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I don't live in a 55+ community, but I know of several retired officers who do. Most of them relocated to the Palm Springs area. The big attraction is golf and casinos. Despite the hellish heat of summer, not one of them regrets the move. If it's too hot to be out on the course, there are plenty of other daily activities within the community.
We live in what started out to be a 55+ community but apparently the houses didnt sell so it was changed to no age restrictions. Most the owners here are seniors but on our block, there's a toddler and around the corner is an elementary-school age child and there's several teens in the development and a school bus that comes by daily. There's a single 40-ish person w/ the parents across the street and on another block, an adult child lives next door to the parent, there's also a mother w/ 2 grown adult children who live on another block as well.
We like it a lot, the clubhouse offers yoga, pickleball, regular aerobics as well as water aerobics, pinochle, poker, mahjong, monthly bingo, dominoes, bridge and various other card games etc - what's not to like - one can be as active or inactive as one wants.
There are developments w/o clubhouses which are just as nice - we preferred a clubhouse as we were moving from a distance and knew very few ppl but there's ppl here who never go. Most seem to have exercise rooms, a library, main room, etc, some have pools and tennis courts etc. Some in the area have golf courses.
It's always a good idea to get involved in outside activities, volunteering etc.
Would definitely suggest visiting an area and getting a feel for it and visiting other developments as well - no place is perfect ppl have moved from here to other developments and from other developments to here - different strokes for different folks.
There's a lot of similar chain restaurants and chain stores in this area compared to where we came from which makes it nice - have also found some new stores and restaurants - most of all it's nice finding new interests, meeting new ppl and making friends. Even our dogs seem to like it ;-)
My brother-in-law and his wife live part-time in Sun City West and they love it. They're both golfers, so it's ideal for them. There are so many activities, from bridge to mini golf to swimming to crafts to book groups to wood shop to . . . if you're not shy about "joining" there is guaranteed to be "something" for you in a large community like this. They have a nice 2/2 house with a 2-car garage and a den, ca. 1980s, and I think they paid about 150K for it.
Now, they live in Illinois during the summer. He would live in AZ full-time, but I think she's reluctant to deal with the heat.
I live in a 55+ mobile home park in Central Florida. Many decide on this type of living in retirement, as an alternative to high cost living. In truth it is not really that cheap, even when one owns their home. The lot rents are very high and constantly being raised. Mobile Homes are rather expensive to maintain, and next to impossible to insure (in Florida). Believe me it is an added plus, if the owner is handy. Otherwise have some bucks for repairmen. What use to come with lot rent is now paid by the home owner. Such as water, trash, sewage, and lawn care.
For anyone deciding on this type housing be very careful also, of who exactly is allowed to live in the park. If it is in a lower income area, there will be problems as I quickly found out. A number of homeowners have their adult children living with them. It would seem by appearance and behaviours these adult children have many issues. I would say issues that prevent them from living on their own. They can't support themselves, and don't seem to put much effort in doing so. They seem noisy all seem to have motor cycles and constant friends over drinking and smoking pot. At least in the park I am in. There is nothing I can do about it, and I don't want a life of complaining about it to the manager. It is very stressful, and very disrespectful to expect a retiree to tolerate this, but honestly there is nothing that can be done. I am told 20% of tenants can be younger, if the owner of the home is over 55. At least in Florida. I could stand them if they were quiet respectable working children but they are not. Actually its difficult to refer to people in their 30's and 40's as adult children.
So if you ever decide to try senior manufactured home living, really be careful. Even then you can't be sure. I found unless its a park with higher income type retirees, this seems to be a problem. At least in the region of Florida I am in.
If you are someone that can buy a regular house in an actual 55+ community. Then I would recommend that. Just as I said really do your homework, and visit at all times of the day and night to see what goes on in the community. Do not depend on Real Estate Agents to be truthful about communities. Many are just out for the sale and the commission.
Not sure if this is what you are running into, but in lower income housing you have to be careful to discern between a true 55+ community and a HOPA.
Quote:
Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA).
Federal Register 24 CFR Part 100; section 760.24-760.37 (4a), Florida Statutes
For a community to be considered "housing for older persons" as a 55+ community, the housing must be intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older and meet the following requirements:
At least 80% of the occupied units are occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older.
The facility or community publishes and adheres to policies and procedures that demonstrate its intent to in fact be a provider of housing for older persons.
The facility or community complies with rules established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for verification of occupancy.
I am considering manufactured housing in FL as one of my alternatives. My preference would be a small block home instead but I am having trouble finding communities with reasonable costs and amenities outside of manufactured housing.
I know what you mean, OP. We live in a neighborhood with hardly any children. Most residents are original owners and are empty nesters, or retired. There are two houses for sale adjacent to mine, and I dread that a bunch of noisy kids might move in.
Still, the notion of living only among a bunch of old farts isn't attractive to me either.
We purchased a home in a 55 plus community during the housing down turn. It is a great snowbird home, on a gulf canal near Ft. Myers Beach that is only minutes to the gulf by boat. The community is resident owned and operated. The covenants assure that the neighborhood always looks nice. The HOA fee is 140.00 per month and that includes water, sewer, garbage, internent, lawn maintenance, clubhouse, pool, tennis and bocce courts.
Homes are close together so I cannot say it is totally quiet, but the noise of seniors laughing and having a good time does not concern me. This is a manufactured home community with current prices of 180-400K.
My brother-in-law and his wife live part-time in Sun City West and they love it. They're both golfers, so it's ideal for them. There are so many activities, from bridge to mini golf to swimming to crafts to book groups to wood shop to . . . if you're not shy about "joining" there is guaranteed to be "something" for you in a large community like this. They have a nice 2/2 house with a 2-car garage and a den, ca. 1980s, and I think they paid about 150K for it.
Now, they live in Illinois during the summer. He would live in AZ full-time, but I think she's reluctant to deal with the heat.
We live in a similar situation in Tucson. We have no garage but who needs it. There is always something going on and I see all my neighbors walking in the morning and evening. Most are very physically active.
We have friends who are in Arizona for 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months and spend the rest of the year in Illinois. We chose to sell our place in Illinois because we did not like the idea of duplicate expenses and the upcoming tax increases in Illinois. To the IL Legislature: Taxes DO matter.
As for the oppressive heat ... it is a LOT worse in Phoenix. We do all have air conditioning and we use it sparingly as the dry heat does not bother me. I could not deal with the humidity of Florida.
It is not for everyone. However, I would say on average, the people in my community, although older, seem to be healthier and far more active than their counterparts in the Midwest, even though many are from the Midwest.
We've gone from being the youngest family in our neighborhood to nearly the oldest. So we've seen lots of changes.
I like the mix of people. We're close to a University and there was once a lot of rental property. That was not so good. But now the neighborhood is nearly all homeowners and mostly quiet, middle-class and established people.
I enjoy seeing children playing outdoors although it's much less common than it once was. And it's not difficult to get to know new neighbors as many stroll around in the evening. It's friendly and safe here. And people help each other. We have almost no neighborhood problems.
I love southern MN because that is where I grew up and it feels like home. But I would be more than glad to be a snowbird. DH won't consider it. Doesn't want to leave his big garage and workshop behind for months at a time. I get that.
So we have to work around that with vacations to warmer climates and sometimes I just go myself for longer periods. It certainly isn't ideal because I'd like more of a community to vacation in but over time I have made a few friends in the smallish Mexican village where I rent. And I miss not having DH there. Stubborn old Dude! Compromises. . .
There are all kinds of reasons to seek out various communities. Ideally I would prefer a neighborhood of mixed ages but I don't see those any longer. It seems that the ones for me at least that serve people who don't drive and need close by services are expensive and tend to have a much younger crowd.
At this point in my life I would like to life in an over 55 neighborhood. I live near a university and the people who live in my building and nearby are all young with a few middle-agers. They are all very nice people and couldn't be more polite but I miss having people my own age around to talk to and with whom I can share common interests. All my good friends who were around my age are what I miss most about my recent long distance move.
Regarding neighbors, the neighborhood from which I recently relocated in another city had become mostly twenty-somethings who wouldn't even glance at anyone older. My very lively and friendly 80 year old friend who has lived there for many years tells me she now feels pretty isolated and alone in that neighborhood where once there were neighbors of all ages to talk to. But the older folks were driven out by the ever increasing rents. Fortunately she is still an excellent driver and can go to the senior center and visit friends and family in other parts of the city. She too is looking for a senior community where she would feel more welcome as well as for financial reasons because she is also being priced out of the neighborhood.
55+ communities might not be for everyone but like anything else, they would be good for those whose needs they would fulfill.
I'm 61 and retired and am sick to death of the neighbors screaming kids (LOTS OF THEM), the boats, the trailers, the jet-ski's, the dirt bikes, the teenagers, etc.
In theory a mix of neighbors is nice. In practice my neighbors are noisy, inconsiderate jerks and I'm sick to death of them.
So, any comments on life in a 55+ neighborhood? I'm thinking of doing a move to a new town next year and wonder if I should be looking at them.
You might be happy in a 55 + neighborhood. Just be sure it's the age and not the speed limit. That could be a problem for loading and unloading.
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