Are you in the market for a new home in a 55-plus community?
There are a lot of great reasons to consider a 55-plus neighborhood: like-minded neighbors, a maintenance-free lifestyle and amazing amenities are just the tip of the iceberg.
But to get the full scoop on the benefits of 55-plus communities, sometimes referred to as active adult communities, it’s best to experience it for yourself. Before you make the move, here’s an insider look at what you might be able to expect from a day in an active adult community:
Live Your Lifestyle
In a 55-plus community, you’re free to live the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of for just about 55 years.
“You can expect the freedom to live how you’ve always wanted to live,” says Rob Krohn, franchise marketing manager with Epcon Communities. “If that is spending time traveling, knowing that your yard and landscaping will be taken care of while you’re away, then we’ve got that covered. If you like to entertain in your home, our spacious outdoor spaces make that possible.”
No time for travelling? Many active adult communities offer up a luxurious lifestyle right on site.
“You can spend your day relaxing in your luxurious home or you can fill your day enjoying the amenities, clubs, classes, events and additional social opportunities without leaving the community,” says Alina Hushka, senior vice president of marketing for Robson Resort Communities, recently named the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Builder of the Year.
A Like-Minded Neighborhood
Many active adult or 55-plus communities have covenants codes and restrictions, or CC&Rs, in place to protect the residents living there and to preserve a certain lifestyle, meaning age restriction might be in place, in addition to rules on parking, landscaping, paint colors and more.
“Your life in an active adult community means you’ll be surrounded by like-minded peers and free from the pressure of sharing the community and amenities with young adults or young families,” says Hushka.
Yet, some communities do things a little differently.
“Epcon communities are not typically age restricted,” says Krohn. “What our homeowners typically have in common is a need for a ranch-style, single-story home in an HOA-maintained community where the neighbors know each other and add to the lifestyle-rich environment.”
Because of this common thread and quality of living, it’s easy to see why buyers of the Baby Boomer generation find the appeal in an active adult community.
“We have neighbors that we talk to all the time,” say Phillip and Heather Atlas, Epcon homeowners in Keller, Texas. “We’ve met more people and become friends with more people here in six months than I did in our other place in 28 years.”
“Time is precious and our communities help you to gain that time back and use it to your advantage,” adds Krohn.
Amazing Amenities
With the many amenities most active adult communities offer, it’s easy to take advantage of that newfound spare time. Which brings us to one of the biggest benefits of living in an active adult or 55-plus community: those exclusive amenities.
Robson Resort Communities, for instance, has been redefining the active adult communities for five decades, offering up amenities such as community clubhouses, gated entries, championship golf, walking paths, restaurants, fitness centers, tennis and pickleball courts, resort-style pools, creative arts, classes, social clubs and more.
Still, it’s always better to experience that lifestyle for yourself, which is why Robson Resort Communities offers a special program for home shoppers that might still be on the fence about 55-plus living.
“To ensure living in an active adult community is right for you, many active adult communities offer programs to visit the community and ‘live’ like a resident for a reasonable fee,” adds Hushka. “The Preferred Guest Program at the Robson Resort Communities allows you to experience the lifestyle firsthand with one-day, two-night or three-night stays in a fully furnished home.”
The life of luxury awaits! You deserve it.
Drew Knight is a freelance writer for Builders Digital Experience (BDX). He graduated from Texas A&M University in December 2014 with a degree in agricultural communications and journalism.
The Emergence of 18-Hour Cities
Cherie
What are the hoa fees
Jamie Garcia
Hi Cherie,
HOA fees differ between communities. Talk with a representative of the community you’re interested in to learn what its HOA fees are.
Linda Bowen
Does the community contract a property management company that manages the HOA fees, manages the community property like pools, lawn maintenance, etc?
Do you have a pool, and pickle courts, or similar activities?
Jamie Garcia
Hi Linda,
Each community is different, but typically, most 55+ communities have HOAs, which do indeed manage community areas, such as public green spaces, amenities (such as pools and recreation centers), etc. The HOA will not manage private lawn maintenance; it is up to the residents to keep up with their own lawns. Most 55+ communities do have public amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, etc., but each community’s amenities are different. You will have to contact the community you are interested in to find out what amenities they offer.