55+ Retirement Communities. Are you happy? (beach, moving, friendly, friend)

[VikingFan]

My wife and I are very intrigued with some of the Robson/Trilogy/Del Webb communities we have toured in AZ. I'd like to know if you members who have taken the plunge are happy with your decision? Are they keeping up the community? Are the people as friendly as they seem? Costs what you thought? Are there any pluses or minuses you didn't consider that popped up? I know there are lots of rules and I'm ok with that. I want the community to look great. Thanks.

[thinkalot]

Happy. People are more friendly than I thought they would be. Community is kept up and I live in an old one. Costs are lower than expected. Rules don't affect reasonable people and they weren't written for them.

[WorldKlas]

Which ones do you like? We have been visiting different 55+ active communities and just returned from Nevada and Az.

In PHX area, we liked Sun City Grand but my DH felt it was too far from the city.


In Nevada we liked Sun City Summerlin -- facilities are not as nice as SCGrand but prefer location in Las Vegas and surrounding community.

Next visit we make is Ponte Vedra in Jacksonville, FL area

[VikingFan]

We have visited Pebblecreek (great location and amenities but not real scenic), Saddlebrooke Ranch (early days and we keep hearing it's windy and it was when we were there), Quail Creek (beautiful but wrong side of Tucson, rather be north side), Vistancia (far out and a little standoffish from residents), Sun City Festival (good all around). We are interested to visit Del Webb Dove Mountain and Trilogy Wickenburg next trip.

[WorldKlas]

We crossed Sun City Festival off our list because too remote, and didn't find their community center to be as nice as Grand.


We also crossed all Tthe Rio Verde communities off our list -- nearest shopping was Fountain Hills or Suprise and also too remote

[brava4]

If you do a search, above, you will find other threads about this same question.

[rjm1cc]

Assuming you do not need to stay put due to family etc.

I would assume you will find more positive benefits to a retirement community than other places.

I think larger communities as they can be financially more stable and offer more activities.

Moving into a new construction area will probably be a little more friendly than an older area of the community since everyone is new.

A plus is when life gives you a problem you will probably find neighbors who will give you a helping hand.

[SFBayBoomer]

I would like to read about some 55+ retirement communities of larger, more luxurious homes that have decent-sized lots, an abundance of amenities (great gyms and several pools, preferably indoors and out,), yet are not golf-centered.

We hate cactus or anywhere that residents have cheap-looking gravel/hardscaped front yards.
.

We have a strong preference for enclosed yards and nice landscaping (considerate of droughts, though).

[Bette]

An over 55 community like The Villages but not as large. The same concept but much closer to the beach.

I have heard from many that live there that people are very friendly and the few I know of that live there are very happy with their choice.

I've always wondered why developers don't go into these small towns that are declining and build (cheap land).

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by VikingFan

We have visited Pebblecreek (great location and amenities but not real scenic), Saddlebrooke Ranch (early days and we keep hearing it's windy and it was when we were there), Quail Creek (beautiful but wrong side of Tucson, rather be north side), Vistancia (far out and a little standoffish from residents), Sun City Festival (good all around). We are interested to visit Del Webb Dove Mountain and Trilogy Wickenburg next trip.

Pebblecreek is nice but a little too far out for me.

Saddlebrooke Ranch was windy when I went to look at it. I was told it is always like that. Nothing like hot wind hitting you in the face.

I am different from many. I don't care about being scenic. I don't care too much about the houses since that is a place to sleep and keep your stuff. Amenities and people are what matters to me. I did not move here to stay home and say look how nice my house is. Right now I have the smallest and most basic of anyplace I ever lived and have never been happier.