Retirement communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (Carrollton, Denton: health insurance, condos)

[peggyjo22]

My parents are retiring this year and we would like to have them live closer to us (but not too close). They are still very active, love golf, dancing, socializing etc. Does anyone have any suggestions for them to look in the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

[duck3775]

There are several active retirement communities in the Dallas Fort Worth area. The one I am most familiar is Robson Ranch just south of Denton one mile west of 35W. You can learn a lot about it if you search “Robson Ranch Texas pre-owned”. Another one is Frisco Lakes. Frisco is north of Dallas. Pecan Plantation is south west of Fort Worth in Grandbury. I am sure there are several others

[ChristieP]

Robson Ranch and Frisco Lakes are the big Del Webb communities and they have all that you're looking for. Both have golf courses, IIRC.

If they were looking for more of the condo living style, I'd recommend Trinity Terrace in Fort Worth or Park Place in Bedford. Those do no thave golf courses, but they are really neat senior livign communities.

Pecan Plantation is NOT a retirement community. (I have a 30-something friend who lives there with her small child!) It is just a master-planned development in Granbury.

[sonshinelife]

Carrollton/someone is building a senior living facility near their senior citizen building in Carrollton. It is huge. It is close enough to several golf courses ...public and private. Not sure when it will be completed but it looks like it is going to have underground parking.

[loves2read]

article about planned life communities where there is health coverage for the people who buy their spots--move from living unassisted in condos/apt type housing then to assisted living when necessary to really managed care facility at same location basically and all with medical coverage included with your purchase...
article on money.com
they might consider something like that if they have the money to invest and consider it prudent

that is not cheap but article said that this might be the best time to buy since some people in that market group were stung by the market falling and the waiting lists for properties have shrunk...
don't know if there are any like that in Dallas/FTW area...

to me--the area of Robson Ranch is just flat prairie land--the development allows no privacy fences so backyards are open--if you have pet for the outside that could be problem
that area is pretty isolated from FTW/Dallas--probably a 30-45 min drive into Sundance Sq depending on which freeway/time you go and Dallas would be about the same
Denton is the closest town and while there are restaurants there they are mainly chain/fast food/Chili's types
hospital there is pretty good and there are other specialists
one nice movie theater set-up, shopping---Denton is enlarging and sprucing up the downtown area--there is cultural activity via UNT
some shopping in Flower Mound\Lewisville is do-able like Belks off 407 and other shopping around there

Southlake has pretty expensive senior living subdivision--Waterford or something like that going in on 1709 west of the Southlake Town Center--


frankly if they are in good health and basically just want to move to be close to your family--maybe they should not buy in "senior" community but one that has zero-lot homes or a townhouse complex with liveable first floor...
there are plenty of retired people living throughout the Metroplex in both sides--who managed their lives w/o having to live in "senior" community...

in my neighborhood in Hurst--our street has two retired couples who built their homes from the ground up--lot for one of them backs up to the house behind which their son owns--the grandkids come down a backyard staircase (since his house is elevated on higher ground) to visit grandparents almost every day...their lot has small backyard for low maintenance but she has done beautiful job turning it into lovely flowering terrace...

I would think price point and your parents lifestyle would be the primary concerns--if they have health issues and need services of dr who takes Medicare patients then that may be problem
I know many people who have reached Medicare age to find that their dr will not continue their coverage and they have to find someone who will---most of them do not have a private/pension-related health insurance to supplement Medicare

one woman we know moved from Victoria to Lewisville/Flower Mound area about a year ago to be closer to her daughter/grandchildren--she found really nice apt complex but took her months to find dr that would take her as Medicare patient...
very frustrating...

[duck3775]

Originally Posted by loves2read

article about planned life communities where there is health coverage for the people who buy their spots--move from living unassisted in condos/apt type housing then to assisted living when necessary to really managed care facility at same location basically and all with medical coverage included with your purchase...
article on money.com
they might consider something like that if they have the money to invest and consider it prudent

that is not cheap but article said that this might be the best time to buy since some people in that market group were stung by the market falling and the waiting lists for properties have shrunk...
don't know if there are any like that in Dallas/FTW area...

to me--the area of Robson Ranch is just flat prairie land--the development allows no privacy fences so backyards are open--if you have pet for the outside that could be problem
that area is pretty isolated from FTW/Dallas--probably a 30-45 min drive into Sundance Sq depending on which freeway/time you go and Dallas would be about the same
Denton is the closest town and while there are restaurants there they are mainly chain/fast food/Chili's types
hospital there is pretty good and there are other specialists
one nice movie theater set-up, shopping---Denton is enlarging and sprucing up the downtown area--there is cultural activity via UNT
some shopping in Flower Mound\Lewisville is do-able like Belks off 407 and other shopping around there

Southlake has pretty expensive senior living subdivision--Waterford or something like that going in on 1709 west of the Southlake Town Center--


frankly if they are in good health and basically just want to move to be close to your family--maybe they should not buy in "senior" community but one that has zero-lot homes or a townhouse complex with liveable first floor...
there are plenty of retired people living throughout the Metroplex in both sides--who managed their lives w/o having to live in "senior" community...

in my neighborhood in Hurst--our street has two retired couples who built their homes from the ground up--lot for one of them backs up to the house behind which their son owns--the grandkids come down a backyard staircase (since his house is elevated on higher ground) to visit grandparents almost every day...their lot has small backyard for low maintenance but she has done beautiful job turning it into lovely flowering terrace...

I would think price point and your parents lifestyle would be the primary concerns--if they have health issues and need services of dr who takes Medicare patients then that may be problem
I know many people who have reached Medicare age to find that their dr will not continue their coverage and they have to find someone who will---most of them do not have a private/pension-related health insurance to supplement Medicare

one woman we know moved from Victoria to Lewisville/Flower Mound area about a year ago to be closer to her daughter/grandchildren--she found really nice apt complex but took her months to find dr that would take her as Medicare patient...
very frustrating...

It is very obvious that you have no clue about Robson Ranch.

[loves2read]

I have been to Robson Ranch several times--althought probably not in the past 12-18 months--
you do know about Robson Ranch because you try to talk it up with spontaneous posts

what did I say about Robson Ranch that is false?

[hmw]

Frisco Lakes is a Del Webb community but Robson Ranch is not. I have been to Robson to look and was impressed with the models...lots of variety. The community buildings...fitness center, arts & crafts, etc. are first rate. Lack of trees is definitely a problem for me. The people there have been very nice and they have a visiting program where you can go, spend 3 nights, meet with homeowners, etc. so you might want to look into that.
Have not been to Frisco Lakes and would love to hear from someone who knows more about it as we want to compare the two. We plan to go over there soon, but would be interested in hearing from someone who lives at either of these places.

[hmw]

Ok, so looking back at your original request.... a bit more about Robson... of course it is built around a super golf course and the club house is lovely. The other day we were there and there was a big dance planned that evening in the ballroom. There are about 200 clubs around for any interest you can imagine and also lessons in anything from woodturning, art, to dancing and swimming. Take a "field trip" and really look around. There were houses already built and of course, you can build what you want. On some forums I have seen where people said building was a real chore, but guess it just depends on what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. We are recently retired and one of the things I was looking at was the age group there and I liked what I saw....a good variety of 55+ people. With all the activities, I think it would be easy for people to meet others and socialize, and that would be important if your folks are not from around here and are going to have to make a whole set of new friends. Also you can fence in your back yard, just can't have a privacy fence...lots of puppies and doggies around if that is an issue.

[duck3775]

Originally Posted by hmw

Ok, so looking back at your original request.... a bit more about Robson... of course it is built around a super golf course and the club house is lovely. The other day we were there and there was a big dance planned that evening in the ballroom. There are about 200 clubs around for any interest you can imagine and also lessons in anything from woodturning, art, to dancing and swimming. Take a "field trip" and really look around. There were houses already built and of course, you can build what you want. On some forums I have seen where people said building was a real chore, but guess it just depends on what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. We are recently retired and one of the things I was looking at was the age group there and I liked what I saw....a good variety of 55+ people. With all the activities, I think it would be easy for people to meet others and socialize, and that would be important if your folks are not from around here and are going to have to make a whole set of new friends. Also you can fence in your back yard, just can't have a privacy fence...lots of puppies and doggies around if that is an issue.

You have a lot of things correct about Robson Ranch. After all of the amenities, the best thing here is the people. It does not take long to meet and make a lot of new friends. We have lived here for 3 years and have loved every minute of it. You are right about the hassle of building a new home here, also.
A retirement community has a normal turnover and Robson has had that. What is different in the last year, there is not the normal number of people buying resales. The two big reasons are they have to sell where they are now and their 401K has been hammered. As a result, it is very much a buyers market. There are homes at Robson that are as much as $125,000 below what it would cost to have Robson build you a new one.

The fences at Robson are black iron. Who would want to live on a golf course and put up a privacy fence?

If you come to Robson Ranch again, check out the sign on Robson Ranch Road to the right, just after you turn off of Highway 35W. I am easy to find and there are not a lot of people that know more about Robson Ranch than I do.