November 7, 2008
How To Know What Type Of Community Is Best For You
Retirement Communities today are much more than a group of houses in the same neighborhood or geographic area. Communities set a standard for design and development and provide a sense of assurance your investment will be protected and maintained. It’s not about the community being “gated” as much as it is about the fact that they are “planned”. With or without a gate or guard house, people feel safer living in a community with like minded people with similar interests and are becoming very popular especially with people in retirement. Most all communities are deeded real estate. Today, there are many different types and styles of “communities” which have various levels of amenities.
An “Active Adult Community” is an age-restricted community requiring at least one household resident is age 55. No one under age 19 may be a permanent resident. Residents usually engage in community activities and are retired, employed in some manner or have their own business. Many Adult Communities maintain the property for the residents. I like to call them Active Lifestyle Communities because, for the most part, the focus today seems to be more on lifestyle and amenities, rather than age. Some communities are centered on boating, golf, horses, fitness or some other outdoor activity. They have a certain “style” to them.
“Private Residence Clubs” is deeded real estate ownership (fractional ownership) without the added responsibility of owning. The price varies with residence and number of weeks in your plan. With “Destination Clubs” you don’t own any of the real estate and for only a membership fee and yearly dues, provide access to houses throughout the world. Both types provide high-end housing at resort destinations with five-star amenities.
New Urbanism communities tightly cluster a wide variety of home types, foster interaction with; residents are diverse from the retired to young families; feature walkable Main Street shopping, restaurants and a mix of commercial development; de-emphasize the need for a car, undeveloped common “green space” and residents of different ages and economic backgrounds.
New Ruralism fosters connection with nature, privacy, and community involvement only as desired. Home sites are large and separated by nature preserves, natural features, and agricultural land. It is characterized by undisturbed open spaces shared by everyone.
Co-housing is a new type of community real estate where people are committed to helping each other and becoming popular with the same generation that gave us the commune. Residents own a townhome or condo and share a “common house”, participate in the design, operation and maintenance of the community. The common facilities usually contain a kitchen, lounge, children’s room, recreational facilities, meditation room and workshops.
There are many different types and styles of “communities”. Whether you’re retired for wanting to relocate to yourdream place, communities offer a wide variety of lifestyles. There’s no better way to find out more about communities, than taking a trip to visit them. Many offer “discounted” weekend packages. Also, many provide a video or DVD of their community, so you can get to know them without ever leaving home.
