NEED YOUR HELP Please: House or Retirement? ty

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Voebe

I don't think it's a good sign that you haven't bothered to return to reply, but I'll post anyway.

The OP checked back once on April 8th. I suspect our advice will be falling on deaf ears.

[Greenvalleyfan]

Originally Posted by OnTheFences

Hi, I'm a 55 year old looking at living in Scottsdale. I have an elderly mother living in the midwest. The friends I do have are busy with their lives and kids back in Chicago. I'm basically alone and bored. I also need to mention that I'm not fit at all, I have a couple health issues.

Do I buy a home or go into a retirement place? Is there a ton of things to do and make friends if I have a home or will it be difficult? If I'm in a retirement place there are people already there and many things to do and yet, I am young for this?

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome and sure appreciated, thank you!

My personal opinion is 55 is way to young to move into a retirement community. Most people are over 65 because that's the average for boomers to retire. I'm 66 and rented 8 months in a 55 and over community while my new home was being built. It was more like 75 and over and it seemed to be a just a large nursing home. Medic units constantly in and out people on walkers everywhere....no thanks. I'll be there soon enough don't need to be reminded prematurely.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Greenvalleyfan

My personal opinion is 55 is way to young to move into a retirement community. Most people are over 65 because that's the average for boomers to retire. I'm 66 and rented 8 months in a 55 and over community while my new home was being built. It was more like 75 and over and it seemed to be a just a large nursing home. Medic units constantly in and out people on walkers everywhere....no thanks. I'll be there soon enough don't need to be reminded prematurely.

Were you in Trilogy Vistancia? They started in 2004. Or maybe PebbleCreek? They started in 1993. If so, your point makes complete sense. Because both developments are still building. So the "freshman" come into the hood in 2024 while the others have been aging for 20+ years.

[AZJoeD]

Originally Posted by OnTheFences

Hi, I'm a 55 year old looking at living in Scottsdale. I have an elderly mother living in the midwest. The friends I do have are busy with their lives and kids back in Chicago. I'm basically alone and bored. I also need to mention that I'm not fit at all, I have a couple health issues.

Do I buy a home or go into a retirement place? Is there a ton of things to do and make friends if I have a home or will it be difficult? If I'm in a retirement place there are people already there and many things to do and yet, I am young for this?

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome and sure appreciated, thank you!

Well, depending on your budget several great communities in Scottsdale are not age-restricted but cater to an older demographic. They have clubs and activities of every type. Book clubs, community dinners, community pool, arts & crafts, and of course pickleball.

If you are looking to make friends, find a community with an active community center and join the fun.

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Well, Sun City Grand was built between 1996-2005. I'm pretty sure it's a "45+" development with a higher dictated percentage of 55+. Per my earlier post, add 19-28 years to a person's age when x% moved in. Even if they were the youngest they could be 45 years old when they moved into the latest build date, they would be at least 64 years old. Add another 10 years of age if they had the newest home at age 55 which is 74 years old.

Mathematically speaking, Sun City Grand will have a lot of 80+ years old. Because of that, I bet estate liquidation signs are starting to pop up and newer and younger neighbors will be coming in. Still, what you see coming at the clubs, golf, restaurants, pickleball, and other active events will be the younger or healthier neighbors. Rest assured, your data will be skewed as many people in "active adult" communities are not active. In other words, your perception of the actual demographics will be off as much as a decade.

What you have described for The Grand, Sun City has gone through several times since we opened in 1960. It has mixed throughout all ages decades ago.