Will Gen X'rs Move To Sun City? (Phoenix, Tucson: how much, new home)

[grmi66]

All interesting comments. From an anecdotal perspective, I do have a handful of slightly older friends (so tail end of the Boomers) that just bought into either Sun City or some of the age restricted older communities in Peoria the past 5 years. What they have in common is got divorced when the kids moved out of the house and wanted to stay in the general area of Peoria/Glendale. Looking around they faced a choice of getting either a condo or townhouse in Peoria/Glendale or buying a 2-3 bedroom house in Sun City.

Another faced medical issues and needed to downsize. Same scenario, for the cost of a condo in Glendale they could get a small house with a yard in Sun City.

None of these people are retired and still work full time. Had you asked them 6-10 years ago if they would be living in Sun City they would have said "hell no". But faced with being 58, divorced and wanting a house to spread out in, Sun City suddenly became an attractive option. For entertainment Westgate isn't that far of a drive or Uber ride.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by grmi66

All interesting comments. From an anecdotal perspective, I do have a handful of slightly older friends (so tail end of the Boomers) that just bought into either Sun City or some of the age restricted older communities in Peoria the past 5 years. What they have in common is got divorced when the kids moved out of the house and wanted to stay in the general area of Peoria/Glendale. Looking around they faced a choice of getting either a condo or townhouse in Peoria/Glendale or buying a 2-3 bedroom house in Sun City.

Another faced medical issues and needed to downsize. Same scenario, for the cost of a condo in Glendale they could get a small house with a yard in Sun City.

None of these people are retired and still work full time. Had you asked them 6-10 years ago if they would be living in Sun City they would have said "hell no". But faced with being 58, divorced and wanting a house to spread out in, Sun City suddenly became an attractive option. For entertainment Westgate isn't that far of a drive or Uber ride.

I've been married for 33 years so I don't fit your divorce profile. When I was younger, I fit the "Hell no" category and posted accordingly when I was looking to buy around 2010. And why wouldn't I? After all, I never stepped foot in an active 55+ master planned community. Sure, I drove around the 60's style Sun City brick rambler neighborhoods with large rock and a few overgrown fruit trees and a massive cactus up front. It's as if people were sent out to pasture as it is too low key for my liking.

Then I visited Pebble Creek several times (and spots like it). The place is full of bikers and the pickleball courts are swelling with energy. Then off to the onsite restaurants with people enjoying a cocktail overlooking the course with three tables pulled together. For me, that's a good model to unplug (retire). But there are no shortage of trade-offs. I've always lived in the outskirts. I understand why people who have always lived closer in for their whole life could not handle the trade-off. I predict many of the 55+ master planned homeowners are suburban dwellers for most of their life. So the "Hell no" folks who have visited and still say no are best suited to live in a walkable area of town. I do think it's much easier to get over the stereotype of geezers playing bingo once you visit a facility that is still selling new homes. Simply hang out with the "younger" crowd that refuse to get old.

[grmi66]

Just moved to Tucson last year and the area I live in has a number of retired people in it, along with a few large 55+ developments. Talk about "active retirees", the joke I hear around here is if you want to play golf retire to the Phoenix area and if you want to hike, climb, trail run, cycle then you retire to Tucson. I bump into 80 year olds out on some sketchy trails on a regular basis when I'm out hiking or trail running.

I'm sure they are from all over, but the retired and semiretired people that show up to my Tuesday morning trail running group all tend to be from places like Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and other NW or Mountain States. Their skiing days are over and want to spend all year outdoors hiking, mountain biking or running.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by yukon

I'm 62 and I have no desire to "retire" I work parttime with my two businesses, set my own hours, so that feels like "retirement" to me. I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

I think the places that will have the hardest time attracting the next wave of seniors won't be home communities like Sun West, it will be the apartment style independent living places. They still have a high percentage of over 70 residents, but as those die off, it's hard to replace them with younger residents (say 60's). They still cater to the oldsters (bingo anyone?) and don't have what younger boomers want - yoga classes, water aerobics (most don't even have pools), par courses, pickleball, group events away from the facility like theater nights, etc. I wouldn't mind living in one of those places, I like the sense of community, but I'm not into bingo, Sunday church services, Elvis impersonators or oldie movie night (as in, 40's war movies).

Hey, I am not that old and I LOVE Bingo! I'd be happy to live in a neighborhood that offered that over golf or pickleball (what even IS that?) in a heartbeat.

[sam812]

My only wish is the age was 50 instead of 55 so I could do it now. We are looking at the Oregon coast. I have a few older friends that live in Sun City and it is nice but I am not a big fan of the heat.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

That's what I was thinking: Sun City has a reputation of being boring, and it's not necessarily because it's age restricted ... it's because of the lack of eateries, entertainment, and most everything shuts down before 9 or 10 PM. I see a continuing demand for retirees to want to live in age restricted communities like this, but the communities need to become more modernized to fit the needs of the people. Today's seniors are different than the ones who lived in Sun City 50 or 60 years ago when it was new. They don't all want to spend their time playing Bingo or Shuffleboard, and then turning in by 9 PM.

Exactly. That's why in maybe 5 or 10 years I'll be looking for a more active community within a more active area such as Scottsdale, etc. I live here now in a condo and I'm retired but don't feel I'm quite ready for a "community" unless there' lots to do an it isn't in the boonies (like I feel the Sun Cities are..and I know some would disagree with me re: the "boonies.")

[jnojr]

I'd consider it if it helps keep those damn kids off of my lawn.

[wit-nit]

Sun City is unique and will continue to be popular in the future. They have 1001 things to do, something for everyone. Golf is probably bigger than bingo. There are dozens of clubs of any sort you can name. They have eateries around the areas plus the nearby Peoria entertainment center, baseball in the spring, Cardinals stadium and a Casino nearby.
All the rec centers have been or are in the process of being remodeled and upgraded. New younger people are coming in by the droves, many are remodeling and upgrading their new homes. There's 2 lakes with boating in the city.
There's a lot to do if you want to in Sun City. You're in charge of your destination and what to do to keep busy and happy.
It's also very friendly, quiet and relatively crime free.

[RoadLessTraveled2015]

I wish they'd let a childless gen Xer not yet 55 buy. I'd have no qualms about moving to Sun City. I guess that's not possible? The HOA would never make that kind of exception?

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by RoadLessTraveled2015

I wish they'd let a childless gen Xer not yet 55 buy. I'd have no qualms about moving to Sun City. I guess that's not possible? The HOA would never make that kind of exception?

I know that some of the developments allow a certain percentage of under 55 year old buyers into the community. I'll bet the farm SC has the same policy. I checked into this at age 53 with many of the newer developments. The percentage of under 55 were generous. Something like up to 20% of residence could be under age 55. But the minimum age was 45 and like the entire development, no kids.

That said, you need approval. In my 1st choice, the word on the street was that Vistancia developer consistently refused under 55 residence for resale homes and saved the slots for new home sales. The developer currently runs the HOA and when I asked, they initially said no. I was eventually approved (and then went into high gear researching pre existing homes on the golf course). How I got the approval was that I presented the math that they could sell every single new home now and in the future to an under 55 buyer and they still would not hit the 20%. Plus, I was striking distance to the 55 age.

I bring this up because when homes are still being sold (and NOT the case in SC or SCW), developers deep down try to force you to buy new with a B.S. reasoning. Just push back nicely and I bet you will get your way.