The Search Part 2: Five More Community Types to Vote on
Category: Active adult communities
July 11, 2024 — Continuing on from Part 1 of last month’s “The Search” feature, here are 5 more retirement community types for you to vote on at the bottom of this page. With 10 community types to consider, we broke this series into two sections to make it more manageable. Part 1 results are shown at end of this article.
Voting Instructions
You and/or your partner are the buyer in this exercise. Read these descriptions and then vote (below) on which community type you would choose. If you already own your retirement home, pretend that you just retired and have a clean slate – which of these 5 community types (or none of the above) would you take. The choices are presented at the bottom of the article as an instant poll – vote and then you will instantly see how others have voted. These 5 options are part 2 of the exercise. Next week we will give detailed results.
Please take a moment to vote, because the more input we get the more valuable the poll will be. Vote on the TYPE of community, the ones listed below each type are shown to give you an idea of the type.
1. Very Large 55+ Active Adult
The most famous of all the really large communities (over 100,000 residents) is The Villages in Central Florida.These communities have multiple neighborhoods, golf courses, clubhouses, and swimming pools along with every other conceivable amenity including shopping districts. They also tend to have dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of clubs for every interest.
Laguna Woods Village (CA). This community is the largest active adult community in California with 18,000 residents. Home choices include high-rise towers, single-family homes, and multi-family models. Activities including fitness, swimming, golf, tennis, arts and crafts, a computer-learning center, and a choice of more than 100 Saddleback College Emeritus courses. Other amenities include 7 clubhouses, 5 pools, over 250 clubs, and a performing arts center.
2. All ages Active Adult
All ages communities are often not that much different from 55+ communities. Usually they have the same types of homes and amenities, but without the restriction that at least one person in the household is 55+. In practice, most people who live in them are 55+ because that is the group looking for these types of homes and amenities.
Wendell Falls is a new, all-ages community located just minutes from downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It features an eclectic, walkable mix of retail and residential, town and country. Wendell Falls is the only master-planned community in the NC Triangle area built entirely that meets ecoSelect standards for energy and water efficiency. The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County distinguished Newland as ‘Developer of the Year.
3. New urban
This type of community, referred to as New Urban or Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TNDs), is modeled after the world when it was made up of small walkable towns, before cars came along. Shops, communal facilities, and homes are all within walkable distances. Front porches and sidewalks are often a feature. Most of them are open to all ages, but people 55+ usually predominate.
The Village at Providence in Mt. Juliet, TN is a fresh approach to neighborhood making. Their advertising says you can stroll with friends, plunge into the pool, or dine at restaurants, or simply enjoy the view from your front porch. The Village assembles time-honored architecture, a diverse range of floor plans, wide front porches, and landscaped walkways and parks. The Providence Marketplace is located within easy walking distance with retail, restaurants, banks. Carriage or courtyard homes.
4. Manufactured Home Community
Homes that are built in factories are usually less expensive, and often the same or better quality than traditional stick built homes. The components are moved to the site in modules and assembled there. Some of these developments are 55+, others all ages. The ones reviewed on Topretirements have a range of amenties. Some are land lease (you own the home but not the land underneath).
Bon Ayre is a 55+ manufactured home community located in Smyrna, Delaware. Residents enjoy a community building with a heated swimming pool, large meeting room, exercise room, billiard room, fully equipped kitchen, and screened-in porch. The land lease community also offers on-site management and is pet friendly. New homes are priced from the low $100,000’s, with upgrades and additional options available. The town of Smyrna was recently listed as one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America.
5. RV Resort
This type of community sometimes usually offers short or long term stays for your own RV, one of theirs, or a manufactured home. They tend to be a lower cost option and are frequently located in Arizona and Florida, among other states. Normally they have amenities like swimming pools, pickleball, clubhouses, and the like.
Superstition Sunrise is a luxury RV resort located in Apache Junction, Arizona. That puts it in the Superstition Mountains’ foothills, mere minutes from metropolitan Phoenix. The community offers an affordable, low-maintenance lifestyle complete with luxury on-site amenities and classes and easy access to restaurants, shops, and other local conveniences. It also has manufactured homes.
Vote Now!
Please select your preference below, even if you have already chosen where you will retire. You always have the option of choosing of none of the above. Comments on your reasons and experience are most welcome!
Results from Part 1
The Part 1 voting ended up with 55+ Active Adult communities in a strong first place, followed by Pocket Neighborhoods and then a tie for 3rd place between “I wouldn’t live in any these” and 55+ Within Master Planned Community. Rental apartments and Golf Oriented communities trailed the pack. If you didn’t vote in Part 1, here is where you can. Next week we will combine results to come up with an overall preference – should be interesting!
For further reference
Comments on "The Search Part 2: Five More Community Types to Vote on"
Goldie says:
I am glad to see a traditional neighborhood or New Urbanism is listed here as a choice to vote on. Many years ago (maybe 20 years ) when I was considering retirement I visited Williamsburg, VA because I felt it checked many of the boxes for me: college town, east coast, nice amenities, etc. The realtor was very excited to show me the beginnings of New Town and had pretty much sold me on it just talking it up over the phone. I loved the idea of walking to everything. However even though the streets were narrow and cars were frowned upon, it was obvious people were not going to leave their cars at home. I didn't end up buying in Williamsburg at all but have wondered about New Town and if the idea everyone walks to everything took hold. Will be interested to see if new urbanism gets many votes.
SC says:
We moved 5 years ago to a one level home in a traditional neighborhood, however, we are now wishing 1 mile of a grocery store, Hardware store, Bank, DQ, pizza shop and even a UPS store. We do walk a lot more to get groceries and get our exercise in at the same time. We just love our new location as it is also within 20 minutes of a few different Costcos, our doctor offices and 3 hospitals. There is something very comforting about being so close to all of our main amenities. It would be nice if builders would locate the 55 plus communities within walking distance to stores, medical etc. but it is the cost of land/location.
Admin says:
Voting is going well, and a bit surprising. I you haven't voted on your favorite type of community yet (Part 1 and 2), Please do so. Results coming next week.
Charles says:
Active