Choosing An Active Adult Community
Author: Robert Flournoy

Taking the plunge into retirement or semi-retirement can be
daunting enough without making the choice to move into a new
home at the same time. But many people age 55 and above are
choosing to leave their high maintenance or too large family
home to move into active adult communities, which are
restricted to households with at least one member age 55 and
older.

According to the 2005 Senior Sentiment Survey conducted by
Financial Freedom, the nation's largest reverse mortgage
lender, the number one reason older adults choose to move into
a retirement community is safety. Fifty-four percent of the
survey, which included younger seniors age 62-75, said they
feel safer in a planned community. Other reasons given for
moving into an active adult community include the desire to be
with people their own age, the amenities and services provided
and the lack of daily demands of owning a home. Most active
adult communities feature low-maintenance homes, and usually
lawn mowing and snow removal are included in the community
fees.

Making the decision to sell the family home and move into a new
community requires couples or singles to determine when they
want to move, where they want to move and how much they can
afford to spend. Active adult communities, which used to be
found primarily in the Sun Belt states such as Arizona and
Florida, are rapidly growing in popularity all across the
nation. Seniors are often choosing to move into retirement
communities close to home so that they can be near family and
friends, rather than moving out of state. Builders are aware of
this and have begun developing active adult communities in every
part of the country.

An Internet search can provide a list of hundreds of active
adult communities around the country. To narrow the search,
older couples and singles should begin by determining whether
they want to stay in their home state, look at nearby states or
move farther away. In addition to considering the importance of
proximity to family or friends when deciding on a retirement
location, seniors may want to think about the climate they wish
to live in and whether they want to live in or near a city or a
smaller town with cultural amenities. For some older adults,
owning a home on a golf course, near lakes and rivers for
fishing or within driving distance of the ocean is more
important. For others, the ability to drive to a city or resort
area for short weekends is important.

Obviously, seniors who still intend to work full-time or
part-time need to stay within commuting distance of the office,
but even seniors who are retired need to spend time discussing
lifestyle plans with their spouses. Many seniors choose to take
on a new part-time job or do volunteer work in an area of
interest. Others want to pursue education in a new field. In
any of these scenarios, the location of the new home must be
within access of a college or university, a place to pursue
volunteer interests and work locations.

Transportation needs are just one of the many considerations
which can change over time. According to the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average age of buyers
in active adult communities has dropped over the past ten years
from 67 to 61. Younger seniors are usually driving, extending
their careers, and are more physically and socially active. As
they age, their needs change and they may no longer be able to
drive, so public transportation or services provided by the
active adult community should be investigated.

Younger seniors, according to the NAHB, don't like to think of
themselves as "seniors". But they do want their homes to
incorporate what are known as "universal design" features which
provide easier accessibility if mobility becomes a problem.
Buyers in active adult communities should ask their builders if
they have included universal design in their homes and if there
are optional features which can enhance future accessibility
problems. Universal design elements include raising electrical
outlets, lowering light switches and replacing them with rocker
switches, using lever handles instead of doorknobs, widening
doorways and placing a seat in the shower. Most of these
features are appealing to buyers of all ages and they can make
it easier to convert a home to accommodate a wheelchair if this
should become necessary.

Buyers in active adult communities need to determine when a
home will actually be ready for them to move in, as in some
developments it can take ten months to a year or more before
their home is ready. In addition, if planned amenities such as
clubhouse, fitness center or golf course are important, it
would be wise to make certain these amenities will be completed
as soon as possible. Some developments provide these amenities
only after most of the homes have been completed, which could
mean a long wait for the first group of residents.

Doing the research on all these topics can help any active
adult make the right decision about buying a new home.


About The Author: Robert Flournoy is a private gated golf
community real estate internet marketing consultant and founder
of http://GolfHomeConnect.com. For additional information on
golf course community real estate visit
http://www.golfhomeconnect.