Close to retirement (or already there)? Thinking of moving to a location or changing your lifestyle? Then you’ve just checked off 2 of the 5 reasons to live in active adult communities in South Florida. (Also known as 55+ communities). And if you can check off all five boxes, call your local real estate agent and start packing.
1. You’re an adult who is 55 or above
This isn’t your parents’ retirement home. In fact, active adult communities in South Florida aren’t retirement homes at all. Instead, they are neighborhoods with a vibrant, engaged population that wants to remain active later in life.
But active doesn’t apply to just physical fitness. These communities are perfect for individuals who have a zest for life, whether that means joining a book club or a wine club. If you’re interested in meeting new people keeping busy every day, then an active adult community in South Florida might be perfect for you.
From billiard rooms to business centers
If you’re looking for homes in Delray Beach, Villaggio Reserve, provides myriad activities including a resort style outdoor pool, billiard room, card rooms, ballroom for movies, lectures, and entertainment, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art-fitness center, and walking trails around the community. There’s even a business center if you need time off from relaxing.
2. You want amenities at your doorstep
One of the great benefits of active adult life is doing what you love and forgetting the rest. When you tour a top-notch active adult community, you’ll feel like you’re at a resort.
From aqua toning to Zumba
Another great place to live, if you’re looking for a home in Delray Beach, is Huntington Pointe. This well-equipped community offers 4 outdoor pools, a 50,000 square foot clubhouse with an indoor pool, an up to date fitness center, billiard room, dozens of clubs and organized activities, and a cafe that’s open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.
Active adult communities like this provide many of the benefits you might find when visiting your favorite resort… but those activities are available to you every single day Even if you love to travel, you might find yourself staying home more often because there’s always so much to do right in your neighborhood.
3. You’re ready to change your lifestyle
It should go without saying, but 55+ communities include members who have reached a certain time in their lives.
Whisper Walk in Boca Raton has just over 1400 residents living in 5 sections, each with its own clubhouse and junior-Olympic size heated pool. There are also billiard rooms, exercise rooms, and an area for parties, rooms for card players, and live entertainment throughout most of the year.
In communities like these, you can build relationships with people who, like you, have “been around the block” and have a perspective on life that comes only through experience.
Active adult means age restricted
In these communities in South Florida, you might not be able to buy there if you don’t meet the qualifications. Typically this means one buyer must be at least 55 years old. If you have children who will reside there with you full time, they must be at least 19 years of age.
Children are very welcome as visitors
Despite the age restrictions for full time residents, children of all ages are very welcome as your guests, typically for periods of 30 to 60 days at a time.
4. You’re an empty nester
Once all the kids are out of the house, you may no longer need the large family home with plenty of space for play, study, dining, and everything else that goes along with them. Some people will downsize to a smaller single family home; but if you want fewer home ownership responsibilities, then condo living may better suit your needs.
If it does, Huntington Lakes, also in Delray Beach, offers a 50,000 square foot clubhouse that hosts a “professional grade performance theatre,” game rooms, an Olympic-sized pool, and dozens of clubs and organized activities.
5. You’re tired of maintaining a large home with all the repairs and fixes
Even the best-kept houses have issues at some point. You have to worry about upkeep, the condition of the roof, landscaping, etc. While owning a house offers with many joys it may also require a good deal of time and energy.
Whichever your choice of domicile, the best active adult communities improve your quality of life now while keeping your future in mind. These neighborhoods are often conveniently located near medical resources and provide services like grocery delivery and easy transportation.
In addition, in most of these active adult communities, responsibility for outside maintenance belongs to someone else.
Maybe the best reason for living in an active adult community is that you can focus on the parts of life that are relaxing rather than stressful.
Takeaway:
Many homeowners hesitate when considering an active adult community. That’s usually because they are unfamiliar with the setup or don’t know how to go about searching for the best community to fit their needs.
Remember that the search is different than what you’ve gone through in the past. If you’re looking to downsize or join a community focused on getting the most out of life, you want to work with a Realtor who is familiar with your options.
The Jablon Team has more than 16 years of experience in buying and selling units in active 55+ communities in South Florida. Contact us today if you’re ready to start a new chapter.
