Category: Active adult communities
January 18, 2024 — It is hard to imagine anything better than finding a great lake town for retirement. Waking up to the sound of lapping waves, taking a dip or a boat ride out to drop a few lines, or looking at the sunset mirrored on the lake - the beauty and lifestyle can be hard to beat. In this article we will profile 11 great lake towns for retirement, along with some outstanding active communities in or near those towns.
11 Great Lake Towns for retirement
Almost every part of the country has some wonderful lakes of every size and description. Some are in major cities like Chicago and Madison WI, while others are near tiny little towns. Many active adult and 55+ communities have taken advantage of these lakes to offer terrific opportunities for lakeside living. We used our new Community Explorer to find the lakeside communities in this article. As an example, looking at just Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, we came up with 138 communities that are either on or near a lake.
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Published on January 17, 2024
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Category: Active adult communities
By Larry GavrichJanuary 9, 2024 --
Whether you and your significant other are looking for golf, or no golf, in your retirement community, the principles behind searching for a golf community home and a home in some other “planned development” is essentially the same. This became apparent to me as I conducted research for the book I published in 2020, "Glorious Back Nine: How to Find Your Dream Golf Home". Except for a few paragraphs dedicated to choosing golf courses that fit a golfer’s style and game, much of the guidance in the book applies to non- golfers just as well. (And the advice about choosing a golf course is pretty much the same as for choosing a marina for your boat, tennis and pickleball courts for your net games, and local stables for your horse.
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Published on January 8, 2024
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Category: Active adult communities
Dec. 28, 2024 - Active communities with golf and Marinas have the two of the most popular amenities that retirees at Topretirements are interested in. Usually, people prefer one of those activities over the other. But some folks want to have the option of a community that has both a golf and marina as part of their facilities. They probably won't pursue both on the same day, but they do enjoy both activities from time to time. Fortunately, there are quite a few communities that can deliver facilities where homeowners can enjoy both boating and golf without leaving the gates.
A handy way to find them is our new Community Explorer. Using it, we found 23 communities in Florida that offer both a marina and either a 9 or 18 hole golf course. In South Carolina the Community Explorer found 18 communities offering an 18 hole golf course and a marina. Note there are another 12 SC communities that offer golf and a boat or kayak launch. In North Carolina the Explorer turned up 13 communities with the combination of golf and marina. We will provide a sampling from these states plus one in Georgia here. But you can use the Community Explorer to find more (and other options too!) in these and other states.
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Published on December 27, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
December 9, 2023 — Many thanks to our loyal visitors and Members who took the time to check out our new Community Explorer. Your comments and observations have been very helpful in tweaking it before we go live with it next week. Here is an update on…
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Published on December 9, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
December 5, 2023 -- Announcing the Community Explorer. Finding the right retirement community - the one with right lifestyle in the right location, with the amenities you are interested in, plus the type of housing unit you want - is like finding a needle in a haystack. Announcing the Topretirements Community Explorer - the easy way to find the perfect active adult or 55+ community for your retirement.
Announcing the Community Explorer
For the next few days we are in a test mode with the Community Explorer. But you can use it to sort through communities by State/Country, Type of Amenities, Lifestyle, and Property Type.
Continue reading for more...
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Published on December 5, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
November 14, 2023 -- Affordable Florida communities - active communities that offer great value at a reasonable price - are the quest for many retirees. The problem is how to determine which communities offer the best value for the money. This article will explain what to look for in an affordable Florida community, and how to find one. Then we will provide a sample list of developments that offer high value at a reasonable cost.
Tips for finding the most affordable retirement, 55+, or active communities in Florida.
Here are some of the basics that will help you find the best value in an active or 55+ community:
Define what you are looking for
Look for testimonials from friends or online
Use a real estate agent with the right experience
Visit multiple communities
Avoid equity memberships
Review contracts and fee structures
Check out the community budget and financial health
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Published on November 13, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
Sept. 26, 2023 -- When it comes to the best selling communities in Florida for 2023 many of the usual suspects, like The Villages, are pretty obvious. But within the top 10 there were plenty of surprises too, with some communities, like Westlake and Wellen Park, not previously on Topretirements radar.
Master planned communities might be a foreign term to some people. They are large-scale, mixed-use residential developments that try to approximate the experience of living in a self-contained town. They usually have amenities like parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and more. Many master planned communities are aimed at 55+, while others are aimed at families or even singles. Some of those have 55+ neighborhoods within them. Some claim to be New Urban Style communities.
These are the best selling communities in Florida
No surprise - The Villages on top as a best selling master planned community in Florida.
The Villages in Central Florida was the hottest selling master planned community in Florida in 2023, according to a survey by Real Estate Consulting (RLCO). With 150,000 residents, this ever expanding community has both resales and new homes. The average home here sells for more than $400,000. It has an almost endless array of amenities with dozens of golf courses and hundreds of pickleball courts. Plus 3 central shopping and entertainment centers. RLCO reported 1,960 sales so far in 2023.
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Published on September 25, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
August 24, 2023 -- People in GenX might well be confused about their living options for their retirement. Should they be looking at a retirement, 55+, active adult, active resort, independent living, or assisted living community? At the stage where they are now, which type seems best for their retirement dream?
Not so long ago the choices were a lot more limited. One might stay in their own home until that was too difficult, and then move in with one of their adult children. Nursing homes took care of people who could not take care of themselves. Retirement homes (sometimes referred to as old folks homes) became more popular at some point. One could live there with other seniors and enjoy prepared meals and perhaps some chair based recreational activities.
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Published on August 23, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
July 18, 2023 — As with everything in life, some companies are better at what they do than others. Tesla makes great electric cars, Titleist is terrific in golf, Gucci’s shoes are amazing, etc. But when it comes to the best 55+ communities, which company does the best job? Since…
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Published on July 18, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
June 12, 2023 -- Finding your best place to retire can be a challenge. There are 1000's of towns across the world, with way more than that 55+ or active adult communities, that might be a good fit for your retirement. True, you can trim down the list of possibilities by price and geography, but even then your list can be daunting. One of the best retirement tools ever is the so-called "Stay & Package", which we will explore here.
Also called "Discovery" packages, they typically involve lodging and include a number of bonuses, like free or discounted golf, use of a golf cart, use of amenities, meals, chance to meet residents, etc. The price is discounted from what the package would normally cost, and usually entail an orientation or sales pitch. They are a great way to experience a community going beyond a quick tour, and without having to rent or buy a home. Obviously a few days in a community will not uncover all of its quirks and advantages, but it does offer a tangible experience.
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Published on June 11, 2023
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