If you’re looking at retirement but have no interest in the more stereotypical care facility experience, then 55+ community living might be the perfect fit for you. What is a 55+ community? Most basically, it’s a retirement community for people 55 years of age and older. But beyond that, each community is different, and that means you’ll want to examine a community carefully before deciding to buy. Here’s what to look for as you’re going through 55+ community homes for sale:
- Full-Sized Living Spaces:
If you’re looking at a 55 and up community, you probably have decades of your life left. You probably also have plenty of energy, and may still enjoy taking care of your house and yard. Buying into a retirement community that offers full-sized homes can allow you to maintain those activities.
- A Wide Range of Ages:
If you’re moving into an over 55 community at the younger end of that age range, you want to ensure you’re not surrounded only by people in their 80s; at the same time, you don’t want to feel out of place as you age, either. That means having a healthy range of ages will probably make you feel most comfortable in the long run. You should also ensure that much younger people — like your grandchildren — will be welcomed for visits as often as you like.
- Flexible Support Options:
If you’re planning to age in place, it’s important to choose a 55+ community that offers gradually expanding care options you can choose to take advantage of. Tending to your own flowerbeds may be a fun activity now, but a burden when you’re 85.
- Your Favorite Activities:
One of the biggest draws of retirement communities in general is that they offer many activities so you don’t have to go far to reach your book club, swimming lessons, game nights or whatever else you enjoy. But you should know that some communities offer more activities along the lines of competitive tennis, while others are much more bingo-oriented. Check out some specific activities in advance to make sure you’ll get to do what you like best.
- Good Financial Prospects:
The whole idea of looking at 55+ community homes for sale, versus simply paying a monthly fee at a facility, is that you’ll own your property just as you would any other home. That means, just as with any other home, you’ll want to make sure it’s a solid real estate investment. Is the area up-and-coming, or on its way out? What have home price trajectories looked like over the past five years? What are the push and pull factors that might affect property values? These are all questions to investigate before buying.
Have you been investigating 55+ community homes for sale in your area? Discuss what you’re looking for, or what you’ve found so far, in the comments.
