Recently I was talking with a friend, let’s call him Judas. Judas just turned 60 and is currently renting. Has limited income but would like to own a home. He talked about moving to a warmer part of the country and was wondering if moving into a 55+ community would fit his lifestyle and budget.
We got to talking about the 55+ community I live in. Talking about the amenities, the clubs, and social events. We discuss the pros and cons of living in a 55+ community.
Deciding to move into a community is such a huge investment in time and money and with so many 55+ communities scattered around the county. I thought I would dive in and do some additional research on the topic.
What is 55+ community?
By federal law, which governs age-restricted communities. 80% of the occupied units must have at least on resident who is 55 or older. Anyone else living in the home must be no younger than the minimum age established by the community. This does not mean people younger than the minimum age cannot visit. One the contrary, most 55+ communities make allowances for younger (usually) grandchildren to visit and enjoy themselves.
From most people I talk with, living in a 55+ communities is active and a chance to live with neighbors who enjoy the same interests as you.
Where are 55+ communities?
Checking the internet is full of information regarding 55+ communities. From top best, to search by state, or amenities. You can find what you are looking for. Sites like RetireNet.com 55+ Communities by state, or 55Places.com 55places list of communities, have interactive maps showing communities by state. Other sites like RetireBetterNow.com Top 10 55+ communities provide a listing of their best picks.
When we were looking we decided on the state climate and posture towards older Americans as part of our criteria. Sit down, list out what you want from the state and surrounding communities.
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a 55+ community.
Advantages?
Active Lifestyle – 55+ communities are built to provide an active lifestyle for older adults. Depending on the community, activities can range from golf, to pickleball, riding bikes, or walking. Most communities have pools and water activities to help keep you looking and feeling young.
Sense of Community – Where we live, there is a sense of community. Unlike at our previous home where the neighborhood was made up of various ages families. If lucky, where you only socialize with one or two neighbors your age, or with your interests. In a 55+ community, you get to socialize with people, who have common interests. It is said, if you do not know people. You just need to get out of your house.
Maintenance free, or reduced maintenance burdens – this one depends on which community you live in. What your home looks like, lot and house size, amount of lawn area in front, side or back of the home. In our neighborhood we have a variety of landscaping options. Some of us like green, so we have lawns and flowers. Others want an X-scape design with rocks and a few bushes or trees. What are your design characteristics? Your home may require a little more maintenance than your neighbor.
Variety of available support services – depending on where your community is located. You could have ample services available, or you may need to travel. If your community is located near a metropolitan center, services are more readily available. If your community is in the country. Well, you see my point.
Convenient locations – Again, this depends on location, location, location. Our community is in the center of Florida in Horse Country. We encompass 35 square miles of what was once farmland. The towns around our community flourish with retail shops, restaurants, and other amenities. It was not always so, and for some people I have talked to, other communities require residents to travel a distance to get to the shopping mall.
Sense of safe and secure environments – some communities are gated requiring you to pass through a gate and an on-duty guard. Others are open and anyone can drive in to look around. I can tell you, people in our community, watch out for each other. We know who belongs and who is a stranger to our community.
Disadvantages?
Usually more expensive than other type of communities – seems with all that is offered, the prices for living-the-dream is more expense. Talking with realtor friends of mine, the price of homes in our community are higher than the surrounding area. Means it will take more money to move in. The upside is the value of our homes seems to hold and even increase. This is evident in the current sluggish real estate market. Where homes in the surrounding area are decreasing. Our home is maintaining its value.
Smaller living area – when people think of a 55+ community. It usually means they have or are becoming empty nesters. We had a 4000 sqft. house on a 1/3 of an acre. When our daughter and her kids lived with us. She was able to move into a house of their own, and we realized we did not need all that space. We were living in the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. Was time to downsize. We downsize to an 1800 sqft. home. For some people they go to the extreme and downsize to much, only to find they need to upsize later to live comfortably.
Lack of diversity in homes and neighbors – most communities, either in a 55+ community or not, have a lack of diversity in homes. Ever drive through a new home community in your area. Have you noticed that every third or fourth house on a street is the same model? Same thing with most 55+ communities. By only having a select models available, developers can keep costs down. Where people in our type communities make up for it is in interior design.
Restrictive and possible excessive rules – like most communities in the US, there are Homeowner Associations (HOA). There, HOAs help to maintain the overall look and feel of a community to standards accepted to by the community. I find in our 55+ community, this is no different. They what to make sure the community is nicely presented, and that a “dark purple” house does not show up. Again, depending on the community, there could be other restrictions. Our community has a restriction on use of the pools. We have 3 types of pools for everyone to enjoy. There is the sports pool, with swim lanes to swim laps. An adult pool where people over 45 can relax and talk. Then there is the family pool for when the grandkids visit. Other communities with pools have their own rules. Maybe the community only has one pool. In any case, the rules are there to make using the pool enjoyable for all.
Conclusion
Moving out of where you currently live and moving maybe clear across county is a big decision. What I can recommend is to do your homework. Figure out what you want in life. Then go get it.
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