15 Most Popular 55+ and Active Communities in the Southeast
Category: Active adult communities
September 16, 2020 — It is clear that consumer tastes are fickle, and that sure seems to apply to what retirees are looking for in an active adult or 55+ community. Certainly that is what we found when we analyzed our visitor logs from the first 8 months of 2020, looking for the 15 most popular communities in the Southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. This article complements a similar one for the Southwest: “15 Most Popular Active Adult Communities in the Southwest for 2019“.
Changes from the 2019 list aplenty. More than half of the communities on this list are new to it this year, which is pretty exciting (see links below to last year’s list). All of the top 5 are repeat winners. The review for the most popular community on this list, Amelia Island Plantation, was viewed 1,330 times during that period. As usual there are several “no-brainer” choices like The Villages and Solivita, both located in Florida. Some winners were a bit of a mystery, and that includes The Cottages at Lakeview Road in Warner, GA. Nalcrest is a speciality community that caters only to retired postal letter carriers. Florida had 9 winners with the rest coming from Georgia (4) and South Carolina (2). Note that most, but not all, of these communities are designated 55 plus. But the majority of the residents in all of these communities would probably meet that qualification.
While these are the 15 most popular active adult communities on this site for FL, GA, and SC, they might not necessarily be the “best”. There are thousands of choices that might work for you, but you won’t even find out about them unless you look around. If this list does anything for you we hope it expands your horizons.
The most popular 55+ communities in the Southeast for 2020
Comments on "15 Most Popular 55+ and Active Communities in the Southeast"
JF Patterson says:
Facts many people are seeking relate to climate change, crime and diversity.
Whether assessing beachside communities or forested areas, changed weather patterns are top of mind for many. Please supply accurate, scientific based resources for retirees to access.
For example: building codes like fire resistance and bracing in roof. Another is building stabilization methods for foundations. Potable water resources may be a future concern. Tip grade air filtration systems.
These factors are missing in community marketing. It is difficult to get from community realtors. It is very time consuming to attempt on one's own.
Thank You
Admin says:
In our travels throughout the Southeast my biggest realization is that there are a thousands of 55+ and active communities to choose from. The biggest ones tend to have the most amenities and clubs, which helps to compensate for their size. Those things help to make it easy to meet people, even when hundreds or thousands of people live there. Most people gravitate towards communities they know about from friends and relatives. That is how my parents found 7 Lakes in Ft. Myers, and my friends found Pelican Sound in Estero. Others find a place by deciding on a town or area and then drilling down. That is a pretty good way to do it. Going out and visiting places is the only sure way to find a place that will make you happy - whether it is super-popular or not. Good luck
Larry says:
As we know from Presidential elections, the "popular" vote is not always determinative. Thus it is with rankings of best places to live; those places that are the most popular arguably are not necessarily the best. One of the most written about is The Villages, a perennial "popular" choice, but I suspect that most of us retirees would consider a better choice to be a community where its residents were not so embittered against each other over politics and social mores. For the past 15 years, I have visited and written about more than 150 communities, virtually all in the Southeast. They are all golf communities but according to most research, at least half are populated by people who never pick up a golf club. Over my decade and a half of research, I have also reviewed a couple dozen "best of" rankings in magazines and web sites and I can say, with confidence, they are all different, some are clearly tilted toward advertisers in their magazines and almost all subjectively selected. At least, a popularity contest is not subjective as some of these other rankings are, but my advice is to NEVER trust the judgment of others, even those who have found a place they say they like. We are all human, and when we plunk down a couple of hundred thousand dollars, we hunger for validation. If we were looking for a retirement location today, my wife and I would first discuss and decide on geography -- mountains, lake, coastal or some inland location. Then we would identify the best local communities in that geography that meet our needs, including budget. Then we'd identify a great local Realtor and arrange for a visit to the area. I would hope we could keep to just three or four maximum the number of locations to visit. We would take advantage of "discovery packages" if they were offered, pick the community we liked the best, and ask our Realtor to put us on an automated update list for new homes that come on the market in our price range. If one suited us, I hope we wouldn't dally; inventories in the Southeast are at historically skimpy levels, and we/you could miss out by delaying...Sorry for the longwinded note, but I am passionate about the subject, so much so that I intend to publish a book soon about the search for a community in the Southeast.
Admin says:
Does Anyone know anything about Citrus Hills villages in Florida?