[Downtown Dave]

I am retired/semi-retired and really like the idea of living in a 55+ community - preferably in a detached house.

Here are some of the reasons:
Almost zero crime
Quiet
Your neighbors will be a nice as you’ll ever find
Tons of amenities
You can lock up your place, leave, and not worry about it
Extremely well maintained
Prices are usually reasonable/Outstanding value for your money
No kids/dirtbags/inconsiderate people
The people there usually really care about the property and put a lot of work into it [retired people have a lot of time on their hands]
I don’t want to do any yard work
Great way to meet people
Great fitness options

I have owned 3 condominiums and all 3 were a disaster. I will NEVER buy a condo again.

I would buy one right now but the problem is that I am only 46 years old and currently single.

Are there any options for me? Are there any 45+ communities, loopholes, or alternative communities that mimic a 55+ community?

Thanks in advance for any responses

[Crashj007]

Marriage comes to mind?

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by Downtown Dave

I am retired/semi-retired and really like the idea of living in a 55+ community - preferably in a detached house.

Here are some of the reasons:
Almost zero crime
Quiet
Your neighbors will be a nice as you’ll ever find
Tons of amenities
You can lock up your place, leave, and not worry about it
Extremely well maintained
Prices are usually reasonable/Outstanding value for your money
No kids/dirtbags/inconsiderate people
The people there usually really care about the property and put a lot of work into it [retired people have a lot of time on their hands]
I don’t want to do any yard work
Great way to meet people
Great fitness options

I have owned 3 condominiums and all 3 were a disaster. I will NEVER buy a condo again.

I would buy one right now but the problem is that I am only 46 years old and currently single.

Are there any options for me? Are there any 45+ communities, loopholes, or alternative communities that mimic a 55+ community?

Thanks in advance for any responses

It is practically impossible to do anything resembling a 55+ development as they exist as a specific exception to the fair housing law. That laws forbids any other discrimination on family status or age or sex.

You also can get in with a room mate over 55. Got an older relative or friend?

There are a set of town house communities around the valley that might work for you. Tara on Grand Canyon as an example. They tend to an older demographic and low children. Look for small and single story...which appeals to the older demographic.

[BBMW]

Wait 9 years?

[beachhead]

I think I'd go with the temporary room mate idea. Then, they magically never move in, not your fault you broke up the day before you were supposed to move in right? LOL. Then lie about your age to anyone you meet.

[KingpinLasVegas]

Fake ID

[foundapeanut]

Yearly, everyone in the communities have to fill out a HUD form so they know the 55+ community is following the laws. They check ID"s. The community can get in trouble if the HUD rules aren't followed.

Here's an idea. Sometimes these communities have widows who are looking for a roommate for basic cooking and care. Run an ad in all the magazines put out by each 55+ community. Maybe you can make a deal with the home owner you will buy the property and let her live there till she dies or goes into a home after you turn 55.

[basnobua]

Originally Posted by foundapeanut

Here's an idea. Sometimes these communities have widows who are looking for a roommate for basic cooking and care. Run an ad in all the magazines put out by each 55+ community. Maybe you can make a deal with the home owner you will buy the property and let her live there till she dies or goes into a home after you turn 55.

This doesn't always work out as planned...

"In 1965, at age 90 and with no heirs, [Jeanne] Calment signed a deal to sell her apartment to lawyer André-François Raffray, on a contingency contract. Raffray, then aged 47 years, agreed to pay her a monthly sum of 2,500 francs (€381.12) until she died. Raffray ended up paying Calment the equivalent of more than €140,000 which was more than double the apartment's value. After Raffray's death from cancer at the age of 77, in 1995, his family continued the payments until Calment's death [1997]. Calment's comment on this situation was reported to be, "In life, one sometimes makes bad deals."[1] During all these years, Calment used to say to them that she "competed with Methuselah".[10] In 1985, she moved into a nursing home, having lived on her own until age 110."

[WorldKlas]

Put one of your parents on the Deed to the house when you buy it; then you can be a legal resident who lives with a 55+ parent -- maybe s/he is just someone who "snowbirds" or lives there temporarily but you live there full-time. I believe those circumstances would qualify you per HOA rules. However, if you marry you will need to move unless your spouse is 55+.

One of my neighbors did something similar to this in a Sun City community -- he bought the house but only lived there part time while he was finishing his career in another city. But his adult son lived in the house full-time. Then when he retired, he moved full time to the house. Soon after he moved in full time his son moved out but it was perfectly "legal."

[WorldKlas]

There are plenty of HOA communities with similar amenities as 55+ communities.