was an age-restricted community. But the more the accountant and human resources manager learned about the activities there, the more they were ready to downsize from their 21-acre farm in Barnesville, Ga.
We liked the idea of being around people closer to our own age, whether they were retired or not, says Mary. This community likes to do all the things that we like to do.
The couple moved into the community in September 2017. I went from working all week and then having to work on the farm, to working all week and having fun, Mary Hickey says. When you get older, you need to have fun and be around people that are also happy and having fun.
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Strong Interest in Active Adult Communities
The Hickeys arent the only ones attracted by the activities and sense of community afforded by an active adult community even if theyre not quite ready to retire.
Interest in age-restricted communities like the one the Hickeys chose is strong. In fact, builder confidence in the single-family, 55+ housing market hasnt been this robust since the National Association of Home Builders started compiling an index in 2008.
Before settling into an age-restricted community, ask yourself these questions:
What Can I Afford?
How Active is the Community?
Arizona Versus Other Southwestern States
You may be wondering what makes Arizona so different from other Southwestern states? For starters, people in Arizona tend to be more conservative than in the neighboring state of New Mexico. Arizona is also growing faster than lots of other states in the sun belt making it a great place to invest in real estate.
Scottsdale and Phoenix are two of the major cities that drive the states economy. These cities are busier and faster-paced than the suburbs, but host a lot of the major entertainment attractions. Many of the best 55 and over communities in Arizona are settled on the outskirts of these traffic centers, with easy access from multiple highways. This allows you to easily visit when you want, but return back to your safe and quiet community.
Best 55+ Community In North Dakota
Country Grove at Woodhaven – Fargo, North Dakota
This community may only host 65 single-family homes but it remains one of the gorgeous places to retire in North Dakota. It has an intimate clubhouse to keep residents socially and physically. Given that Fargo is the cultural capital of North Dakota, you’ll be living in a place where concerts, sports tournaments, and expos are the order of the day.
If you’ve been longing for a vibrant lifestyle in retirement, Country Grove at Woodhaven is one of the best places to retire.
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Best Active Retirement Community By The Water: Savannah Lakes Village Mccormick South Carolina
The lakefront community surrounded by scenic forests is a solid option for outdoor lovers who want to stay close to the water. It features a 23,000-square-foot recreation center boasting a ballroom, bowling alley, outdoor pool and more. Inside the Monticello Golf Club is a popular bar and restaurant. Of course, you can also enjoy the 71,000-acre Lake Thurmond providing more than 25 miles of shoreline. Its a great place for fishing, boating and kayaking with your neighbors. Overall, the community contains about 1,400 homes at the moment. But planners intend the location to include up to 5,000 homes. Property prices generally range from $200,000 to $600,000.
Best 55+ Community In Maine
The Village at Cider Hill – Old Orchard Beach, Maine
This quaint active adult neighborhood has 176 homes spread over 56 acres of opulent landscape and a few minutes away from the gorgeous beaches. You’ll enjoy several charming amenities at a properly well-appointed clubhouse where you can relax and spend time the way you wish.
The Village is ideally located in York County, Maine, and just minutes away from Interstate 195. This, of course, makes it a lot easier to drive around the town. You can go shopping at Saco Valley Shopping, which is just 10-minute away. Given that this community is located along the beach, it’s a great place if you’ve been looking for a beachfront retirement home.
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The Villages Sumter County: Show Time
The property has a 99-seat theater that hosts shows such as “Chicago” as well as performances by residents. There’s a dog park, a dance studio, and an archery range, too. The five villages share three town squares just a short golf cart drive apart for shopping and dining, and Fenney Village has a wood-railed walking path through its garden.
The Chelsea East Brunswick: Healthy Living
If ongoing health care is a necessity, it would be hard even in Boston, San Francisco, or New York City to find a more high-end setting to go about getting treatment. The 24-hour nursing service handles medical and memory care. The Crossings is a program designed to help residents with the transition to assisted living and provide therapy in a comfortable, private setting equal to other quality continuing care retirement communities.
Also Check: How Much Money Can I Make After Retirement
What Our Nh Active Retirement Communities Have To Offer
Both of our NH active retirement communities offer ease of access to nearby attractions and businesses as well as on-site services to insure well-rounded, and autonomous living.
If youd like to be within minutes of downtown Nashua, youll find our Hunt Community conveniently located close to local restaurants, shopping, and museums. For an expansive suburban community, you may find The Huntington at Nashua and its feature-rich, 55-acre campus an ideal fit. Here is a glimpse at what youll be afforded when you choose either our Hunt Community or The Huntington at Nashua.
Best 55+ Community In Hawaii
Moanalua Hillside – Honolulu, Hawaii
Are you looking to retire where you can enjoy the best of the Hawaiian lifestyle right on your doorstep? Well, Moanalua Hillside is a great community with beautiful apartments for rent, as well as various floor plans and resort-style amenities.
This community is centrally located in the heart of Honolulu so you can easily access Pearl Harbor, Downtown, Ala Moana, Tripler, the Navy Exchange, and Pearlridge Shopping complexes. Whether you’re looking for a studio, one-bedroom, or a two-bedroom apartment or beachfront house, there’s no better way to immerse yourself into the Hawaiian culture in your retirement than by staying at Moanalua Hillside.
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The 55 Best 55+ Active Adult Communities Of 2020
byBrad Mitchellon July 20th, 2020
Another summer means its another chance for 55places to find the best 55+ communities in the country. Every year, we look at the communities generating the most buzz, selling the most homes, or providing the most value, but what happens when we combine those all together?
This year, to find the 55 best 55+ communities in the country, we looked at more data than ever to find out where home seekers are looking and buying, what long-term homeowners think about their community, what the surrounding area provides, and what each community offers in terms of homes, amenities, and lifestyle.
To do this, we looked at hundreds of 55+ communities across the country for their median home price, amount of homes sold in the last 12 months, the variety of home styles offered, the number of amenities offered, and how many clubs, classes, and events they host. On top of that, we looked at the surrounding area of each community and what they offered, including analyzing Gallups Wellbeing Index.
Besides an updated methodology, this years list features a good mix of long-standing favorites, up-and-comers, and some big risers compared to last years list. As the ever-changing world of 55+ communities continues to grow and evolve, its always a good idea to step back and take stock of where we are and where were going.
Here are the 55 best 55+ communities of 2020.
Con #4 Rules And Regulations
While the HOA does collect fees from community members, it also enforces regulations and community bylaws that residents must abide by. If a resident violates a rule, the HOA may impose a fine. These regulations can be quite extensive, so its best practice to read the rules thoroughly before joining a retirement community.
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On Top Of The World Ocala Fl
As one of the most popular 55 and over communities in the country, On Top of the World in Florida draws retirees from all over the world. Amenities are abundant here, with three golf courses, sports courts, swimming pools, fitness studios and more. Expect to enjoy happy hours and 175+ resident clubs when living here.
Theres truly something for everyone in this retirement community. One of the communitys unique features is a 14-acre private R/C flying field for model airplanes. Outside of On Top of the World is Ocala, a central Florida town surrounded by nature preserves and forests.
Living In A 55+ Community
Mount Joy Country Homes, located in Lancaster County, offers this style of living, which allows older adults to remain autonomous but offers specific amenities such as maintenance-free living, structured activities, socialization and a sense of community. It also offers round-the-clock security, various size residences, numerous amenities, opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, and more. Realizing that you or your loved one is ready to move to a 55+ community is the first step in this new phase of life.
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Active Adult Communities With Unique Amenities
The truth is that many active adult communities tend to center around the same basic sets of amenities. There are a few, though, that have some truly unique extras that set them apart from one another. Some of these amenities are relatively simple, but they can be make-or-break additions to potential residents. Others, however, are so important that entire communities are built around them. Below are a handful of communities that have some truly unique amenities for their residents.
Who Is The Best Candidate For 55
True Connection Communities are designed for seniors seeking an active and engaged lifestyle. Our 55 plus communities give older adults the freedom to connect more closely with family and friends and engage in exciting new adventures.
Consider a 55-and-older community if you are retired or of retirement age and relate to any of the following:
- Looking for new friends
- Looking for a safe community
- Desire to pursue new hobbies and/or interests
- Remain physically active
- Interested in dining out, shopping, and entertainment
- Want a maintenance-free lifestyle
Though these are some of the top reasons folks decide to move to a 55-and-older community, there are many more distinct draws and a host of exciting benefits.
Recommended Reading: Best Places To Live In California For Retirees
Best 55+ Community In Kentucky
The Villas of Fowler’s Creek – Union, Kentucky
Located in Union, Kentucky, The Villas of Fowler’s Creek hosts 78 attached units in a friendly and community-driven neighborhood. These attached units are modern and well-constructed townhomes, which are accentuated with a gorgeous stone clubhouse that has several recreational options.
These homes are designed to be highly functional and comfortable. This community is great for senior citizens looking to downsize in a spacious and comfortable place. This community is located in the small town of Union and hugs the borders of Ohio. You’ll not only enjoy the quaint country town but it is also a perfect place if you’re looking for picturesque scenery with horse farms. All in all, you’ll enjoy every day the everyday conveniences of the city while retaining that quiet atmosphere of a small town.
Best 55+ Community In Texas
Sun City Texas – Georgetown, Texas
For two decades, Sun City Texas has remained one of the biggest and most popular 55+ communities in the Lone Star State. With over 9,900 single-family and attached homes, you can choose from over 50-floor plans that range from 940 to 3,150 square feet. This means that there are several options for all types of budgets.
With 12 tennis courts, a 9-mile walking trail, a fishing lake, six bocce ball courts, gardening plots, a dog park, and several parks, this community can be a great place for outdoor lovers. Imagine a retirement community with an 18-hole golf course, as well as four outdoor pools if you want to get some Vitamin D from the sun.
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Best 55+ Community In Connecticut
Heritage Village – Southbury, Connecticut
Heritage Village is a quiet and peaceful active retirement community located in Southbury, Connecticut. This is an amenity-galore community that’s fittingly located between Boston and Manhattan and has more than 2,500 spacious homes that offer some of the most gorgeous views in the state. Well, it’s situated into the rolling Litchfield Hills and is set amid 1,000 pristine acres in the historic Southbury.
This neighborhood is designed with several clubs and activities that will help you make friends as quickly as possible. You’ll enjoy the tranquil and peaceful unity between the natural environment and man-made amenities. The natural pond, trails, and rivers are perfectly augmented by the man-made 18-hole golf courses, private pools, and tennis courts.
Del Webb Active Adult Communities
Del Webb is a division of Pulte Homes that focuses on building and developing 55+ active adult communities. Del Webb is one of the original pioneers of the 55-plus community concept, having started their first development, Sun City, more than 50 years ago.
Del Webb currently has several new home communities under development in Florida, with several more on the way.
Also Check: How Much To Have In Retirement By 40
Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach
Latitude Margaritaville is a new 55+ community in Daytona Beach, inspired by the lifestyle and music of Jimmy Buffett.
Amenities include a fully outfitted gym / Spin Room, aerobics room with virtual personal trainer, indoor whirlpool spa and lap pool, Latitude Town Square where youll find the Bandshell with live music, The Last Mango Theater includes a banquet hall with stage for performances and dancing, Barkaritaville Pet Spa, Coconut Telegraph Business Center, Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant, Changes in Attitude Bar, Paradise Pool with beach entry, cabanas, and tiki huts, plus, an amenity that you dont see every dayyour very own private beach club!
Home prices start in the $200ks.
Best 55+ Community In Montana
Kootenai Creek Village – Stevensville, Montana
Offering unmatched access to Montana’s unique scenery and amazing amenities, Kootenai Creek Village is a perfect senior community for seniors looking to spend the golden years in Western Montana. You’ll stay in tip-top shape by training in the community’s world-class fitness center. You can also make the most of the outstanding environment by indulging in several outdoor and recreational activities such as hiking and biking.
This perfect senior community is conveniently located along the western border with Idaho, so you’ll never lack cultural and recreational activities. If you’re an avid golfer, you’ll have a handful of golf courses in the area. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a novice golfer or a retired pro, Kootenai Creek Village offers bountiful opportunities to the residents.
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Best 55+ Community In Idaho
Golden Spike Estates – Rathdrum, Idaho
Located in Northern Idaho, Golden Spikes Estates is a 55+ community where you can enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle, a well-designed clubhouse, and an environment surrounded by gorgeous natural surroundings. As an age-restricted neighborhood, this community offers residents some of the most affordable, modern, and energy-efficient home designs in the state. These homes can be customized to your liking and in a way fits the kind of lifestyle that you want to live in your retirement.
Golden Spike Estates also offers residents a plethora of recreational activities to make you active and entertained throughout the year. There’s an indoor pool, fitness centers, arts and crafts studio, movie room, library, beauty salon, many more. And if you’ve been longing for those daily BBQ grills and bonfires, this place just sums it up.
The 55 Best 55+ Active Adult Communities Of 2019
byBrad Mitchellon July 22nd, 2019
UPDATE: For a more current list, check out our 55 Best 55+ communities of 2020.
For the sixth consecutive year, 55places.com is proud to announce the 55 Best 55+ Communities of the Year. The competition grew fiercer in 2019, and we considered more data than ever in order to uncover the best active adult communities in the country.
To compile this list, 55places.com looked at amenity types, lifestyle options, price range, location, resident reviews, internal sales data, and more. You can find more about our methodology here.
If youve followed along on our monthly best-selling and most popular posts, some of the top-ranking communities on this list might not surprise you. Despite that, theres plenty of variety within the top 10 and throughout this list, whether youre looking for location, price, or anything in between.
We hope this list can help active adults pinpoint the community of their dreams as 55+ community builders continue to innovate and expand. Here are the 55 Best 55+ Communities of the Year:
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Best 55+ Community In Delaware
Southern Meadow – Magnolia, Delaware
Located in Magnolia, just 10 minutes from the state capital of Dover, this 120-home community is an excellent place to retire. You’ll not only be 30 minutes from the beach but you’ll also have plenty of things to do in Southern Meadow. From a fully-equipped gym, hobby rooms to a pool and a TV room, you’ve got a plethora of options when it comes to keeping yourself entertained.
You can also go swimming in a fully-stocked pond or even choose to learn something new on the nearby campus. You should, however, keep in mind that this is a land-leased community, so you may own the house but not the land. Whether you want a two-garage home or a home that’s connected to public water, Southern Meadow has some great options.
