http://www.topretirements.com/blog Retirement Communities: How to Find Yours Tue, 13 May 2008 13:35:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en May 13 -- A report from Arizona State University's Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness brought some welcome good news to the Arizona market for active adult communities recently. The school found that price drops in the area of over 30% helped spur increased sales in retirement communities among snowbirds ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/active-adult-communities/active-adult-communities-sales-increase-in-arizona-as-prices-drop-30-or-more.html/ New home sales fell 8.5% in March, according to the Commerce Department. The vacancy rate for homes is at 2.9%, the highest level recorded since the Census Bureau started keeping track in 1956. Over 18 million U.S. homes were empty in this year's first quarter. Sound like bad news? ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/real-estate/finding-opportunities-in-slumping-55-communities-market.html/ April 21 - You know there is a movement afoot when both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times offer up features on retirement communities during the same weekend. The Journal's article was excerpted from a book by Andrew Blechman called "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/general-retirement/retirement-communities-are-focus-of-wsj-ny-times-features.html/ April 15 -- Imagine a town where a surprising number of residents have 2 golf carts - and only 1 car. Where the supermarket and high school have special golf cart parking lots. And where 72 of the 80 motor vehicles reported stolen last year were golf carts. ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/active-adult-communities/living-the-golf-cart-life-in-peachtree-city.html/ April 9 -- For Sequoya, moving into a 55+ community in Yuma was "... boy what a mistake!" Similarly, Kimojimo "tried (a community in FL), lasted 9 months, and couldn't WAIT to get out!" Yet Bill55, who worked for years for Del Webb, "... met countless people who ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/active-adult-communities/are-you-active-adult-community-material.html/ April 5 -- You've heard of the U(na)-Bomber and U-2 the rock group. Now get ready for another U, the U-Boomers. Forbes Magazine recently published an article that differentiates among different sub-sets of baby boomers. The U-Boomers are a huge segment that constitutes about 24 million of the ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/baby-boomer-issues/u-boomer-retirement-communities-present-marketing-challenge.html/ March 31 -- Baby boomers are known for their devotion to preserving the environment - at least when they are not driving their SUV's. So the big question is, will the folks who pioneered Earth Day look for green (sustainable) retirement and active adult communities? Just as important, will ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/green/green-retirement-communities-start-to-blossom.html/ March 28 -- January housing statistics from Case-Shiller were released this week - and the news continues bad for sellers, good for buyers. Of the 20 metro markets that this firm tracks, only 1 metro managed higher real estate prices vs. the year ago period, Charlotte (+1.75%). The 19 ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/real-estate/charlotte-is-sole-market-with-higher-prices-in-january.html/ March 24 -- The stereotype would have you think that the hordes of baby boomers moving into active adult communities can't wait to move into a smaller house. According to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), however, the reality is somewhat different. ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/active-adult-communities/baby-boomers-not-all-that-big-on-downsizing.html/ March 18 - Maybe it is the softer market for real estate and active adult communities. It could be a bold move to capture market share when many real estate developers are down. Or perhaps it is just an awakening to the possibilities. Whatever the reasons, a number of leading ... http://www.topretirements.com/blog/active-adult-communities/active-adult-communities-on-an-advertising-blitz.html/