Which Has the Best Choice of Active Adult Communities – East or West

I'm in Southern California. Last summer I visited several brand new 55+ communities in Orange County. Many of them are not listed in your database of 55+ communities perhaps because they're fairly new, and I assume they were not counted in your survey. The prices of these new homes are relatively high, ranging from $400k-$800k, so that only those who have a large amount saved can afford to live in those communities. Also, Calif. doesn't offer many advantages to retirees, and the high cost of living, among other things, is a big turnoff. However, these communities are being constructed and people are buying the homes so there are definitely retirees interested in living here. But it's less costly to live in NC or FL so I can see how people with fixed incomes might prefer to retire in those states. (I can only speak for California communities as I have not visited any other communities outside of this state.)

To Libran

I would be interested in looking at these 55 and over communities in Southern California. Any websites or information you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Guy

Be careful about getting into one of these communities because the annual dues and sporadic assessments can cost a lot of money. Many of them have an automatic HOA fee increase every year and you may have no say in the matter.
Also, if you don't mind having to pay for permission prior to doing just about anything in your yard to to the exterior of your home, then you'll be in good company. However, if you prefer to have your yard and home tastefully maintained according to your preferences these types of communities are probably not for you. For instance, some of them even go so far as dictating the brand of heating and cooling units and hot water heaters you can buy, and even then you still have to pay a fee for getting permission from the HOA, but there's more; once installed you can expect a visit from the HOA committee member that oversees this ridiculous rule just to ensure compliance.
Definition of HOA: Hording Our Assets!

Pardon me while I choke--just went to the Talking Rock site and the Silver Sage website. ROFL!! The lowest priced unit in Talking Rock "starts" at 350K and the only available unit in Boulder is 799K. Sheese.

There are plenty of affordable communities across the country (and many that are not!). Using our Advanced Search we find 300 "lower cost" communities in Florida alone - many where existing homes can be purchased for less than $50,000 ! Obviously, the nicer the community, the more you will have to pay for the privilege.

I love California and lived there 16 years, before moving to AZ. I have lived in Orange County, it is expensive and congested. I looked at places there and other areas prior to moving, finding out homeowners fees, and real estates taxes would be higher than where I live now. Fortunately I still have family and friends there and go back often to visit...but i love my house here, the people I meet, and the lower cost of living. That's my experience, and of course it depends on what you can afford. I wanted more spendable cash to enjoy doing things and enjoying my life now that I have the free time.

Hi Loralea, Which community in AZ did you choose and how do you like it? It sounds like you like it very much. My wife and I are taking a trip from the east coast out to AZ to stay and visit 3 different communities out there.

Thanks,
Rob

Guy, I visited new construction homes as well as 55+ communities in Orange County. I don't have their websites, but for 55+ communities here are the names and the builders in Rancho Mission Viejo:
Vireo by Wm Lyon
Avocet by Std Pacific
Cortesa by Shea
Alondra by Shea
In Brea Del Webb will be building a 55+ community call Buena Vida. Homes start a mid-$600k

I always LOL when I read an article that says affordable! over $100,000 for many retired folks is not affordable! $100,000 and under is affordable!

For other folks that may not be affordable. The admin is correct regarding affordable deals out there but you will need to make sacrifices. Do your research and find something you can afford and be ready to settle for less.

Loralea I love California too and live in Hemet which is very inexpensive. California may be expensive for folks with large incomes but for us average folks its great. They have a lot of benefits for senior citizens. I will hate to leave this ideal weather to go back East to my family but the day is coming. I have put our website on several times but have had no comments on it. panoramavillagehoa.org

I wonder if the difference in the number of communities East vs. West has to do with population. A quick search seemed to come up with 70% of US population in the East and 30% in the West so it would seem reasonable that there are more retirement communities in the East.

I live in a house I own now, and the attendant costs of home ownership is what is troubling me as a future expense: water bills from the pool and landscaping (and their care), upkeep of the pool (which I love), electricity costs of heating and cooling an entire house- the majority of which I really don't even use. Perhaps I'm wrong to think that such a community would be cheaper: perhaps the HOA costs would outstrip the utilities and upkeep I now pay? (and I would have no say or control over the HOA costs either)

Does anyone know of a 55+ community (non-mobile home) ANYWHERE that offers the option of apartments, condos, or casitas instead, or in addition to, single family homes? It would certainly bring more profit with more homes per acre and they could be just as tasteful as the rest of the private home community. I recently happened to come across a little gated group of about 24 small-ish dwellings gathered around a little common courtyard here in Sun City West (AZ), that was just charming. These courtyard neighborhoods scattered about in an upscale 55* community could be just as attractive and desirable as the rest of the homes, while offering more affordable housing options for singles or others who just don't want the costs or care of an entire house. Why do we have to have a whole house or Nothing, in a 55* community???

I wish I could develop a little courtyard neighborhood myself: I'm sure it would quickly sell out!! Anyone else interested?

Anne, The Villages have courtyard villas, is that what you mean?
http://www.zillow.com/the-villages-fl/courtyard-villa-_att/

Art, I just checked out the courtyard villas per your suggestion and it seems the only way they resemble what I'm looking for is the name. The smallest of them, even the smallest of the smaller patio homes, is still larger than my present home of 1550 sq ft. ! And they look the same as a normal single family home on any street, not gathered around and sharing a common little private courtyard. Thanks anyway for the suggestion.

OK, just trying to get an idea of what you were looking for.

You mentioned Sun City West. I see in both SCW and the original Sun City they have 'apartments' homes that share common walls that surround a courtyard. On Zillow.com an example of this is 12718 W Maplewood Dr, Sun City West, AZ 85375 and 14223 N Palm Ridge Dr W, Sun City, AZ 85351 (I think you can use the address to look it up). However, these are "full sized" houses also, 1200 to 1500 sq ft..If it is neither, can you post an address or at least a street name so I can zoom in on it with Google Maps? You've piqued my curiosity.

Are you looking for small home villages, like these?
http://www.cottagecompany.com/
http://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/portland-oregon-tiny-home-community/
http://tinyhousecommunity.com/places.htm

To me these small home communities resemble park model (RV) homes, the ones you would find where you buy the RV and then usually rent the underlying lot.

Anne - I recall reading about a small community in Port Townsend WA a few years back. I think this is it - see link.
BTW - we did visit this small seaport town during a trip and fell in love with it. Ferry service to Seattle and other islands too.

http://www.quimpervillage.com/

This Comment from Sally from another Post is being reposted here because it fits the subject better:

Does anyone have a recommendation regarding great quilting, fiber and textile art groups in communities? I am a fabric artist who would like to find facilities and like minded folks in a retirement setting. Thus far, have looked at Quail Creek, AZ that has a fabulous art facility, but may not be exactly the best fit for us. Interested in Texas (Austin area or Hill country?), or some of the lesser priced areas near the WA coast (VAncouver?) or maybe one of the newer communities near Las Vegas. If anyone has any comments on their experiences looking for the same, please post! Thanks.

Anne, I to am looking for a community like you are describing, but in either WA, OR, or ID.

In looking on Zillow for the homes Art mentioned, I also came across this one at 10029 W Hutton Dr,
Sun City, AZ 85351 for just $105,000 that seems in better condition than some of the others (besides Art's) that I looked at online. So the question remains, if courtyard communities were built back in the 60-70's, why can't they be built now in new 55+ developments??

Hi Anne, I see what you are calling 'courtyard' now. If you look at the Southeast corner of W Bolero Drive and N 136th Ave in Sun City West there are good examples. These are 5- and 6-plex town houses with front entrances and rear back door/garages. One of them alone is nothing more than a 5/6-plex town house (you can see one that faces N 136th and others that face W Aleppo just to the South), but take two of them, face each other and put a fence at each end with an alley in back and you have a courtyard community (like the ones just to the East of the first one).
Seems easy enough to do, as to why they don't... you've got me. I personally like the idea. I would love to build a larger 55+ community with amenities (rec center, indoor pool, pickleball courts, the standard stuff) here between Bristol and Johnson City, maybe near the Tri-Cities Airport. Maybe a mixture of condos, Tiny Houses, smaller single family homes (2 BR, 2 bath, <1000 sq ft) and town houses in a courtyard arrangement like in SCW and Sun City. Maybe throw in a few "upscale" (in other words "normal" ) home areas.
Unfortunately I suffer from that ancient Hawaiian disease, Lacka Moolah. If you ever come across somebody with an extra 10 or 20 million in seed capital laying around, send her my way. ;)

My wife and I are on our way to New Mexico for our final look/see; the Albuquerque area specifically because we want the four seasons as we hail from Long Island, NY. The active community selection is limited to just four. Del Webb has two of these the other two are one offs. We have visited all of them and only one of the Del Webb communities has the usual activities associated with these types of communities as the other Webb property is too new. The other independent community; Jubilee; in Los Lunas (20 miles South of Albuquerque) is very well equipped. The other independent in Belen (25 miles South of Albuquerque) is an older established community made up of manufactured homes with plenty of RV parking catering mostly; but not exclusively; to those travelers needing a home base. A very nice community as well.