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I am considering a relo to Cary, buying a home, and looking for a job in the area. I'm single, at the cusp of retirement age but will need to work at least for a few years. Carolina Preserve 55+ community appeals to me b/c of the amenities, e.g, I swim daily & I'd love having the indoor pool within easy reach! But I'd love to know if folks are happy living there; have there been any problems with the builder; any disappointments with the community; etc., etc.! Any info at all would be helpful. Resale vs. new is also puzzling for me since the builder is offering nice incentives for a new, to-be-built home. Comments welcome.
I think it is a "love/hate" lifestyle to a point. Perfect for many, and not for others.
But, it is such a popular and successful community, it is difficult to doubt it.
Interesting...if you're on the "cusp" of retiring, don't you think you'll have a difficult time finding a job? Unless you don't need the income, I would think that would be pretty risky because, no matter where in this country, older people have a very hard time finding jobs.
I am considering a relo to Cary, buying a home, and looking for a job in the area. I'm single, at the cusp of retirement age but will need to work at least for a few years. Carolina Preserve 55+ community appeals to me b/c of the amenities, e.g, I swim daily & I'd love having the indoor pool within easy reach! ... Comments welcome.
If your primary requirement for a home in the area is a year round pool, you may want to consider a neighborhood close to the the Triangle Aquatic Center.
Another thing you may want to consider is finding a job first and then looking for a home. Probably a lot easier to find a home once you've found a job then vice versa, particularly if you are near retirement age.
I see you've just recently joined City Data. I would suggest a quick search through the various move-to-Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill/Cary threads, where you will see a common theme of first find a job, then rent for awhile to discover what areas/neighborhoods suit you before buying.
Actually, I started that thread. After multiple visits and a great deal of deliberation, we decided against Carolina Preserve. We're just not ready for living in a 55+ community. We already live in Cary and love where we now live. We're in a walkable community and CP is off the beaten path for us. Carolina Preserve is a large community - too large my taste but we've met lots of residents who absolutely love living there. The clubhouse is incredible and a huge draw. Best of luck on your decision.
I am considering a relo to Cary, buying a home, and looking for a job in the area. I'm single, at the cusp of retirement age but will need to work at least for a few years. Carolina Preserve 55+ community appeals to me b/c of the amenities, e.g, I swim daily & I'd love having the indoor pool within easy reach! But I'd love to know if folks are happy living there; have there been any problems with the builder; any disappointments with the community; etc., etc.! Any info at all would be helpful. Resale vs. new is also puzzling for me since the builder is offering nice incentives for a new, to-be-built home. Comments welcome.
We considered Carolina Preserve when we first retired here. I would suggest there is a much broader question for you and that is the concept of Active 55 communities in general. Once you have a good read on that topic the individual community pro and con can be seen more clearly. I would suggest you participate in the retirement forum and get to know the thinking of folks there about retire living/housing/communities and relocation. Lots of feedback on active 55+ both pro and con. Remember the + is there for a reason. The build quality of the housing is a very valid point for you to consider. When the housing market crashed the ability of seniors to cash out equity and transplant took a big hit. Builders in communities like CP had buyers both before and after the crush and had to build more affordable housing in order to survive. How did it become affordable and was it really over priced previously?
The build quality of the housing is a very valid point for you to consider. When the housing market crashed the ability of seniors to cash out equity and transplant took a big hit. Builders in communities like CP had buyers both before and after the crush and had to build more affordable housing in order to survive. How did it become affordable and was it really over priced previously?
I don't see anything in that statement that would not apply to ANY community in the US at this point. Certainly, it's true in Phoenix, AZ, where I live. But maybe I'm missing your point?
My parents live there and LOVE it. My mom uses the pool almost every day. Dad uses the gym. Honestly, can't beat that clubhouse. They take advantage of all the amenities there, go on trips, etc.My parents are well into their retirement though - I'm not sure what the average age is over there, but I know they do have friends that still work.
There are pros and cons. There is a lot of "busy-body" stuff that goes on, probably more with the older population over there Doesn't seem to bother my parents but my dad can be a real busybody himself!
They have been in their house a little over 2 years. They've had no issues with the construction - one small roof leak (they are in a ranch) and the builder came right back and fixed it - that's it. They were very very happy with the guy who oversaw their homesite, I think it may be roll of the dice based on who is in charge.
We are happy they are there because it keeps them busy, the house is all one level which they need, and even though we are nearby, we know all the people over there ultimately keep an eye on each other.
Actually, I started that thread. After multiple visits and a great deal of deliberation, we decided against Carolina Preserve. We're just not ready for living in a 55+ community. We already live in Cary and love where we now live. We're in a walkable community and CP is off the beaten path for us. Carolina Preserve is a large community - too large my taste but we've met lots of residents who absolutely love living there. The clubhouse is incredible and a huge draw. Best of luck on your decision.
L...did you find that most folks are well over the 55 age group? It just seems that often when I take my clients out there, the folks we see are a bit older! I find that my clients in their 50s just aren't ready for that lifestyle YET. you know, the 50s are the new 40s!!!
Vicki
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Doesn't seem to bother my parents but my dad can be a real busybody himself!
