55 Communities - Pros and Cons

[Squirl]

We live in Sun City Anthem in the Las Vegas Valley. Several people buy their homes when they are in their 50’s and rent them out until they are close to retirement. Its an active 55+ retirement community that looks like a resort. Tons of clubs and activities. Of course there are people who are not active, but everyone in my area seems fit and active. I love that there are usually no cars parked on the street, as often in are in “family“ neighborhoods where teenagers live. And, while I love kids, I like there are no trikes and bikes on the sidewalks. There are, I admit, a component of adversarial people who get pretty cranky with HOA issues and board elections can get somewhat nasty. There are 3 online blogs run by residents: one pretty balanced, one intended to stir up trouble, one quite political. The community is clean, safe, quiet and offers lots of opportunities for activities and friendship.

 

[bowmore]

They are not for everyone. That being said, we have lived in a +55 mobile home park for 11 years. Yes, there are rules, but coming from a condo where I lived for 20+ years they are not onerous. We have a lovely 1400 sq foot manufactured home. We turned a section of driveway next to the storage shed into a little oasis with a lattice divider planter, a table and 2 rocking chairs.
Our front porch runs the width of our home, and we have a great view of our local 2000 foot high mountain. less than 4 miles from our home.

 

[Sunny]

I love living in a 55+ community. And Knight, people in their late 50's don't exactly have "one foot in the grave!" Neither do most of the rest of us.

It's lively, friendly, and varied. Lots of activities of every kind. (I'm talking about normal times, of course, not right now.) And it is quieter than most other communities, with the lack of kids, teenagers, traffic noise, etc.

As Packerjohn says, your enjoyment of a place largely depends on what kind of neighbors you get. And there are a lot of more important things than their age.

 

[JustBonee]

A relative who lives in a 55+ community stated that given the chance he wouldn't move into an older community again. His reasoning was that too many of the people have nothing better to do than degrade the current leadership, facilities, goverment, etc. etc. Basically they have too much time on their hands.

I've always thought a 55+ community would be quiet and safe. What are the thoughts of those who live in these communities?

Those people, mentioned above .... you can bet that they were always obstinate! ... probably gripers their entire life, and then they happened to move into a senior community.

 

[fancicoffee13]

A relative who lives in a 55+ community stated that given the chance he wouldn't move into an older community again. His reasoning was that too many of the people have nothing better to do than degrade the current leadership, facilities, goverment, etc. etc. Basically they have too much time on their hands.

I've always thought a 55+ community would be quiet and safe. What are the thoughts of those who live in these communities?

That is my assumption as well. This is my first visit to this forum. So I will see what they say. lol

 

[fancicoffee13]

I know someone who lives in a 55+ apartment complex, and from what I have seen, it is exactly the kind of place that I would choose if I were going to live in an apartment alone. They are not assisted living, but the complex has an indoor pool/exercise area, and they have community activities in the “rec-room” near the pool area.

I think that it would be a lot quieter than just having an apartment in a regular complex, too. I have a friend who moved into an apartment after she sold her house, and she complains about her neighbors all of the time, and has even moved from one apartment to another one, at least once already.

I definitely would NOT want an apartment like @Robert59 mentioned, and it does not seem legal that they could even come in every two weeks and inspect and take pictures. When you pay your rent, you should be able to expect privacy, and to drink alcohol as long as you are not having wild parties there.

We live in a regular apartment complex, however, we know seniors close by and associate with them. We have a outdoor pool, exercise room, sauna, and pleasant walking areas. Neighbors are very nice, no loud parties in our section.

 

[David777]

Web searched on SFBA 55+ communities after seeing some ads for such residences priced at below $300k. However, all had ridiculously high high HOA fees over $1k per month that in recent decades have risen greatly often due to mortgage insurance and inflated maintenance repair costs and ridiculous laws like SB 326 forcing mostly unnecessary expensive repairs due to fear of insurance claims to mortgage holders.

The HOA Fees Are Rising Fast in the Bay Area

An excellent guide to senior housing communities. Much more at link than shown below:

https://www.after55.com/housing-options

For Independent Seniors, Senior apartments

Some apartments are designed for older adults and are age-restricted, either for 55-plus or 62-plus. These senior apartments serve residents with senior-friendly features, amenities, activties, fitness classes, and more. Medical and personal care is typically not included. However, in some cases, housekeeping, meals and other services may be purchased at an additional cost.
Active Adult Community

Active adult communities are designed for seniors who don’t want or need any assistance with healthcare, food preparation, or housekeeping. Since they often provide on-site security or gated entry, active adult communities are great for those who want to travel for extended periods and not worry about their homes while they are gone. Grounds maintenance is usually provided as well, so these communities offer a carefree lifestyle for seniors on the go. Amenities in active adult communities typically include tennis courts, biking and hiking trails, golf courses, and swimming pools.
Independent living

Independent living communities promote an autonomous lifestyle with the benefits of a full-service community. You have the right to live in such housing even if you are unable to live independently, but keep in mind that most independent living facilities don’t offer medical care or personal assistance. However, you may hire in-home help separately. Independent living may incorporate apartments, condos, or houses.
Homes for sale or rent

These are single-family dwellings that may or may not be exclusive to older adults. Homes for rent or sale that are specifically for seniors will specify age restrictions. These age-qualified homes are often in retirement communities. Services offered often include a community clubhouse, recreational activities, and the convenience of low- to no-maintenance living. These communities may be governed by homeowners’ associations. Unless specified, these homes don’t offer any medical or personal surveillance services.

Manufactured homes

Manufactured homes are factory-built houses installed on site. They may be for sale or rent in communities that are open to all ages or that are restricted to 55-plus or 62-plus. Manufactured housing communities often have features that make them attractive for retirement, including grounds maintenance, swimming pools, and social activities. Manufactured homes generally are more affordable than site-built houses, with average prices ranging from about $83,000 for a single and $154,000 for a double, according to the US Census Bureau. If you buy a home in a land-lease community, you’ll own the home but rent the land it sits on. Today’s manufactured homes are not “mobile homes.” They are built to federal construction and safety standards, use the same materials as site-built houses, and are anchored to the ground with steel rods...
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Senior apartments vs independent living

While both options are great for active, older adults without serious medical conditions, there are some big differences between senior apartments and independent living communities. Aside from some modifications to make life easier, senior apartments are very similar to traditional apartments. They are often single level, have amenities and features like walk-in bathtubs and wider doorways, and have community features like on-site fitness centers and swimming pools. Many provide a clubhouse where residents can get together during social events. Most senior apartments don’t provide healthcare, meal preparation, or housekeeping.

Independent living communities are more like self-contained resorts. Older adults who decide they no longer want to deal with the upkeep and care required of homeowners, or who want to socialize with other seniors, may choose to move to an independent living or active adult community where landscaping, maintenance, and housekeeping are done for them. And while most homes in these types of communities have full kitchens, many also offer prepared meals, so residents have options. Independent living communities typically provide amenities like golf courses, fitness centers, and swimming pools. Like senior apartments, independent living communities might host get-togethers where residents can socialize with one another.

 

[CaliS]

We live in a 55+ manufactured home park, where you own the land. Our HOA fees are about $1200 a year. Overall, I love the community. They take excellent care of the lawns, pool and clubhouse. There are activities like line dancing, knitting club and card clubs as well as frequent pot lucks etc. Having lived in very LOUD neighborhoods previously, I am SO relieved to live in a quiet place for a change!

 

[Teacher Terry]

I think it would be fun to live in a 55+ community if it had lots of activities and many of the people were around the same age. Four years ago I bought a condo and one of the reasons I bought it is that they have many rules that are kid unfriendly.

For instance, kids cannot play in the courtyard and pets are not allowed back there. The only thing you can do back there is sit and enjoy it. Kids cannot ride their bikes or skate, etc. on any of the property in the front either. Therefore there are very few kids that live here. About half the people are seniors and I’ve made many friends since moving here.

 

[StarSong]

The older I get, the less a monolithic community appeals. I reread my comment (below) on this thread from 5-1/2 years ago and realized I feel even more strongly about it today.

Neighbors with new babies in strollers, kids out in the street with baseball mitts learning to pitch and catch with their friends or fathers, lawn signs congratulating children's graduations, balloons directing guests to baby showers or children's birthdays, neighboring children laughing and shrieking with delight as they splash in their pools, and generally interacting with young people makes my heart sing in a way that no orchestrated mahjong club or sewing circle could.

My friends in 55+ communities enjoy many of the activities but also deal with High School type of nonsense, i.e., gossip, cliques, and tattle-tale complainers who want every rule enforced to a "T" - and when there isn't a specific rule covering a situation, they seek to have one enacted. No thanks.

My comment from 2020:

Not interested in 55+ or any type of restricted housing situation. No HOAs for DH & me, thank you very much.

We like having all manner of diversity in our neighborhood, age included. Noisy dogs, shouting children, occasional loud parties, oodles of trick-or-treaters, kids sometimes cutting across our lawn, etc., are all part of the experience of living with other humans.

 

[Sunny]

I can see where you're coming from, StarSong, and you make some good points. But I think there is lots of variety in the 55+ communities, just like in any other communities. I like living in a 55+ community which is large enough to have many varied types of residents. It's easy to find compatible friends. Don't like the complaining gossips? (Neither do I.) There are plenty of other people who do not behave that way. In a small community, you'd probably have a lot less choice as to social interactions and activities to join.

The one area you touch on which I think is totally incorrect is that you think anyone living in a 55+ community would never see children. We have kids here all the time, often visiting grandparents and other relatives, enjoying our swimming pool, tennis courts, game rooms, etc. There are kids in our restaurants. If they are visiting anyone who lives here, they are perfectly welcome to use our facilities. Of course, we don't have skateboard parks or playgrounds with swings, etc., but we do have many parks.

And thankfully, no school buses. I don't miss them.

Another point is that a 55+ community is not a prison. We have the same access to the surrounding community as anyone living in a private house, town house, or apartment. By driving, walking, using buses, taking Uber or Lyft, or using our subway system, called the Metro, we can have the same access to shopping, museums, theaters, etc.

Today, for instance, I took an Uber to my son's house, about 15 minutes away, he made lunch on the grill, and then he drove us both to one of our clubhouses where we attended a terrific Beatlemania Again performance. It was great fun, and those guys were incredibly like the real Beatles, and very good guitarists and singers. And coming back home,in the lobby there was an adorable family from grandparents down to a 2-year-old, all of them beautifully dressed in white. (I think it was some kind of holiday). The kids were having a terrific time, chasing each other around the lobby.

My point being, there really isn't that much difference between a 55+ community and a regular one. But we should choose carefully. Link

 

[seadoug]

My mother was a widow, living in a 4-bedroom house in South Florida back in 2006. We moved to a house in Dallas and hand-picked a villa for her in a 55+ community. It was pre-construction so we picked the location and finish-out. She loved living there. She didn't drive but she made close friends who drove her everywhere. There were no planned activities, but there was an assisted living community next door and she used it for the fitness facility. She made lots of friends there.

When she was ready to move to assisted living she already had a few friends who had moved there so I met with them to make sure they were happy. They were, and so was she.

 

[Disgustedman]

Having left a 62 or disabled apartment complex I can tell you that some of them are probably wonderful but the ones that are subsidized are on the Ragged Edge.

The one I was at was owned by three attorneys who were basically making Lincoln cry everyday with how cheap they were. The activities director was 40 hours a week when I started a year and a half later she quit because she was down to 8 hours.

Then we had the head of Maintenance get fired and they offered the position to his assistant who rejected it because it meant he had to stay there at night and he didn't want to be bothered. His new assistant rejected the offer also.

Our janitor and security were both at 32 hours a week. Some days we had security for 8 hours and some for just two. The janitor spread his out over the five days so we had someone there at least during the day.

Also with the activities director being not replaced, she had her church come and help out for holiday meals no more, because after all she had been encouraging them to provide the meals for free by the way.

The funniest thing is that these attorneys actually owned another complex nearby which was eight stories tall but the residents had to pay normal rates, but they had their own coffee bar they had a restaurant they had activities they had bus trips they had everything.

And I will say this that many of the residents were often complaining about management the assistance the secretaries and that it was very likely the place was going to be sold in a couple of years.

Of course says everyone knows gossip runs amok every day of the week especially with the older people having nothing better to do than to just spread rumors.

 

[Lawrence00]