Category: Active adult communities
Updated October 17, 2016 -- This is the 2nd of a 3 part series of articles about homeowners associations, the organizations that have an outsized influence on your life in a condo, 55+, or active adult community. Sometimes they are called Property Owners Associations, or simply Community Associations. The first article, “Meet the New Boss, Your HOA”, talked about many of the problems to be of aware of concerning Home Owners Associations. Part 3 focuses on "What You Need to Know When the HOA Takes Over from the Developer". In this article we were fortunate to gain an in-depth interview with Joe West, CEO of Community Associations Network, who provided his insight on the basics everyone should know before they commit to living in any
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Published on December 1, 2009
Comments 15
Category: Active adult communities
Updated Sept. 2016 - This updates our 2009 article on Home Owner Associations, the introductory piece of a 3 part series about these important, but controversial organizations (often called Community Associations). The 2nd in the series features an insightful interview with Joe West, CEO of the Community Associations Network about the issues buyers should know about Home Owners Associations before they sign on the dotted line. Part 3 focuses
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Published on November 9, 2009
Comments 94
Category: Active adult communities
Our latest installment, "When Active Adult Communities Go Bad", might have put the fear of the Lord into many of our readers. This week's article is intended to provide the basic steps you can follow to minimize your risk in buying into an active adult community, and help you take advantage
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Published on July 13, 2009
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Category: Active adult communities
Note: This article was originally posted in 2009. Although things have improved in some communities, most of these same issues remain in 2011.
With prices in some very interesting active adult communities sliced in half from just 2 years ago, it is tempting to buy a retirement home. But as many thoughtful people have pointed out, those bargain prices could have...
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Published on June 30, 2009
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Category: Active adult communities
The first part of the definition is easy - there are a lot of people who are 55 years of age or older. By the year 2010 there will be 74 million people who fit that category in the U.S. - nearly 1 in 4 people.
Arguably the term "55 plus active adult" includes just about everybody in this age group-except for those in prison, hospitals, or who live a sedentary lifestyle. But realistically, the term
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Published on June 13, 2009
Comments 3
Category: Active adult communities
Update: July 27, 2009. As promised, the IRS has expanded its audit of the tax-free status of more bonds after failing to reach a settlement with Community Development Districts at The Villages. The investigation now covers almost $400 million in recreation and other bonds, up from $64 million in the original audit. See the Bond Buyer Story for more.
Original Story: The Villages, the giant active adult community south of Ocala, FL, has received a proposed settlement from the IRS to resolve an investigation of tax-free bonds issued by 2 of its Community Development Districts (CDDs). The Bond Buyer reports that the settlement would mean that the Village Center and Sumter Landing Districts would redeem over $355 million bonds issued in 2003, pay the federal government $2.85 million, and refrain from issuing more tax-exempt bonds. The IRS suggested that
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Published on June 2, 2009
Comments 2
Category: Active adult communities
In 2006 Central Florida was shocked and titillated to read this headline in the Orlando News: "STDs Running Rampant in Retirement Community". The community in question being The Villages, the sprawling active adult enclave spanning several towns and home to over 60,000 people. Dr. Colleen McQuade, a gynecologist, was quoted that she "treats more cases of herpes and the human papilloma
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Published on May 24, 2009
Comments 15
Category: Active adult communities
Note: This 2009 article has been updated with a new edition from 2012. See "Why Not Live in an Award Winning Community".
Philadelphia - For builders, winning an award at the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Best of 50+ Housing conference is really good PR. For baby boomers, looking at the winners provides insight into what the housing industry thinks are the trendsetting ideas in home building. If you are looking to purchase in an active adult community, you should check out this list of communities winning awards to make sure you make the best decision. The awards were given out at the April 2009 Building for Boomers and Beyond Symposium to honor excellence and innovation in the design, development and marketing of housing for older consumers.
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Published on May 11, 2009
Comments 4
Category: Active adult communities
The urban retirement lifestyle represents a perfect fit with what many baby boomers are looking for in a retirement lifestyle. Baby boomers want to be close to employment possibilities, they would like to reduce their dependence on the automobile, and they are very interested in participating in a rich and diverse community. Builders of 55+ communities have been listening, and many new choices are attracting buyers.
Granted, the urban lifestyle doesn't appeal to everyone. Most people, 85% of them, will not move anywhere in retirement. But about 15% of retirees will relocate; either
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Published on May 3, 2009
Comments 5
Category: Active adult communities
April 29 - Your editor just spent a few days in the City of Brotherly Love attending the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) 50+ Builders Show: Building for Beyond. While you might expect that any convention of home builders in this economic climate would be a downer, this conference was anything but. Builders, at least the obviously successful ones who gathered here in Philadelphia, are a resilient and resourceful bunch. It was obvious from their questions and comments why these builders have been so successful: they want to build the homes and communities that satisfy the changing
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Published on April 29, 2009
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