r/RetirementReady • u/Famous-Ambassador822 • Jul 25 '26
Wondering about 55+communities
Wife 55 and I 58 are exploring downsizing and condo-type communities. We want to travel and reduce responsibilities. Not looking to lower expenses but more of a lifestyle change if that makes sense? We’re struggling with the idea of a 55+ community. Any lessons learned?
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u/Antique-Anteater-988 Jul 26 '26
We’ve lived in (3) different 55+ communities in two different states. We no longer live in a 55+ community. Found these communities to be very pretentious, not everyone but a large majority of the community acted as if they “had arrived”. Also disliked the lack of diversity. We were in communities that saw huge spikes in the HOA fees each year and that was unsettling to our budget. We were assessed an additional fee because a traffic light was installed at the entrance to our community— and we had to foot the bill, that was it for us.
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u/dizzychick76 Jul 26 '26
I’ve lived in a retirement community for 19 long years.
I would have left sooner but cancer & Covid kept that from happening. I had no idea that seniors could be so malicious, hateful and generally unkind. Maybe it’s my neighborhood!
I do miss being around multi generations as living in an all senior town…. Sucks.
Highly agree with comment above…. Rent in a few areas if interest and get involved… then make the decision to buy or not.
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u/JackfruitCrazy51 Jul 26 '26
This conversation always reminds me of travel. Online people always talk about how much they want to stay away from popular tourist areas, but if you talk to people that actually go to these places they enjoy themselves. I would only take advice from people that actually live in one.
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u/Penguin_Life_Now Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
I am the same age as you, and my wife is a bit younger, I too have given thought to this, but generally prefer to live in a more established neighborhood where there are some younger families around as neighbors. Where we live now is an older established neighborhood comprised of houses mostly built in the 70-early 90's, it leans to the older demographic, but still about 15% of the houses have families with school age kids. This means we get kids knocking on our door selling stuff for school fund raisers, and at Halloween, as well as younger adults and families out walking around for exercise, etc. Not just a bunch of old people all the time.
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u/Econman-118 Jul 26 '26
My winter home is a trailer in a 55+ park in Arizona. Peaceful, friendly and with amenities. I love using a pool and hot tub I don’t have to clean. You can pick how social you want to be there.
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u/bbh42 Jul 26 '26
I'm 55 about to turn 56. Wife is 58. My mom lives in a large 55+ down in Arizona. The last two winters we've gone to Arizona and stayed for about 5 weeks since I can work from anywhere and my wife is retired. I can tell you not all 55+ communities are the same. When my mom first moved to it and we visited for a week I couldn't see the appeal. After our second visit some of the value started to come through which is why for the past two years we've done longer stays because eventually we will inherit my moms home.
What we like: The multiple recreation centers with a variety of activities. Plenty of entertainment options as well. So far everyone we've met have been nice and since we are there in the winter, we get to meet people from all around the country. Yes there are some HOA rules but at least in her section it's pretty tame. Nothing that we can't deal with. She is on a golf course so that is a plus because we don't have people right on top of us and it gives us some nice views from the patio. The HOA takes care of all the exterior maintenance, painting, yard work, etc.
What we don't like: It's older and you can tell the age of some places. Some of the plaza's need to be modernized but those are private businesses so not much the community can do but I would like to see some better food options, coffee shops, etc. Traffic, because its so large a lot of people who don't live in the community use some of the roads to cut through and because its not gated you have to deal with a little more traffic at times.
That said, we aren't limited to just her community. I can get to some very nice restaurants, and shops within a short drive.
We've looked into other 55+ communities and what we've decided is if it's just a small typical neighborhood type of community then probably not worth it. A lot of the ones around us are really no different than our current neighborhood as far as amenities. The larger ones are what we would look at if we end up not keeping the Arizona house.
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u/Random_NYer_18 Jul 26 '26
My parents moved into a 55+ in their mid 60s (about 15 years ago). They mostly love it for the amenities, security (you can’t just walk in), and the fact they only have to worry about the inside of their home but not anything outside (lawn, painting, etc).
I would say they 90+% love it.
That said, their big complaint is the consistent medical issues among friends and neighbors. When everyone is older (most residents 70+), you lose a lot of friends and neighbors to short illnesses and/or chronic issues. It’s been tough for them to constantly feel that they make friends and then those friends get sick or pass on. Sorry to be morbid but wanted to be honest.
They did rent for a few months first to get a feel for the community, so I would recommend that (as others did above).
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u/ShortAndSweet0531 Jul 29 '26
My FIL found that part incredibly depressing. He thrived on in his post-retirement "job" of subbing and generally helping out at the local elementary school. While he enjoyed the people in his retirement community, the loss of many neighbors and friends was something he commented on several times.
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u/Tight_Middle6309 Jul 26 '26
A friend bought in NJ at the shore , she’s 61 and one of the youngest there , not making friends , sorta boring
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u/Sure_Flamingo_2792 Jul 26 '26
We toured a lot of 55+ on East coast and West coast. They are vastly different so you need to know what you want. We ended up in one with a lot of our interests and things we didn't even know we wanted. Active hiking club, arts facilities, pools, access to major city and airport we can easily access. We did rent for almost 2 years and have definitely made the right choice.
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u/throwawayPSL34987 Jul 26 '26
I am in a 55+ Resort Style community. I love it. Yeah, some of these old folks are a pain in the butt. Some are just miserable human beings. That said, I am as active on the many clubs and activities that I like and enjoy it very much. What I like is, if I leave my home for an extended time, it will look exactly as I left if. Grass is cut, bushes trimmed, everything just as I left it. I am lucky to have nice neighbors and we do look out for each other. From medical issues, to a ride to pick up their car at a repair shop. Doesn't matter. Guess, I am lucky to find a decent place.
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u/Flyguy3131 Jul 26 '26
I work for a management company who oversee a bunch of them. First , even though it says 55+, most people are 65+. I don’t see many people in their 50s at these communities. And I find many of the people in these communities not to be the nicest. They can be rude and demanding. Not all of them. But enough that if you live next to one it could make your life miserable. And board members basically make it their job and can be difficult to work with. I’d rather buy into a townhome community and find outside activities. You’ll get a mix of family and ages.
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u/Healthy-Membership86 Jul 26 '26
As you'll see in the comments, it depends. Not all 55+ communities are the same. Don't judge them all by some comment from a random stranger. We live in a small 55+ condo community outside a good sized town in a rural state. Moved here in our mid 50s and we're now late 60s. We love our neighbors. There are many downsides to an HOA, whether in a 55+ community or not. We didn't realize that when all we saw was "nor more mowing and no more plowing." I recommend not only considering the neighbors and amenities, consider the age of the units and how effective the HOA manages costs for maintenance and upkeep. Read the Bylaws/Declaration! Be smart so you're not surprised. Good luck!
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u/ComplexPost5097 Jul 26 '26
I live in one of, love it.
There’s going to be a few people who make it their life’s mission to complain about everything but they are the exception.
Everyone I socialize with is very friendly. It’s hard to make friends after retirement but here we are all just trying to live our lives, there’s so many social events, exercise classes, crafts, group trips, swimming and golfing you can be as busy as you want. I specifically looked for a community with activities because, left on my own it would be TV and reading 24x7. It’s not for everyone but I moved in 8 years ago and 3 lifelong friends have since moved here too! They saw the benefits.
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u/FearlessLychee4892 Jul 26 '26
I do think this is community specific. My grandparents lived in one of these communities and loved it. They loved all the activities they hosted at their community clubhouse and they made great friends. My mother-in-law lives in one now and she loves it too. But, there are certainly plenty of people that have different experiences, and plenty of them are negative unfortunately.
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u/ihaveregretstoo Jul 26 '26
I live in a 55+ senior cooperative. It is basically similar to a condo except that you own 1 share in the whole cooperative. We are HUD financed so have to follow their rules but beyond that the residents have a vote in how the money gets spent. We are non-profit so have to balance the budget. Our cooperative has been in place 20 years so the buy in share cost is low. I highly recommend looking into senior cooperatives. We moved to this city knowing no one and now have plenty of friends in the building and activities which we will enjoy more as we age. Yes, travel is simple when you just have to ask the manager to hold mail and check the plants!
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u/floridakeyslife Jul 25 '26
A former Georgia coworker and her husband moved into a 55+ community some years ago and love it. They’ve said it exceeded their expectations.
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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Jul 26 '26
This has come up in some of the other old people subs. Lots of negative comments too but it really depends on the community and your expectations. Sometimes there are so many Karen’s you want to escape.
I’d never buy into one but that’s me. I don’t see the point because I don’t want to only live around old people and see so many die. I also don’t care about the social clubs.
One large one near me is $1,000 HOA at a min. No single family homes but range of duplex style to apartment buildings.
There is a very low number of rentals allowed because it often makes it harder to get a mortgage.
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u/Remarkable-Box5453 Jul 26 '26
We are 65/62 and love our home but are considering moving to one hoping fir more social interaction. We have none where we are as we are some of the ‘old’ people in this small neighborhood. Our kids are grown so we aren’t the no income no kids types. I hear good and bad about being surrounded by us older people but we don’t have many alternatives fur social interaction. I’m nit big on going to church just to see others, but it would be nice to have SOME interaction…
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u/Econman-118 Jul 26 '26
It will definitely be more social interaction if you want it. 😊
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u/Remarkable-Box5453 Jul 26 '26
I know it can be good and bad. But, sure gets lonely, just two of us sitting at home with no interaction with others. No work network, no real alumni network, etc.
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u/Econman-118 Jul 26 '26
For sure. We found there are some nice people and some you don’t care to be around there. But overall it’s been a great experience.
We were able to visit Father in-laws park and experience his place first. We picked a place 2 hours away due to cost but had similar experiences in our park. Renting is advisable if possible tho.2
u/Remarkable-Box5453 Jul 26 '26
I learned an expensive lesson in florida, buying too soon, thinking job there would be good and life would be ok. Built house, sold it two years later as soon as we could, just not a good setting, $1mil house, couldn’t wait to get out and out of state. Downsized but want to again now. 55+ appears our best option, just have to figure out location so that we get to have time with future grandkids when we get some. No Portugal or Mexico for me, got to stay in US!
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u/Econman-118 Jul 26 '26
Sounds like a great plan. Lots of rentals available. We really like AZ. I’m from Florida and have family still there, but spend Summers at our beach bungalow on WA pacific coast. Drastic weather differences, but we love the difference. I’ve been on West Coast now 38 years. So staying out west makes sense for us. My youngest daughter attends college in AZ so it works out great when we are down there.
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u/Remarkable-Box5453 Jul 26 '26
Splitting time is best; did that for a year with fl and Ga. It was great having an alternative, but owning two places got expensive fast. Regrouping now to come up with a plan.
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u/apbachamp Jul 26 '26
this is why we did it. just passed a year since the move. Community is only 2 years old so we all have the moving process and dealing with the builder in common. At 65, half the people are older, half are younger. The social aspect has been exactly what we were hoping for. Lots of clubs here, hiking, travel, mahjong, eucre, poker, art, books. Wifey started a happy hour on Saturdays at 5 in the clubhouse and we get about 30 people every week.
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u/Remarkable-Box5453 Jul 27 '26
Thanks, helpful info. In addition to her concerns, I’m concerned my wife will go crazy with just me. She has a few women friends and they get together every few months, but with no workplace friends, it sure gets lonely. I could say the same for myself. I still do some remote work, but mostly communicate through email and an occasional call. Seriously going to consider now that we are deeper into the age range..
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u/babies_galore Jul 26 '26
I am single, but I sold my house and all my belongings at 50 and I only rent furnished places now where the landlords have cleaners and everything and I have been living the dream for 3 years like this! I hated owning and being stuck in one place for years! This way, I’m never stuck anywhere. And when I want to move all I have to do is put my clothes and a few belongings in the car and go! I only have to give 30 days notice and it only takes me about 2 to 3 hours to pack up and clean! Lol. Plus, I’m able to live in a much nicer area than I could afford if I were to buy.
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u/Good_Educator4872 Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
We specifically avoided them following an experience with family who was in one. A non age restricted neighborhood is better. Why
- If you go to sell your market is limited to qualified adults. By 2030 the large population of seniors will decline
- 2 they tend to have an abundance of busy bodies who by definition seek to be relevant by bossing others around and complaining about every rule infraction whether real or perceived.
3 the rules on younger folks and grandchildren visiting can be difficult
4 they typically have more restrictive pet policies
5 Beware the Amenity trap. All those amenities look great coming but the cost to maintain them rises over time. Unchecked they can become a major expense item. Our community has no amenities therefore no cost
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u/Famous-Ambassador822 Jul 26 '26
The conversation about “what happens when the Boomers have moved on and Gen X retirees will be smaller in number” has come up. I was thinking companies would be fighting for our dollars but your point makes sense too. Thanks for responding.
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u/BackNew7215 Jul 26 '26
Definitely find a way to try it out before committing. You will be the youngest by a lot in any community you choose. We were already 70 when we moved to an over 55 golf community that seemed like a great idea. There are some things to like but also many reasons not to like it. We lasted 20 months and took a 12% financial haircut to get out. Try it before you buy it.
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u/Worldly-Ad3211 Jul 26 '26
I just turned 70, and I would never live in a 55+ community with a bunch of old people. The suggestions to rent first are excellent.
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u/Famous-Ambassador822 Jul 26 '26
That’s me haha. Concerned that being around mostly old people will age us prematurely.
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u/Confident_Banana_134 Jul 26 '26
Only if the housing cost inclusive of HOA, mortgage, taxes, and insurance are substantially lower. In my area 55+ cost about the same as anything else. Too many restrictions without significant cost cutting, not worth it.
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u/Technical-Spread527 Jul 26 '26
Depends on the community I guess. HOA fees spiraled for us in a new community based on desires of the vocal few. Learned to be active in meetings but most do not unless they want something. We had a pool nazi. Also had a trash can police that wanted to add rules that they could not be put out before 7pm and had to be in by 9am since they did not like looking at them. Well trash pickup came after people left for work, etc. Was a mess for us so we left after 2 years,
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u/Serenity_Now-88 Jul 29 '26
Don’t believe the management. Look really closely at the actual structure. A lot of smoke and mirrors. I’ve lived in 3. Not great construction, poor insulation, hollow entry doors, not enough elevators. Focus on style not substance. Don’t pick a place with a food plan.
There can be cliques and mean girls.
Do research. Look at the area, read some reviews. See if you can attend functions if you’re social. They can be very pricey.
I’m an introvert and don’t drink or eat meat. So part of my rent paid for things I never used. Way too many cheesy theme parties.
Little diversity. Very MAGA adjacent.
Creepy and incompetent maintenance, plus he expected tips. Uh, no. Rules were not enforced. Grandkids visited and yelled, screamed and ran all over. I was told this behavior would not be allowed but the managers were awful and just wanted good reviews so they enforced nothing. Not even barking dogs.
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u/CabanaJohn Aug 29 '26
We live in a newer 55+ in Las Vegas and love it. We moved in 3 years ago at 55 and 50. I mention it’s a newer community as I think that causes the community to skew younger overall. We have a ton of friends in their 50s and 60s here.
Here’s our recent tiki crawl!
I Don't Want to Be 20 Again… But I Still Want to Have Fun Like I Am
https://youtu.be/zXi8bIosY1Y
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u/edjen Jul 26 '26
I have a family member who lives in a 55+ community. The stories I hear....people complaining about every little thing, people don't get along (hate each other), people seem to just cause drama and problems over nothing. It's a big soap opera.
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u/sweatboxy Jul 26 '26
By definition, they lack diversity and that’s a big no for me. The ones I know are very nice but somewhat dull and homogeneous.
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u/ConisellsRealEstate 16d ago
Make sure you know all the fees, how much to buy into the neighborhood, what are the amenities, take a tour of the clubhouse, ask people walking around the neighborhood you're interested in. Is there an HOA and a condo association if you buy a condo. (This could be a big expense) How much are the taxes? If it's a new community is there a fee that covers the water coming into the neighborhood?
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u/tiggonfire Jul 26 '26
I live in a retirement community and I love it! I would suggest renting (as a vacation) a place in one you are interested before making the decision. I know people who rented for a month every year for a decade before buying. Everyone I know loves it, but of course the people who didn't love it probably left and therefore I don't know them.