http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=212 A new resort and retirement community has been proposed for the Wilson area along Lake Ontario. If things go as planned, this will be the largest development to ever take place in the town. Although there are many people who are for this development, there are some that feel the location will compromise the lifestyle of residents who are already living in the area. If approved, this development would be a huge economic boost for the area. The estimated cost of the project is $240, and it would include: an 18 hole golf course, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a 42 room hotel and spa, a gated community featuring more than 800 condominiums, and much more. The development would sit on 460 acres of land, and would generate more than $8 million in property taxes. Developers are referring to the new development as a destination active adult community. They feel that the hotel would suit the needs of people from all walks of life, and that the community itself would be perfect for empty nesters that are looking to move on. The Wilson Town Board has told the developers that they have the go ahead to start the project. As long as this is not blocked, it appears that this development is going to break ground soon. The first phase of the project will start in approximately two years, and would take two years to reach completion. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=210 The baby boomer generation may be getting older, but it does not mean that they have lost all of their sense of taste and style. This is especially true when it comes to the luxury features that are standard on a lot of the newer homes of today. Baby boomers have a very clear picture as to what they want from their retirement, and a lot of them are focusing strongly on luxury items. While it is a known fact that baby boomers are interested in moving into active adult communities, they still want to be able to live with a high level of luxury. Even if they have not been able to do this in the past, when retiring they hope to change this trend and live out their final years in style. The idea of buying a smaller home, perhaps in an active adult community, is very appealing to most baby boomers. This will allow them to better control their finances, and also lessen some of the stress in their life by cutting back on high maintenance chores that go along with keeping up a big home. But one thing is for sure, this generation is not looking to downscale just so they can say that they did it. Instead, they are looking for very specific luxury features from their new home. Nationwide there are approximately 80 million baby boomers. While all of these people are not yet retired, they are moving in that direction. This is most definitely going to put a major strain on the active adult community market as things continue to progress in this direction. This is the main reason that so many developers have decided to try their hand in this arena. Overall, baby boomers are retiring in large numbers, and are in turn looking for new homes that are less maintenance. The solution to their problems can be found in one of the many active adult communities located across the country. But remember, baby boomers have not forgotten about luxury. This is what they want when they retire! 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=211 Many people are intrigued at the thought of moving into an active adult community. And when it comes down to it, they are interested in doing this for a number of different reasons. In addition to upscale luxury features and lower maintenance hassles, active adult communities also offer a setting in which members of the area can get together to meet one another and just hang out. This is why almost every active adult community that is being built also has a plan for a community center. These community centers are what can set one plus 55 community apart from another. Community centers within active adult communities are more or less the centerpiece of the development. Sure, residents are going to spend the majority of their time in their home, but when they are not they will have the ability to take advantage of what the community center has to offer. There are two main reasons that a community center is an important addition to any active adult development. First off, it gives residents a place to go when they do not feel like staying in their home. And on top of this, they will also have the ability to meet other people who have the same interests as them. Additionally, a community center is a place for residents to have fun. While no two centers are the same, most of them have plenty of activities for residents to join in on. This includes swimming, tennis, golf, and much more. The fact of the matter is that a community center is built to meet the needs of the residents. The bottom line is that community centers and active adult communities go together hand in hand. With each new development that pops up, one thing is for sure. There will be a community center that is of the same quality as the homes in the area. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=213 There will always be a large number of people who seek out active adult communities located in Florida, Arizona, and other warm weather states. But while this is never going to change, the fact of the matter is that active adult communities in northern suburbs are also making some noise. This is due in large part to the fact that more and more people are interested in staying close to home. Developers have ceased the opportunity to cater to these people, and that is why so many new active adult communities are being built in northern states. And as the baby boomer generation continues to retire, it is safe to say that these establishments will become even more populated. Take Red Mill Village in Norton, Massachusetts for example. This active adult community has exactly what a baby boomer may be looking for in move. It offers more than one housing option, luxury amenities, close proximity to area attractions and destinations, and a neighborhood look and feel. Many people have tried to make the move to the south, and after a few years have headed back to where they came from. There are many reasons for this sudden change of heart, and when it comes down to it some of these people are simply home sick and want to move back closer to their family. Developers are considering the profits that are available in northern active adult communities located in suburbs. They know that a large number of people will want to stay close to home, but at the same time they will want to move into a more manageable property. With a suburban active adult community this is more than possible for most retirees regardless of age or location. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=214 For many people, moving to an active adult community after retirement is like a dream come true. After many years of hard work and slaving away at their job, these buyers are more ready than ever before to live the good life. And when it comes to this group of people, an active adult community is the best place for them to relax and also get some thrills. There used to be a time when active adult communities were thought of as boring, more or less. But although this is still a conception, the fact of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. Today's active adult communities are anything but boring and for new developments to compete they have to offer more than ever before. There are two basic ideas around an active adult community. First off, the homes that are offered in active adult communities are geared towards older buyers. This means that the master bedrooms are usually on the first floor, there is a high level of luxury, and exterior maintenance is kept to a minimum The other thing to consider when it comes to an active adult community is the part of the community that does not have to do with your home. This includes things such as a golf course, tennis courts, a swimming pool, an exercise room, and much more. Remember, you want to stay active after you retire. Finding a community that offers the activities that you like is quite important. All in all, you do not need to slow down after you turn 50. Instead, look into buying a home in an active adult community. This may be the best decision that you ever make! 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=215 So you are interested in moving into an active adult community after you retire? If so, you are probably well aware of the communities in your area as well as those in other popular states such as Florida and Arizona. But guess what? These are not your only choices when it comes to active adult communities. Believe it or not, many people have found that moving to Mexico is the best choice for them. There are many reasons as to why Mexico is creeping into the minds of more and more baby boomers. First off, the weather in areas such as Puerto Vallarta is beyond perfect. If you are looking for warm weather day in and day out, an active adult community in Mexico may be what you have been dreaming of. Accessibility is also another reason that active adult communities in Mexico are becoming more popular. In the past, flights did not travel in and out of the area as regularly as they do today. This makes it easy for people to get to and from their home, and also schedule visits from out of town family and friends. And of course, there are many options as far as active adult communities in Mexico are concerned. You can find everything from a low priced condo to a more expensive community on the beach. No matter what your budget or lifestyle needs, there is a good chance that you will find what you are looking for at a Mexico active adult community. Finally, do not forget that communities in Mexico are sure to keep you active. They offer everything that American active adult communities have, plus much more in some areas. With Mexico offering more and more active adult communities, expect baby boomers to at least consider a move to this country upon retirement. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=216 For many baby boomers, retirement is a time that is going to be quite hectic to say the least. You will be working hard to make sure that your finances are in order, and that you have everything set up for a good life. But with that being said, this can be a bit overwhelming at times. This is especially true when it comes to moving from the house that you have lived in for so long. And even though you do not have to move, a lot of baby boomers feel that an active adult community is probably the best thing for them. Instead of walking into the trap of being overpowered by too many decisions, you should instead start planning your move to an active adult community years in advance. Obviously, you will not want to make the move until you are ready but you should at least have an idea of what you want to do. This way, when the time comes you will be able to make a move on the spot without having to think twice. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when looking ahead to your retirement days. First off, you should consider the economical advantages of moving into an active adult community. If you have a large home right now with a large mortgage payment you may be able to get out from underneath this. A move to an active adult community could free up money each month that you never even think about. Another consideration is that an active adult community will greatly change the way that you live. When you move into an active adult community you will have the chance to live a stress free lifestyle. You will never again have to worry about removing snow from your driveway or cutting the grass. Does it get any better than that? Thinking ahead will give you a jumpstart when you decide to retire. When you already have a plan in mind, your move to an active adult community will be much easier on you. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=217 The Pointe at Turnbury, located in Monmouth Junction, recently celebrated its grand opening. This active adult community is one of the nicest in the area, and this is obvious by the way that people are clamoring to get a closer look. The grand opening celebration was a huge success as a large number of sales associates and home buyers showed up to check out the new development. The Pointe at Turnbury offers 190 town homes situated in a gated community. It is safe to say that these are not going to last long. The Pointe at Turnbury offers plenty to anybody who is interested in moving into the community. For those who are interested in staying fit, this active adult community offers a heating pool, putting greens, bocce courts, and much more. The Pointe at Turnbury also features a state of the art clubhouse that features a fitness center, yoga rooms, and a salon. In addition to the features inside, The Pointe at Turnbury is also located in close proximity to parks, dining shopping, and other activities. This makes it the perfect choice for anybody who wants to live in an active adult community, but does not want to give up their life. The Pointe at Turnbury is garnering a lot of attention, and soon enough the development will be sold out. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=218 Bridgewater has come to be known as one of the top areas in the country for senior housing communities. This is set to increase in the near future if two senior communities get the go ahead from the Board of Adjustment. One of the proposed developments is set to take over the land of Bound Brook Driving Range. If approval is given, a 70 unit housing complex for seniors will be built in the area. The other proposal is for a 60 unit community located on approximately 7.5 acres alongside Route 28. According to township numbers, there are more than 1,500 senior housing units in the area at this time. This includes everything from independent and assisted living to active retirement communities. A lot of towns all over the country are interested in constructing active retirement community and other like developments. These go a long way in generating revenue, but at the same time active retirement communities do not increase traffic or bring additional children into the area. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=219 For those people interested in moving into an active adult community there are many decisions that lie ahead. After all, making this move is a very big one that needs to be taken seriously. So before you decide to jump into a move to an active adult community, you should first ask yourself a few questions. This way you can be ensured that you make the best decision for your overall situation. Here are five questions that you should ask yourself while shopping for a home in an active adult community. They will help to guide you in the right direction. 1. Is the community age restricted, or is it more or less for active seniors? This is important because some active adult communities are also known as plus 55 communities. So obviously, if you are not of age you will not be able to purchase a home in one of these communities. 2. If there are age restrictions, what happens if somebody under this age inherits the property? You need to consider this fact because it will probably come up sometime in the future after you have passed on. It is important that you plan for this. 3. Is it more important for you to have the best home or be in close proximity to things such as your family, entertainment venues, etc? Remember, there are many active adult communities to choose from; with each one being in a different part of the country. 4. What activities are offered at an active adult community? Better yet, what activities that you like are offered at a community? This includes things such as golf, tennis, basketball, etc. 5. Are the homes in the community perfect for your situation? Do they give you what you need? Even though active adult communities have a lot to offer, you will spend the majority of your time in your home. 2007-08-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=168 Every year the National Association of Home Builders sponsors an International Builders' Show catering active adult community developers. This trade show attracts more than 100,000 guests each year, and features many events and programs that are focused on the plus 50 housing industry. With so many people becoming interested in this type of housing it is safe to say that this trade show will only continue to grow in size over the next few years. One of the highlights of this show is an ask the expert segment when industry professionals answer questions on how to sell to the active adult community. During this program developers have the ability to ask experts any questions that pertain to getting in touch with this sometimes hard to reach community. While this may not be the only program to take place during the show, it is one of the most popular year in and year out. By 2014 the number of people who are of the age of 55 or older is expected to reach 85 million. This is a targeted demographic that developers can tap into as a way of increasing profits, and also increasing business. Although not all of these people will move into a plus 55 community, a large percentage of them will at least consider making the leap. Every year this trade show has something special to offer this niche of the housing industry. Developers from all over the world frequent this show, and over the next few years it will be very popular. This trend will more than likely hold steady until at least a few years after 2014. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=169 The baby boomer generation may be getting older, but it does not mean that they have lost all of their sense of taste and style. This is especially true when it comes to the luxury features that are standard on a lot of the newer homes of today. Baby boomers have a very clear picture as to what they want from their retirement, and a lot of them are focusing strongly on luxury items. While it is a known fact that baby boomers are interested in moving into active adult communities, they still want to be able to live with a high level of luxury. Even if they have not been able to do this in the past, when retiring they hope to change this trend and live out their final years in style. The idea of buying a smaller home, perhaps in an active adult community, is very appealing to most baby boomers. This will allow them to better control their finances, and also lessen some of the stress in their life by cutting back on high maintenance chores that go along with keeping up a big home. But one thing is for sure, this generation is not looking to downscale just so they can say that they did it. Instead, they are looking for very specific luxury features from their new home. Nationwide there are approximately 80 million baby boomers. While all of these people are not yet retired, they are moving in that direction. This is most definitely going to put a major strain on the active adult community market as things continue to progress in this direction. This is the main reason that so many developers have decided to try their hand in this arena. Overall, baby boomers are retiring in large numbers, and are in turn looking for new homes that are less maintenance. The solution to their problems can be found in one of the many active adult communities located across the country. But remember, baby boomers have not forgotten about luxury. This is what they want when they retire! 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=170 The 50+ Housing Council is once again sponsoring one of the largest home builder trade shows in the country again this year. Any developer that is interested in active adult communities or similar developments will surely be on hand again this year. All in all, the trade show is expecting to draw in at least 100,000 visitors from all over the world. There are many educational programs that will take place at the trade show this year. All of these programs are meant to help industry professional's better deal with the active adult population. While there are nearly 80 million baby boomers in the United States today, this number is on the rise and will reach 85 million by the year 2014. Just a few of the more popular programs include: How to get started in active adult community housing, active adult community advertisement reviews, active adult community architectural reviews. All of these programs are led by professionals who have years of experience within the active adult industry. Not only will these professionals be presenting material to everybody in attendance, but they will also field questions from the audience. This allows everybody to touch on the areas that concern them the most. This trade show is beneficial to everybody in attendance, as well as the many people who will be interested in moving into active adult communities in the years to come. It is safe to say that this is one of the most popular trade shows of the year in the United States. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=171 For the last 35 years or so homes in the United States have been growing in size as each year goes by. Younger buyers were enthusiastic about showing off what they can afford, and this trend still holds true today to a certain extent. But with that being said, it appears that this trend is set to die down sooner rather than later. The latest industry trends have shown that home sizes have pretty much hit a peak, and they will now begin to level off and even decline a bit. In today's day and age buyers are more concerned with the neighborhood that they are moving into, as well as the features that a home has to offer. In other words, size is not everything anymore in the housing game. Buyers are set on the fact that bigger does not necessarily mean better; especially if the bigger homes lack the modern features that they are looking for. Another reason that home sizes are on the decline nationwide is because more and more baby boomers are nearing retirement age. When this happens, these people usually begin to shop for a home that is smaller. This allows them to be able to more easily handle maintenance, and other details that can become a hassle with a bigger home. For this reason, developers are starting to build more and more active adult communities as the years go by. And of course, the homes in these communities are smaller than ones that are not. Again, this is meant to cater to the needs of people who are retiring. By 2015 industry professionals feel that the average size of a new home will peak at approximately 2,400 square feet, and hold steady at this number for many years to follow. But just because the size of homes is expected to level off does not mean that designs are going to do the same. Developers will have their hands full trying to cater to the ever changing wants and need of buyers. Not only do new home buyers want a modern look, but they also want to take advantage of the many luxury features that have become available as of late. This also holds true for baby boomers. Although they are looking to downsize, they still want to live a life of luxury. Overall, the days when bigger homes were better are now numbered. Home sizes are going to level off in the near future, and buyers are going to continue to shop based on other needs such as luxury features and convenience. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=172 Many people are intrigued at the thought of moving into an active adult community. And when it comes down to it, they are interested in doing this for a number of different reasons. In addition to upscale luxury features and lower maintenance hassles, active adult communities also offer a setting in which members of the area can get together to meet one another and just hang out. This is why almost every active adult community that is being built also has a plan for a community center. These community centers are what can set one plus 55 community apart from another. Community centers within active adult communities are more or less the centerpiece of the development. Sure, residents are going to spend the majority of their time in their home, but when they are not they will have the ability to take advantage of what the community center has to offer. There are two main reasons that a community center is an important addition to any active adult development. First off, it gives residents a place to go when they do not feel like staying in their home. And on top of this, they will also have the ability to meet other people who have the same interests as them. Additionally, a community center is a place for residents to have fun. While no two centers are the same, most of them have plenty of activities for residents to join in on. This includes swimming, tennis, golf, and much more. The fact of the matter is that a community center is built to meet the needs of the residents. The bottom line is that community centers and active adult communities go together hand in hand. With each new development that pops up, one thing is for sure. There will be a community center that is of the same quality as the homes in the area 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=173 If you are searching for an active retirement community to move into you have many decisions waiting on you. Do you know what some of them are? If so, you are well ahead of the game at this point. But even if you do not know what to look for when choosing an active retirement community there is nothing to be afraid of. The fact of the matter is that a lot of people go into this process without having any clue as to what is going on. And in the end, the majority of them end up fine as long as they take their time along the way. So what are you going to look for when searching out active retirement communities? One thing that you will definitely want to consider is where the community is located. This has a lot to do with the actual state that it is in, but not as much as the more specific location. Do you need a bit more detail on this? Basically speaking, you need to choose an active retirement community that is close to areas that suit your lifestyle. For instance, just because you move into an active retirement community does not mean that you actually have to stay completely away from the workforce. If you are going to continue to work you will probably want to choose an active retirement community that is close to your employer. This way you will not have a long commute on your hands everyday. Another thing to consider is how close the community is to convenience establishments such as the mall, grocery and drug stores, entertainment venues, and much more. If you are going to be miles away from the closest store you may want to reconsider a particular active retirement community. After all, just because you have moved does not mean that you are going to stop living. In fact, the exact opposite is happening. Now that you are done with most of your responsibilities you will want to be close to activities that you can take part in on a regular basis. Choosing an active retirement community is not always the easiest thing to do. There are many decisions to make, and even after you have done your research you will still have details that are left unclear. The good thing is that if you consider location you should be able to find a perfect active retirement community. Just as the old saying goes; location is everything when it comes to buying real estate. This holds true in many ways when it comes to active retirement communities. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=174 Many people think that the name 'active retirement communities' is nothing more than that. But the fact of the matter is that when you move into an active retirement community you really will have the chance to stay as active as you wish. Of course, this is up to you but the option is there if you wish. This alone is what has made active retirement communities so popular over the last few years. Gone are the days when retiring meant that you had to spend most of your time bored out of your mind. So how do active retirement communities keep you moving? There is no set answer to this question due to the fact that every community is different than the next. Some of them offer a lot of activities, whereas others miss the boat in some areas. The fact of the matter is that this is something that you will have to look into on your own. You are the only one that knows what type of activities you like, and if they will fit in with your current lifestyle choices. With that being said, there are many standard activities that you will be able to take part in at the majority of these communities. For instance, most active retirement communities offer sports such as tennis, golf, swimming, or simply walking on a cleared path. If you like to stay active by way of sports seek out an active retirement community that has a lot to offer in this area. Many active retirement communities are based around golf courses to meet the needs of a large number of people. In addition to physical activities, retirement communities also promote interaction between the residents. Most of these communities have a meeting place where you can lounge, and in turn meet others who live in the same plan. For a lot of people this is very important because they do not want to live alone day in and day out. So even if their home is empty, they can always head to a social area to get in touch with others. So yes, you do stay active if you live in an active retirement community. Of course, you will have to be committed to staying active, but at the very least you have the opportunity to do so. Just make sure that before you decide on any active retirement community that you know what you are looking for. If you like to golf find a community that is near a golf course; the same goes for any other activity. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=175 Although baby boomers are getting to the age where retirement is a real possibility, builders are not too optimistic. Although they are aware that plus 55 communities have become quite popular, it appears that a lot of baby boomers are just fine living in their current home. In other words, they are comfortable and it would take quite a bit in order to persuade them to move. More than 75 percent of people in the 55 to 64 age range are happy with their current living arrangements. This is not to say that they are going to stay put, but this is something that builders most take into consideration. After all, if they build a plus 55 community they have to make sure that they can fill the homes sooner rather than later. If not, the project will be a bust and millions of dollars could possibly be wasted away. While this is a developing problem, builders are considering what they can do to get around this. For instance, they have found that most people in this age range rate safety high on their list of features in a home and community. For this reason, homes in plus 55 communities are coming equipped with security systems and more and more of them are gated. This is a trend to keep a close eye on as a large percentage of baby boomers reach retirement age. Builders are going to continue looking into developing plus 55 communities, but they will have to be much more careful about what they are doing. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=176 There are many areas of the country that are known for offering a lot to senior citizens as far as housing is concerned. But when it comes down to it, Anne Arundel County may be the king. At this time there are over 5,000 homes planned for construction or already in the process of being built. Out of these, approximately 60 percent of them have restrictions that do not allow residents under the age of 55. These are known as plus 55 communities. While this may sound like a good thing for seniors, county officials are a bit worried that this is going to lead to an imbalance in the age population. After all, if things continue in this direction the county will be more or less dominated by those that are over the age of 55. Although plus 55 communities have always been popular in Anne Arundel County, zoning rules surrounding local school district capacities are driving developers to cater to more and more active adults. Once a school has reached its capacity, developers cannot move forward with unrestricted building projects. In turn, building plus 55 communities is the next best option. The only other thing that they can do is wait around for the capacity to open up, but there is no way of saying how long this could take. Builders in the area are making quick money on the plus 55 communities that they build. With baby boomers looking for a place to settle down after retirement, these communities are filling up faster than ever before. It will be interesting to see if county officials do anything about this issue, or simply keep a close watch on the progression of this market. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=177 Although baby boomers are getting to the age where retirement is a real possibility, builders are not too optimistic. Although they are aware that plus 55 communities have become quite popular, it appears that a lot of baby boomers are just fine living in their current home. In other words, they are comfortable and it would take quite a bit in order to persuade them to move. More than 75 percent of people in the 55 to 64 age range are happy with their current living arrangements. This is not to say that they are going to stay put, but this is something that builders most take into consideration. After all, if they build a plus 55 community they have to make sure that they can fill the homes sooner rather than later. If not, the project will be a bust and millions of dollars could possibly be wasted away. While this is a developing problem, builders are considering what they can do to get around this. For instance, they have found that most people in this age range rate safety high on their list of features in a home and community. For this reason, homes in plus 55 communities are coming equipped with security systems and more and more of them are gated. This is a trend to keep a close eye on as a large percentage of baby boomers reach retirement age. Builders are going to continue looking into developing plus 55 communities, but they will have to be much more careful about what they are doing. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=178 Active adult communities are not the same as they once were. There was a time when these were nothing more than a place where seniors could live in the same community. While this is still the case, active adult communities now offer much more than just that. If you have never taken the time to see what these new communities are all about you may be missing out on something that is quite remarkable. The way that this industry has changed as of late is very interesting to say the least. So what is different about the new wave of active adult communities? Simply put, the new developments take the word 'active' to the new level. Developers know that seniors want to stay active, so they have found new way of doing this. They are offering advanced activities such as swimming, tennis, basketball, hiking, golf, and much more. Sure, these things have always been around, but in today's active adult communities they are more prevalent than ever before. This alone is making the older active adult communities much more outdated. In turn, people are starting to migrate away from these and into communities that have more to offer. The actual homes located in active adult communities are also more luxurious than ever before. Developers are putting a lot of time into designing homes that suit the needs of the older crowd. This includes amenities such as first floor living, free removal of snow, free lawn maintenance, and much more. When a person moves into an active adult community they want their life to be a bit easier; and of course they still want to have fun. This is what developers are thinking about when building the new housing units. Finally, active adult communities are no longer for warm weather states only. Do you remember the days when the only active adult communities were located in Florida? While Florida still leads the country in this department they are getting a lot of competition from other states. And the fact of the matter is that the developers in northern states are more than holding their own. Since more and more retirees want to stay close to their family, they are searching for active adult communities in their local area. As you can see, active adult communities are changing at this time. They will always be basically the same, but when it comes down to it they are offering more luxury, better exercise options, and much more. This has gone a long way in more people considering a move to one of these communities. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=179 Many people are intrigued at the thought of moving into an active adult community. And when it comes down to it, they are interested in doing this for a number of different reasons. In addition to upscale luxury features and lower maintenance hassles, active adult communities also offer a setting in which members of the area can get together to meet one another and just hang out. This is why almost every active adult community that is being built also has a plan for a community center. These community centers are what can set one plus 55 community apart from another. Community centers within active adult communities are more or less the centerpiece of the development. Sure, residents are going to spend the majority of their time in their home, but when they are not they will have the ability to take advantage of what the community center has to offer. There are two main reasons that a community center is an important addition to any active adult development. First off, it gives residents a place to go when they do not feel like staying in their home. And on top of this, they will also have the ability to meet other people who have the same interests as them. Additionally, a community center is a place for residents to have fun. While no two centers are the same, most of them have plenty of activities for residents to join in on. This includes swimming, tennis, golf, and much more. The fact of the matter is that a community center is built to meet the needs of the residents. The bottom line is that community centers and active adult communities go together hand in hand. With each new development th 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=180 Although baby boomers are getting to the age where retirement is a real possibility, builders are not too optimistic. Although they are aware that plus 55 communities have become quite popular, it appears that a lot of baby boomers are just fine living in their current home. In other words, they are comfortable and it would take quite a bit in order to persuade them to move. More than 75 percent of people in the 55 to 64 age range are happy with their current living arrangements. This is not to say that they are going to stay put, but this is something that builders most take into consideration. After all, if they build a plus 55 community they have to make sure that they can fill the homes sooner rather than later. If not, the project will be a bust and millions of dollars could possibly be wasted away. While this is a developing problem, builders are considering what they can do to get around this. For instance, they have found that most people in this age range rate safety high on their list of features in a home and community. For this reason, homes in plus 55 communities are coming equipped with security systems and more and more of them are gated. This is a trend to keep a close eye on as a large percentage of baby boomers reach retirement age. Builders are going to continue looking into developing plus 55 communities, but they will have to be much more careful about what they are doing. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=181 There are many areas of the country that are known for offering a lot to senior citizens as far as housing is concerned. But when it comes down to it, Anne Arundel County may be the king. At this time there are over 5,000 homes planned for construction or already in the process of being built. Out of these, approximately 60 percent of them have restrictions that do not allow residents under the age of 55. These are known as plus 55 communities. While this may sound like a good thing for seniors, county officials are a bit worried that this is going to lead to an imbalance in the age population. After all, if things continue in this direction the county will be more or less dominated by those that are over the age of 55. Although plus 55 communities have always been popular in Anne Arundel County, zoning rules surrounding local school district capacities are driving developers to cater to more and more active adults. Once a school has reached its capacity, developers cannot move forward with unrestricted building projects. In turn, building plus 55 communities is the next best option. The only other thing that they can do is wait around for the capacity to open up, but there is no way of saying how long this could take. Builders in the area are making quick money on the plus 55 communities that they build. With baby boomers looking for a place to settle down after retirement, these communities are filling up faster than ever before. It will be interesting to see if county officials do anything about this issue, or simply keep a close watch on the progression of this market. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=182 Choosing an active retirement community is something that you should take very seriously. After all, there is nothing funny about spending money on something just to find out that you do not like your purchase. For this reason, before you buy a home in an active retirement community you should really take the time to look into both the pros and cons of the decision. This is the only way to ensure that you do not make any costly mistakes. One of the most important steps when searching for an active retirement community is deciding on which state you are interested in living in. Remember, there are thousands of active retirement communities from one side of the country to the next. Some states have more of these than others, but all in all each one has at the very least a few options to choose from. And when you consider larger, more popular states such as Florida you will come across hundreds of active retirement communities in the same area. Here are a few details that you can consider when choosing the best state to search for active retirement communities. 1. You need to make a decision early on as to whether or not you want to live in an active retirement community close to your current home, or if you want a total change of scenery. This first step will get you off the blocks, and subsequently moving in the right direction. 2. Write down a list of both pros and cons for all the states that you are considering. For example, one of the biggest benefits of active retirement communities in southern states is that you will not have to deal with a lot of cold weather and snow. But with that being said, maybe you like the winter season. This is only one thing to consider, but a very big detail to say the least. 3. Take into consideration where your family lives. If you spend a lot of time with them and plan on doing so when you retire, it only makes sense to search for active retirement communities that are close to them. For some that may mean staying in the same state, and for other it could mean a move of thousands of miles. Do not make the mistake of moving away from your family just to learn that you cannot live without them. This is a common mistake, and one that can be costly in both time and money. Hopefully this will give you a better idea on how to choose the best state to retire in. Although these three details will be able to guide you when searching for active retirement communities, they will not be able to give you everything that you need. Instead, you will have to put in plenty of time looking at your own personal situation and how this will affect your decision. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=183 Although baby boomers are getting to the age where retirement is a real possibility, builders are not too optimistic. Although they are aware that plus 55 communities have become quite popular, it appears that a lot of baby boomers are just fine living in their current home. In other words, they are comfortable and it would take quite a bit in order to persuade them to move. More than 75 percent of people in the 55 to 64 age range are happy with their current living arrangements. This is not to say that they are going to stay put, but this is something that builders most take into consideration. After all, if they build a plus 55 community they have to make sure that they can fill the homes sooner rather than later. If not, the project will be a bust and millions of dollars could possibly be wasted away. While this is a developing problem, builders are considering what they can do to get around this. For instance, they have found that most people in this age range rate safety high on their list of features in a home and community. For this reason, homes in plus 55 communities are coming equipped with security systems and more and more of them are gated. This is a trend to keep a close eye on as a large percentage of baby boomers reach retirement age. Builders are going to continue looking into developing plus 55 communities, but they will have to be much more careful about what they are doing. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=184 There are more than 75 million baby boomers in the United States, and each day 8,000 of them turn 60. This ever growing demographic has not gone unnoticed about real estate developers. This is the reason why there are so many active adult communities being constructed all over the country. After all, as more people reach this age the strain on this sector of the real estate industry is only going to continue to grow. But with that in mind, developers of these active adult communities must remember that not all housing is the same. In fact, the baby boomers of today are looking for a much different set of standards than their parents. Today's baby boomers are most interested in active adult communities that offer details such as first floor master bedrooms, home office space, an easy to maintain exterior, and a wide range of activities. Gone are the days when shuffleboard was enough to keep people happy. Today's baby boomers want to play golf, tennis, and much more in their spare time. Developers must tune into what this new generation of buyers is looking for. If they do not, they are taking the great risk of spending millions on an active adult community that nobody will want to live in. Most developers have noticed this trend, and are starting to build active adult communities that fit in with what people want. Over the next five years active adult communities will be as popular as ever before, and the developers who built with buyers in mind will be able to reap the rewards of this trend. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=185 There are many areas of the country that are known for offering a lot to senior citizens as far as housing is concerned. But when it comes down to it, Anne Arundel County may be the king. At this time there are over 5,000 homes planned for construction or already in the process of being built. Out of these, approximately 60 percent of them have restrictions that do not allow residents under the age of 55. These are known as plus 55 communities. While this may sound like a good thing for seniors, county officials are a bit worried that this is going to lead to an imbalance in the age population. After all, if things continue in this direction the county will be more or less dominated by those that are over the age of 55. Although plus 55 communities have always been popular in Anne Arundel County, zoning rules surrounding local school district capacities are driving developers to cater to more and more active adults. Once a school has reached its capacity, developers cannot move forward with unrestricted building projects. In turn, building plus 55 communities is the next best option. The only other thing that they can do is wait around for the capacity to open up, but there is no way of saying how long this could take. Builders in the area are making quick money on the plus 55 communities that they build. With baby boomers looking for a place to settle down after retirement, these communities are filling up faster than ever before. It will be interesting to see if county officials do anything about this issue, or simply keep a close watch on the progression of this market. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=186 So you want to buy a unit in an active adult community? If so, you need to make sure that you know what you are getting. After all, developers are working harder than ever before to build active adult communities that will suit the needs of today's buyers. For this reason, you should take as much time as you need when making a decision. This is the only way to ensure that you get a property in the best location with the features that you are most interested in. The best way to become acquainted with all your options is to tour several active adult communities. During a tour you will be able to ask questions, become familiar with the area, and get an overall better feel as to what is offered. When an active adult community begins to sell homes they usually offer an open house event in order to create a stir. If you can visit during this time you will be accompanied by many others who are also interested in buying. But of course, you can always schedule a private showing as well so that you can get a personal look at several different units. While taking a tour is a good idea, you need to make sure that you do not stop after the first active adult community. If you only look at one community you will never really know if you are getting what is best for you. As a general rule of thumb, tour at least three active adult communities and then make your decision based on what you see. All in all, a tour is 100 percent necessary before you purchase a home in an active adult community. This will allow you to get more information on the home you will be living in as well as the community as a whole. If you take a few tours there is a good chance that you will choose the best active adult community for your lifestyle 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=187 Active adult communities are not the same as they once were. There was a time when these were nothing more than a place where seniors could live in the same community. While this is still the case, active adult communities now offer much more than just that. If you have never taken the time to see what these new communities are all about you may be missing out on something that is quite remarkable. The way that this industry has changed as of late is very interesting to say the least. So what is different about the new wave of active adult communities? Simply put, the new developments take the word 'active' to the new level. Developers know that seniors want to stay active, so they have found new way of doing this. They are offering advanced activities such as swimming, tennis, basketball, hiking, golf, and much more. Sure, these things have always been around, but in today's active adult communities they are more prevalent than ever before. This alone is making the older active adult communities much more outdated. In turn, people are starting to migrate away from these and into communities that have more to offer. The actual homes located in active adult communities are also more luxurious than ever before. Developers are putting a lot of time into designing homes that suit the needs of the older crowd. This includes amenities such as first floor living, free removal of snow, free lawn maintenance, and much more. When a person moves into an active adult community they want their life to be a bit easier; and of course they still want to have fun. This is what developers are thinking about when building the new housing units. Finally, active adult communities are no longer for warm weather states only. Do you remember the days when the only active adult communities were located in Florida? While Florida still leads the country in this department they are getting a lot of competition from other states. And the fact of the matter is that the developers in northern states are more than holding their own. Since more and more retirees want to stay close to their family, they are searching for active adult communities in their local area. As you can see, active adult communities are changing at this time. They will always be basically the same, but when it comes down to it they are offering more luxury, better exercise options, and much more. This has gone a long way in more people considering a move to one of these communities. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=188 A new resort and retirement community has been proposed for the Wilson area along Lake Ontario. If things go as planned, this will be the largest development to ever take place in the town. Although there are many people who are for this development, there are some that feel the location will compromise the lifestyle of residents who are already living in the area. If approved, this development would be a huge economic boost for the area. The estimated cost of the project is $240, and it would include: an 18 hole golf course, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a 42 room hotel and spa, a gated community featuring more than 800 condominiums, and much more. The development would sit on 460 acres of land, and would generate more than $8 million in property taxes. Developers are referring to the new development as a destination active adult community. They feel that the hotel would suit the needs of people from all walks of life, and that the community itself would be perfect for empty nesters that are looking to move on. The Wilson Town Board has told the developers that they have the go ahead to start the project. As long as this is not blocked, it appears that this development is going to break ground soon. The first phase of the project will start in approximately two years, and would take two years to reach completion. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=189 There will always be a large number of people who seek out active adult communities located in Florida, Arizona, and other warm weather states. But while this is never going to change, the fact of the matter is that active adult communities in northern suburbs are also making some noise. This is due in large part to the fact that more and more people are interested in staying close to home. Developers have ceased the opportunity to cater to these people, and that is why so many new active adult communities are being built in northern states. And as the baby boomer generation continues to retire, it is safe to say that these establishments will become even more populated. Take Red Mill Village in Norton, Massachusetts for example. This active adult community has exactly what a baby boomer may be looking for in move. It offers more than one housing option, luxury amenities, close proximity to area attractions and destinations, and a neighborhood look and feel. Many people have tried to make the move to the south, and after a few years have headed back to where they came from. There are many reasons for this sudden change of heart, and when it comes down to it some of these people are simply home sick and want to move back closer to their family. Developers are considering the profits that are available in northern active adult communities located in suburbs. They know that a large number of people will want to stay close to home, but at the same time they will want to move into a more manageable property. With a suburban active adult community this is more than possible for most retirees regardless of age or location. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=190 Why buy a home in an active adult community? This is a question that is asked time and time again by people who are nearing retirement age, or have already reached this point in their life. The fact of the matter is that an active adult community is not right for everybody. There are some people who have a great time after they move to an active adult community and others who feel that it was a mistake. In order to avoid any mistakes your best bet is to learn as much about active adult communities as possible before you actually make a move. Here are three reasons that you should consider buying a unit in an active adult community. Not all of these will suit you as a person, but they should at least open your eyes to the advantages and benefits. 1. When you live in an active adult community you will be able to relax more than you ever thought possible. The great thing about a house in one of these communities is that they were built with older people in mind. This means that the layout of your home will cater to your needs, and this extends to the outside as well. When you live in an active adult community you will never again have to worry about cutting the grass or clipping the hedges. And of course, if your active adult community is in a cold state you can get rid of the snow blower because that is taken care of as well. 2. One of the main goals of an active adult community is to keep people moving even as they get older. If you stay in your current home you may have to travel several miles to get to a swimming pool, tennis courts, and golf course. But with most active adult communities all of these things are on site. You will have the ability to get all of the exercise that you need without having to ever leave your actual community. This convenience factor alone is enough reason to look into an active adult community. 3. The homes in active adult communities are top notch, and in many cases offer a high level of luxury. The newer developments offer the best of the best in kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, and much more. When you move into a unit in an active adult community you can expect that your home is going to be very nice. And of course, you can shop around the different communities in order to make sure that you get what is right for you and your situation. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=191 If you are thinking about moving into an active adult community you are not alone. Over the last five years more and more people have decided to look into this option. But just like any other real estate option, there are both pros and cons that go along with moving into an active adult community. You need to make a list of both so that you can end up with the decision that is right for you. Pros The biggest benefit of an active adult community is that your life will get immediately more simple. You will no longer have to cut grass, remove snow, or worry about the upkeep of your yard. This is a great benefit that draws in a lot of people. Another benefit of living in an active adult community is that you will have the chance to meet other people who are the same age as you. This is a big advantage if you will be moving their alone, or simply want to make some new friends. It is much easier to meet new people when you know that they have the same interests as you. Also, do not forget that the homes in active adult communities are usually among the nicest in the area. While some older communities may be a bit more run down, this is never the case with newer developments. Developers take a lot of time to make sure that each unit of an active adult community is built to suit older folks. Cons One thing that keeps people away from active adult communities is the fact that they may have to move far away from their family. While this used to be the case quite a few years ago, things are no longer quite as bad. Chances are that no matter what state you live in that you can find an active adult community that is close by. This allows anybody and everybody to make the move and still stay close to their loved ones. Another problem for some people is that they simply do not want to leave their comfort zone. A lot of people know what is around them, are comfortable with the neighborhood, and simply do not want to leave. This is an issue that developers have to contend with, but one that is impossible to avoid altogether. Now that you know some of the pros and cons of active adult communities you should be able to get a better feel as to if moving is right for you. And remember, everybody is different. You should add to this list so that you know for sure that you are making the right decision. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=192 In today's day and age, if you want to get a better idea as to what active retirement communities are all about you do not have to look very far. The fact of the matter is that there are more active retirement communities going up all over the country than you can shake a stick at. And remember, just because these communities are going up at a fast pace does not mean that the existing ones are being torn down. In fact, the exact opposite is true. There are active retirement communities going up in every state, and they are joining the ones that are already in the area. Now can you see why it is easier than ever before to lay eyes on one of these establishments? There used to be a day when active retirement communities were not popular all over the United States. You may have found a few in northern states, but for the most part active retirement communities were located in the south. And more specifically, the majority of them were in the state of Florida. This has not changed; Florida is still the leader as far as active retirement communities are concerned. But when it comes to competition, more and more states are joining in on the action. Developers are glad that people are more interested than ever before in active retirement communities in every state. This makes those who are based in the north much more competitive. Ten years ago if a developer would have put up an active retirement community in Pennsylvania they may have had a tough time drawing buyers. While it is still no easy task with all of the competition that is out there, developers have a much easier time in today's real estate market. One of the main reasons for the increase in popularity among active retirement communities is the number of baby boomers who are retiring each year. And to excite developers even more, the largest numbers of baby boomers are still working. As they begin to hang up the work boots over the next few years, active retirement communities are going to become even more popular. As you can see, active retirement communities have a lot to offer and are no longer relegated to only southern states. No matter where you want to live or what type of active retirement community you are looking for, it is safe to say that you should be able to find one. Having all of these options is a great benefit, and you should take advantage of the sheer number of active retirement communities if you are in the market or even considering a move. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=193 For many people, moving to an active adult community after retirement is like a dream come true. After many years of hard work and slaving away at their job, these buyers are more ready than ever before to live the good life. And when it comes to this group of people, an active adult community is the best place for them to relax and also get some thrills. There used to be a time when active adult communities were thought of as boring, more or less. But although this is still a conception, the fact of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. Today's active adult communities are anything but boring and for new developments to compete they have to offer more than ever before. There are two basic ideas around an active adult community. First off, the homes that are offered in active adult communities are geared towards older buyers. This means that the master bedrooms are usually on the first floor, there is a high level of luxury, and exterior maintenance is kept to a minimum The other thing to consider when it comes to an active adult community is the part of the community that does not have to do with your home. This includes things such as a golf course, tennis courts, a swimming pool, an exercise room, and much more. Remember, you want to stay active after you retire. Finding a community that offers the activities that you like is quite important. All in all, you do not need to slow down after you turn 50. Instead, look into buying a home in an active adult community. This may be the best decision that you ever make! 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=194 Choosing an active retirement community does not have to be as hard as some people make it. In all actuality, you should not have any problems when it comes to finding an active retirement community that suits your needs. A lot of people simply get caught up in all the excitement, and do not do a good job in making the right choice. You should make sure that you do everything in your power to ensure that this does not happen to you. Listed below are three things that will help guide you to finding the perfect active retirement community. 1. The first thing to consider when choosing an active retirement community is location. If you want to move to an active retirement community in your current state there is no point in looking elsewhere. If you do, you are only going to be wasting your time. Instead, you should focus on the area that you know you are interested in. When you pinpoint your search by location you will have a much easier time finding the active retirement community that is right for you. 2. Now that you have your location in mind, the next thing to consider is the price of the home that you can afford. You can figure this out easily enough by going over your budget, and then taking things from there. Remember, every active retirement community offers homes at different price points. If one active retirement community is a bit out of our price range there is no reason to give up. You should instead continue your search until you find the one that is priced right. With so many options, if you know what your budget is finding an affordable home in an active retirement community is more than possible.. 3. Features and amenities are also important when moving to an active retirement community. You could find the perfect location and a great price, but if the home does not offer what you are interested in there is no point in moving forward. Active retirement communities are more advanced than ever before, and you need to remember this when you are shopping. Not only should you find a home that offers a high level of luxury, but the community itself should also mirror this look and feel. After all, moving into an active retirement community is all about a better life. If you follow the above three tips you should be able to find a home in the perfect active retirement community for you. And of course, if you have any other criteria in mind, be sure to add it to the price, location, and features 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=195 So you are interested in moving into an active adult community after you retire? If so, you are probably well aware of the communities in your area as well as those in other popular states such as Florida and Arizona. But guess what? These are not your only choices when it comes to active adult communities. Believe it or not, many people have found that moving to Mexico is the best choice for them. There are many reasons as to why Mexico is creeping into the minds of more and more baby boomers. First off, the weather in areas such as Puerto Vallarta is beyond perfect. If you are looking for warm weather day in and day out, an active adult community in Mexico may be what you have been dreaming of. Accessibility is also another reason that active adult communities in Mexico are becoming more popular. In the past, flights did not travel in and out of the area as regularly as they do today. This makes it easy for people to get to and from their home, and also schedule visits from out of town family and friends. And of course, there are many options as far as active adult communities in Mexico are concerned. You can find everything from a low priced condo to a more expensive community on the beach. No matter what your budget or lifestyle needs, there is a good chance that you will find what you are looking for at a Mexico active adult community. Finally, do not forget that communities in Mexico are sure to keep you active. They offer everything that American active adult communities have, plus much more in some areas. With Mexico offering more and more active adult communities, expect baby boomers to at least consider a move to this country upon retirement. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=196 For many baby boomers, retirement is a time that is going to be quite hectic to say the least. You will be working hard to make sure that your finances are in order, and that you have everything set up for a good life. But with that being said, this can be a bit overwhelming at times. This is especially true when it comes to moving from the house that you have lived in for so long. And even though you do not have to move, a lot of baby boomers feel that an active adult community is probably the best thing for them. Instead of walking into the trap of being overpowered by too many decisions, you should instead start planning your move to an active adult community years in advance. Obviously, you will not want to make the move until you are ready but you should at least have an idea of what you want to do. This way, when the time comes you will be able to make a move on the spot without having to think twice. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when looking ahead to your retirement days. First off, you should consider the economical advantages of moving into an active adult community. If you have a large home right now with a large mortgage payment you may be able to get out from underneath this. A move to an active adult community could free up money each month that you never even think about. Another consideration is that an active adult community will greatly change the way that you live. When you move into an active adult community you will have the chance to live a stress free lifestyle. You will never again have to worry about removing snow from your driveway or cutting the grass. Does it get any better than that? Thinking ahead will give you a jumpstart when you decide to retire. When you already have a plan in mind, your move to an active adult community will be much easier on you. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=197 Why is an active retirement community a good idea? This is a question that you may have on your mind if you are considering a move into one of these communities. The fact of the matter is that active retirement communities are more popular than ever before, and there must be a reason for this, right? While there are some reasons as to why you should consider moving into an active retirement community, this is different for everybody. You need to make sure that you know why it is a good idea for you; not for anybody else. For most people, the number one reason to move into an active retirement community is so that they can live a higher quality of life. When you move into a home in one of these communities you will have the chance to live maintenance free on the outside, and full of luxury inside. Does it get any better than that? Active adult communities are meant to cut the stress in your life, and the majority of them do this with a high level of success. Another reason that you may want to move into an active retirement community is all of the activities that you can take part in; this is where the name 'active' retirement community comes from. Remember, just because you are no longer going to be working does not mean that you should just sit around the house all day. You need to make sure that you get your exercise so that you can live a long, happy life in your new home. At active retirement communities you will be able to take advantage of activities such as swimming, tennis, golf, and much more. And the great thing about this is that you will be able to do it all without ever having to drive. Finally, you may be able to save yourself a lot of money by moving to an active retirement community. If you have a large home now there is a good chance that as you get older that you will no longer be able to keep it up. For this reason, you may want to think about selling it now and moving into a smaller home in an active retirement community. This way you can make money on the deal, and in turn save even more in the long run. For a lot of people moving into an active retirement community is a good idea. This is not going to hold true for everybody, but it is safe to say that it may for you. Instead of ruling out an active retirement community you should at least visit a couple. Who knows, you may find that this is everything you have been hoping for and more! 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=198 The Pointe at Turnbury, located in Monmouth Junction, recently celebrated its grand opening. This active adult community is one of the nicest in the area, and this is obvious by the way that people are clamoring to get a closer look. The grand opening celebration was a huge success as a large number of sales associates and home buyers showed up to check out the new development. The Pointe at Turnbury offers 190 town homes situated in a gated community. It is safe to say that these are not going to last long. The Pointe at Turnbury offers plenty to anybody who is interested in moving into the community. For those who are interested in staying fit, this active adult community offers a heating pool, putting greens, bocce courts, and much more. The Pointe at Turnbury also features a state of the art clubhouse that features a fitness center, yoga rooms, and a salon. In addition to the features inside, The Pointe at Turnbury is also located in close proximity to parks, dining shopping, and other activities. This makes it the perfect choice for anybody who wants to live in an active adult community, but does not want to give up their life. The Pointe at Turnbury is garnering a lot of attention, and soon enough the development will be sold out. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=199 For those people interested in moving into an active adult community there are many decisions that lie ahead. After all, making this move is a very big one that needs to be taken seriously. So before you decide to jump into a move to an active adult community, you should first ask yourself a few questions. This way you can be ensured that you make the best decision for your overall situation. Here are five questions that you should ask yourself while shopping for a home in an active adult community. They will help to guide you in the right direction. 1. Is the community age restricted, or is it more or less for active seniors? This is important because some active adult communities are also known as plus 55 communities. So obviously, if you are not of age you will not be able to purchase a home in one of these communities. 2. If there are age restrictions, what happens if somebody under this age inherits the property? You need to consider this fact because it will probably come up sometime in the future after you have passed on. It is important that you plan for this. 3. Is it more important for you to have the best home or be in close proximity to things such as your family, entertainment venues, etc? Remember, there are many active adult communities to choose from; with each one being in a different part of the country. 4. What activities are offered at an active adult community? Better yet, what activities that you like are offered at a community? This includes things such as golf, tennis, basketball, etc. 5. Are the homes in the community perfect for your situation? Do they give you what you need? Even though active adult communities have a lot to offer, you will spend the majority of your time in your home. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=200 There are many housing markets from one side of the United States to the next that are slumping. If you live in one of these markets you should be able to get a great deal on a home in an active adult community. But on the other side of things, this is a huge problem for developers and real estate agents. After all, if they cannot sell the homes that they build they are not going to make any money. Developers have come up with many ways to attract buyers to active adult communities. Although these incentives are not the same across the board, there are many that are being used by developers. For instance, builders are offering large incentive packages, cost free upgrades to the home of their choice, and cash discounts in order to bring down the price. All of these things will go a long way in bringing a lot of people back into the housing market. There are a couple of reasons that the market has high a low as of late. They include resale prices that are entirely too high as well as the difficulty that people are having when trying to sell their current home. This has led to builders dropping prices by as much as $100,000 in some areas of the country. While this is an extreme, it is what they must do in order to recover their money and make a profit. There used to be a time when a new active adult community would draw thousands of visitors a day, but this has not been the case as of late. Overall, it will be interesting to see which way the housing markets move in the next few years. For the sake of builders and developers, hopefully things will even out as far as active adult communities are concerned. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=201 As more developers begin to build active adult communities the competition will continue to rise. For this reason, developers are looking for any advantage that they can find. One of the ways that some of them are gaining the upper hand is through lifestyle marketing. Generally speaking, this is when a lifestyle is sold to prospective buyers as opposed to the home itself. Developers are using this method of marketing when trying to create sales for active adult communities. Not only do potential buyers want a home that they can live in, but they also want to be able to take advantage of a top notch lifestyle. So how are developers doing this? When targeting buyers for active adult communities they touch on things such as the activities available, the close proximity to outside destinations, and the stress free living. If developers can make people realize that their lifestyle will improve at an active adult community they have a much better chance of making sales. Lifestyle marketing is going to become more common as baby boomers begin to search far and wide for the best active adult communities. Through these marketing techniques developers are hoping to draw people to a better lifestyle. In turn, sales of homes will follow 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=203 The Bleachery site located near Rock Hill is soon to be converted into a modern plus 55 community. If you look at this site right now it is hard to imagine a change, but it appears that one is on the way. At this time, the site is best known as the location of one of the largest printing and finishing mills in the area. But since this is no longer necessary, redevelopment efforts are underway to make a change. The plan is for a plus 55 community to be situated in the area. The community would feature approximately 300 homes, and would only be open to people who are over the age of 55. Although there are a lot of people hoping that this project moves forward, nothing is set in stone as of yet. In fact, city officials noted that no agreement is in place as of yet. There are still some money issues to be worked out as well as other details that need to be addressed. Every year millions of baby boomers are turning 60, and are looking for a plus 55 community where they can settle into an easy lifestyle. Although Arizona and Florida are the perennial power states when it comes to plus 55 communities, there is no reason that South Carolina should not be able to get into the game. A big jump forward in this area could take place if the plus 55 community at the Bleachery site is approved. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=204 Buying a home in a plus 55 community is not as easy as you may think. Sure, you could just make a purchase and hope that things work out, but this is not always the best idea. You will want to know what you are doing so that you can make the best possible decision as far as your finances and living situation is concerned. The first thing that you should do before you buy into a plus 55 community is conduct the proper amount of research. Take a closer look at what is available in the area, and what similar homes have recently been sold for. The next thing that you may want to do is to meet with the officials who are in charge of the + 55 community that you are interested in. They will be able to answer any of your questions, and address concerns that may be nagging you. Finally, make sure that you get the type of home that you want in the plus 55 community. You need to speak with developers and architects to make sure that they know what you want. This way, when your home is done you will have the living space that is customized to meet your needs. When shopping for a home in a plus 55 community you should follow the tips above. They will allow you to reach all of your goals 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=205 Even though moving into an active adult community is not the right choice for everyone, a lot of people end up going in this direction. This is only going to continue in the next few years as more and more baby boomers begin to retire. But what about the people who already live in the areas where these active adult communities are being built? Have you ever stopped to think about how they will be affected? In most cases, local residents do not put up a fight when a developer decides to break ground on an active adult community in their area. They know it is for the good, and in many cases they can benefit as well. But just like any other type of real estate development, there are times when people get made about an active adult community coming into their town. One of the bigger concerns among people is that an active adult community will decrease how much their current home is worth. While this is not always true, this can be the case in some parts of the country. Another problem that people talk about is that an active adult community will raise the amount of traffic in their area. There is no denying this, and depending on the size of the active adult community the traffic can increase by quite a bit. Not only do the people who live in active adult communities have to get around the area, but their visitors must also do the same thing. All in all, active adult communities are not all fun and games. They have a lot to offer the people who live there, but in many cases local residents try to block the development. How would you feel if a builder broke ground on an active adult community in your neighborhood? 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=206 Bridgewater has come to be known as one of the top areas in the country for senior housing communities. This is set to increase in the near future if two senior communities get the go ahead from the Board of Adjustment. One of the proposed developments is set to take over the land of Bound Brook Driving Range. If approval is given, a 70 unit housing complex for seniors will be built in the area. The other proposal is for a 60 unit community located on approximately 7.5 acres alongside Route 28. According to township numbers, there are more than 1,500 senior housing units in the area at this time. This includes everything from independent and assisted living to active retirement communities. A lot of towns all over the country are interested in constructing active retirement community and other like developments. These go a long way in generating revenue, but at the same time active retirement communities do not increase traffic or bring additional children into the area. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=207 Many retirees who decided to head south have changed their minds and reversed their way of thinking. This has led to more and more active adult communities being built in the north and Midwest, and the current communities having to deal with a new influx of people. There are many reasons as to why people move back up north after a few years in the south. Some of the more common reasons include being closer to family, when their health begins to weaken, or when they start to run out of money. Although one of these reasons does not always result in a move back to the north, this trend is becoming more and more popular. The number one reason for these moves is most definitely to be closer to family. A lot of retirees think that fun in the sun is the best thing when they hang up their work boots. But after a few years at an active adult community in the south, they learn that they are missing their family. In turn, they head back north and put a strain on the community that they move back into. As you can imagine, builders have decided to slowly look at developing active adult communities in northern states. This will do two things. First off, when people are looking to move back to the area they will have a viable option that is similar to where they were coming from. And, it should also help to keep people closer to home in the first place. After all, if they have an active adult community close to home they may not even want to try a move to the south. Overall, more and more retirees are heading back to the northern and Midwestern states after a few years at a southern active adult community. It is hard to say if this trend is going to continue or level off in the future. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=208 There are hundreds of active retirement communities all over the country that are drawing the attention of baby boomers. The fact of the matter is that these people are nearing retirement age, and will be searching for someplace to call home when they finally hang up their work boots. But before you can move into an active retirement community, you need to first know where to find one. In states such as Florida, it seems like there is an active retirement community around every turn of the corner. You need to make sure that you look into every community so that you get what is best for your finances and personal living style. With endless options, finding a suitable active retirement community is not a hard task to complete. As you begin to search for an active retirement community, here are some questions and details that you may want to consider. 1. The first decision that you need to make is the area that you are interested in living. Do you want to move to a warmer state? Or will an active retirement community in your current area suit you? 2. Make a decision early on about how much money you have to spend. This will dictate what type of active retirement communities you look into. 3. Have an idea of the amenities that you are searching for. Do you want your active retirement community to be near a golf course? Near your family? Also, you will want to consider the features that are located in the homes. This may include first floor bedrooms and much more. 4. How close is the active retirement community to local destinations? These locations can include grocery stores, malls, public transportation, hospitals, and much more. 5. Will you be able to take advantage of a security service? As a senior you may feel much more comfortable living in a gated active retirement community or one that offers a high level of security. After you consider these five details, start narrowing down your list of possible active retirement communities. 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=209 Heritage at Independence, a new active adult community, is scheduled to break ground in Warren County. Kaplan Cos. is currently working on securing the proper documentation and finalizing plans before they actually start the construction process. The cost of the project has yet to be released. This project will be the first one that Kaplan has completed in Warren County. Additionally, it will be the first active adult community to be built in the area. Generally speaking, this project is being built with active adults in mind. And with so many baby boomers looking to move in the near future, the timing could not have been any better. Not only will the 118 unit active adult community benefit the people who live there, but those in surrounding areas will also notice the advantages as well. It will help to generate additional property taxes, but at the same time it will not add any additional students to the school system due to age restrictions in the community. The 118 units will consist of two level town homes. Out of these, 14 of the units will be designated as affordable housing. To go along with the homes themselves, Heritage at Independence will also feature a pool, tennis courts, and a modern clubhouse 2007-08-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=167 With the popularity of active adult communities rising, competition is as fierce as ever. Gone are the days when most retirees moved to the state of Florida to live out the final years of their life. These same people are now deciding to stay closer to home so that they are in their comfort zone, as well as near their family. In addition, a lot of the people that moved to Florida shortly after retiring are now moving back home. They experienced life in the sunshine state for a couple of years, but again have found that home is where the heart is.With competition rising, active adult communities are looking for ways to set themselves apart from the rest. This may seem easy enough, but there is really only so much you can do when it comes to this area of the housing industry.The number one thing that active adult communities are offering members is the ability to take advantage of numerous onsite features. In other words there is much more to one of these communities than a simple place to live.The newer active adult communities that are being built are coming with state of the art clubhouses as well as games such as shuffleboard and bocce. These are the things that draw in retired folks because it gives them something to do. Developers of active adult communities know that if they can offer more activities to potential residents that they will quickly sell out of space. But with everybody using this plan to gain ground, it sometimes takes a unique outlook to move head and shoulders above the rest. Keeping the price down is also a main goal of active adult communities. Retirees are on a fixed budget, and anytime they can get something for cheap they are going to do it. If there are two active adult communities in the same area, chances are that they will stray towards the one that offers them a better price. In new developments, homes can come in a varying price range, but in most cases $140,000 is common. This allows residents to have a nice home without having to break the bank. The competition between active adult communities is really going to heat up as the baby boomers continue to reach retirement age. It will be interesting to see what these communities come up with in order to bring in new residents. 2006-11-28 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/article-full.php?article=166 Investors that re looking for a new business opportunity often times turn to the game of golf to satisfy their needs. This is a trend that has always been popular, but one that has begun to take off more so in recent years. These investors have found that building golf courses in an area that is in need can be a great way to make money. In fact, they have found that any golf course even with competition in surrounding areas can still be a hit.The most popular areas for this type of development are in the south. The fact of the matter is that southern states are sunny year round, so it only makes sense for developers to head to this region. After all, why would they cut themselves out of profit by building in a state that suffers harsh winters?The first step to developing these courses is for an investor to find a parcel of land that they can build on. This may seem like an easy enough task, but when it comes down to it there are always a few problems that these people run into. Not only do they have to find enough land to use, but they must also make sure that it is zoned to proper specifications. Even then things can get dicey because nearby residents may be put off by the idea of increased in their neighborhood.From there, investors then make a decision on what exactly they are going to do with the land. In most cases, a golf course is only the start of things. These people also move forward with the selling of lots so that residential homes can be built on the course as well. To take this a step further, they must also budget for the clubhouse, as well as any extras that they are going to add. This includes things such as a restaurant, driving range, and practice greens. As you can see, developing golf communities is much more than simply building a course and waiting for the players to show up. There are a lot of financial and legal details that go into this process, as well as steps to ensure the overall completion of the project.Overall, as long as there are investors and spare land there will always be new golf communities popping up; this holds especially true for areas of the country with good weather year round. 2006-11-24 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=164 Greene County, North Carolina is going to be home to one of the best golf communities in the country within the next few years. The area is planning to develop a new course and housing development in the area very soon. Not only will this draw in golfers from all over, but it will also bring in new residents who are interested in the housing development.The Cutler Creek Plantation consists of over 600 acres of land in North Carolina. On this land, over 700 new homes will be developed as well as a championship level golf course. The goal for this new golf community is to have the best of the best. And since they are starting from scratch, there is no reason to believe that this will not happen.The great thing about this area is its location. Residents will be able to take advantage of small town living, but at the same time they will have the ability to get to larger cities as well as the ocean via a short drive. This flexibility alone should go a long way in bringing new residents to the area. Even though ground has not been broken yet on the golf community, it has been marked off. Within the next few months the development process should get underway, and the community will begin to take shape.In addition to the championship golf course, there are going to be many other features to draw in a crowd. A fitness center, tennis courts, and swimming pool are going to add to the overall appeal of the area. Not to mention the fact that an equestrian center is also being constructed in close proximity to the community.All in all, construction on the new golf community will get underway in 2007. For people interested in golf or a great life style, check out Greene County, North Carolina in the near future. 2006-11-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=165 In today's world retirees are hoping to stay close to home more so than they did in the past. Gone are the days when everybody wanted to move to Florida after they retire. Some people still feel this way, but there is an ever growing group that is looking to stay near their family after retirement. The problem that these people are running into is that there are not very many choices in their area if they are looking to move out of their current home. Most retirees want to down size in home space so that they can relax in their old age. This is where developers come into play.Playing off of this trend, developers in the United States have found that if they build retirement communities in states other than the ones with the best weather that people will come. They may not come from far out of state, but in state residents that want to stay close to home will purchase properties in the new plans. But the problem that developers were running into was that they did not know what retirees in these states were looking for out of a new community. So the only obvious solution to this question was to seek them out and ask for their opinion.Developers teamed up with retirees to get ideas about why they want to stay close to home, and what it would take from a new community in order to make this a possibility. The feedback that they received was top notch. It allowed developers to construct new retirement communities based on what the retirees want, not what they thought was needed. Plus, during this entire process developers met a lot of people that were interested in these projects; which of course over time turned into new residents for the communities that they were building. Making ties with retirees was the best thing that developers could do. It allowed them to get quality insight which made the building process much easier. As developers continue to build retirement communities in every state in the country, they will also continue to stay in touch with the age group that is going to be interested in them the most. This sort of communication is a win-win situation for everyone. Developers can easily build the best retirement communities, and retirees can reap the benefits in the end. 2006-11-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=163 The state of Florida has always been popular among people who are interested in moving into an active adult community. But over the past few years this has changed quite a bit. There are still plenty of people who are moving to this state, but at the same time there are a lot of people moving away as well. In turn, this has led to an increase in population in active adult communities in both North and South Carolina.There are two main reasons that retirees are not as interested in Florida as they used to be. Of course there will always be a large group of people who want to live in Florida when they retire, but with that being said there are more options today than ever before.Here are the two reasons that retirees are looking at options outside of Florida.1. The taxes in the state of Florida are much higher than they are in states such as North and South Carolina. There is a good chance that if you move from Florida to one of the Carolinas you will be able to save hundreds of dollars each month. This may not sound like a lot to you, but for people who are on a fixed income this can make all of the difference in the world.2. The expenses of living in Florida are also quite high. One of the biggest expenses that you will have to contend with is keeping your property in good shape year in and year out. Now in most states this would not be an issue, but in Florida, since there are so many hurricanes residents always have to be concerned. And when it comes down to it, retirees are looking to relax. They do not want to spend their time worrying about when the next big hurricane is going to hit. Although hurricanes can touch down in the Carolinas it is much less likely, and when they finally arrive they are usually less powerful.With these two things in mind, more people are passing on active adult communities in Florida and opting for other states. It is safe to say that this trend is only going to continue as the baby boomers near retirement age. This is most definitely going to do a lot for the economy and atmosphere of the Carolinas. 2006-11-23 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/article-full.php?article=162 If you love golf, tennis, and beautiful greenery, an exclusive, privately owned country club community is more than likely to cater to both your athletic interests and housing needs. Traditionally, most people have thought of country club communities as the domain of the wealthy and privileged. Although this may still be true to a degree, modern country clubs are increasingly accessible to more and more people. Additionally, these country club communities have opened their doors to people with a wide range of interests.The contemporary country club community is likely to feature amazing greenery, inclusive of lush flowers and bright green landscaping. In addition to the ever-popular golf court, paths are made available to bicyclers, joggers, walkers and runners. Country club communities may also offer facilities such as up-to-date personal fitness equipment and health centers. In addition to fitness equipment, users may also be able to make use of fitness instructors leading classes in aerobics or dancing! Some country club communities also offer spas, saunas, and swimming pools. The country club community may also invite its residents and approved guests to take advantage of available tennis courts and equestrian trails.Other country clubs cater to family needs. This focus on the family environment may be enhanced by child-friendly activities and on-site venues. This may include children's play and educational activity centers, as well as child-area pools, child horseback riding lessons, and more. Some communities boldly offer childcare access and services.Most country club communities devote a tremendous amount of time to the social environment of the area. This may mean that guests are invited to engage in casual interaction in high-class dining spaces. Users may enjoy high-quality gourmet food that is comparable to countless menu options available in four class restaurants around the world. In most cases, a country club community is a private established limited to members only. Anyone can apply, but it is possible that new members will only gain access through invitations or via approval from the current community. Other country club communities are not as exclusive, and may limit membership in other ways. For example, management may require that users reside on the property, or within a certain amount of miles of the country club community.Membership to country club communities is often an ongoing financial investment. Dues may be required on a monthly, bimonthly, or annual basis. Membership dues, or fees, may also be tiered, meaning that certain amounts of dues will limit access to certain facilities. Higher dues are likely to increase access to other on-site facilities and amenities.Privately owned country club communities are growing in popularity across the nation. Widespread appeal has even caused the concept of a country club community to generate interest in other countries and corners of the globe. This may be due, in part, to the array of activities that are offered to members. Interest in these clubs has spurred on the development of a niche market to the general real estate framework. Today, quite a few real estate agents devote their entire practice to country club and other resort-style living arrangements. In the United States, housing in these country club communities will often cost residents at least $500,000. From that point, housing costs are nearly limitless. For example, Florida's Taylor Woodrow Communities features private family residences that cost more than $4 million dollars. Some of those housing units are enhanced by beautiful views of waterfront and lush greenery.In the real estate market, some architectural firms are wholly devoted to the idea of 'planned living' centers. This has evolved from traditional gated communities to the inclusion of ever-growing creativity of the country club community arena. The Crosby Group, for instance, is a California based firm that devotes a portion of its business dealings to the erection of country club community structures. Architects such as Joe Lee and Pete Dye devote some of their professional services to the planning of golf courses. Golf courses are usually one of the primary attractors of people to country club communities.On top of the luxury facilities, members of any country club community will enjoy the warm social atmosphere. Country club community members are often urged to involve themselves with activities that promote a sense of residential cohesion. Activities within the housing area forge strong social bonds that enhance the overall quality of life of the neighborhood. In many instances, activities cater to all age groups. Management may offer different events such as family nights, senior citizen events, and social mixers for those seeking an intense, yet classy, party atmosphere. Themed social nights are more popular in country club communities where residents reside during certain seasons. These seasonal guests experience a different type of social interaction from permanent residents. In the end, every resident has the opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle that is luxurious, inviting, safe and fun. 2006-11-22 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=161 Within the next month or so, sales are expected to open at the Carriage Park active adult community in Somerset County Borough. For people who are over 55 years of age, this is the perfect active adult community. Single level living is available, and there are 144 units for sale. There is an off site sales office in place in Bridgewater which allows interested parties to visit and gather information on the active adult community. They will be able to get information on price, floor plans, and basic details that are included in the community.The Kalian Companies are building the Carriage Park active adult community. For this reason alone, sales are expected to be strong. Since they are a reputable builder, people know that they will be getting a top notch unit if they decide to buy.And buying a unit at the Carriage Park active adult community will not be any cheap task. Prices will start in the low $300,000's for a two bedroom home. Every unit has a balcony, and is between 1200 and 1600 square feet in size. In addition, covered parking is also available which definitely sweetens the deal a bit. And for some lucky residents who are willing to pay the extra money, a view of the Middlebrook River is available from their unit.One reason that Carriage Park is getting so much attention is its close proximity to shopping malls, grocery stores, and dining venues. It is also close to many activities such as water sports, hiking, fishing, and even horse back riding. Buying a unit in this active adult community is not cheap, but the level of benefits that they offer is top notch. Not only are homes themselves very nice, but the surrounding area makes the Carriage Park active adult community a steal for anybody who is over the age of 55. 2006-11-21 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=160 If you are nearing retirement age you may be looking to move out of your home, and get into something that is a bit less expensive and time consuming to keep up. With that in mind, you will have to find the retirement area that is best for you. The good thing about this is that there are active adult communities located all over the country. And if you do not want to move into an active adult community there are many other options available as well. The fact of the matter is that you should not have a hard time finding somewhere to retire; the hard part is narrowing down your choices.There are a few different retirement areas that you should consider before you decide to make a final decision. The only way to know what option is best for you is to look into everything that is available.For many years, people have been retiring to warm weather retreats such as the ones in the state of Florida. Of course this will always be a popular option, but today's retirees are not as gung ho about it as they were before. Even though Florida is a great place to settle down, with the development of other areas in other states it is no longer the only option.Many people are forgetting about Florida and moving further up the coast to active adult communities in both North and South Carolina. By doing this, retirees can still take advantage of the great weather and many activities, but they do not have to worry about being overcrowded or having to deal with hurricanes. It may not be perfect in the Carolinas, but more people than ever before are moving to the area.Another option that you may want to consider is a downtown condominium. Does this sound a bit odd to you? If so, you are not alone. But when it comes down to it, a lot of retirees are opting for these condos instead of seeking out active adult communities. By moving into a condo in a downtown area you will be close to everything that you need, while also being able to cut back on the daily chores that go along with owning a larger home.As you can see there are many options to consider as a retiree. No matter what state you live in or where you want to move to, you should be able to find a place to call home during retirement. 2006-11-19 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=159 There used to be a time when retiring meant moving to Florida and soaking up the sun. Even though there are still a lot of people that are doing this, the numbers are not nearly as high as they once were. More and more retirees are looking to stay at home, close to their family. This is going to become even more true as the baby boomers reach retirement age.Staying close to their families is something that a lot of people are looking to do. For this reason, they are not spending their retirement dollars relocating to the great state of Florida. But you may be thinking, are there any alternative living options in other states? The answer to this question is quite simply, yes!Being that more people are staying in their home state after retirement, developers from all over are building retirement communities. These developers are planning on cashing in big time when the baby boomers start to retire by the thousands. At that time, they will be able to effective market their retirement communities to people that do not wish to move out of state. And if you think that these retirement communities are not as good as the ones in Florida think again! Developers are taking a lot of steps to ensure that the retirement communities they build can compete with the big boys in Florida. They are building condos, apartments, and single family homes to ensure that anybody can move in regardless of budget.If you want to move to a warm weather state, Florida is no longer the only option. Other southern and southwestern states are jumping in on the action. Over the past couple of years they have taken business away from retirement communities in Florida, and this is only going to happen more as the baby boomers get older. These states include Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and many more. When it comes to retirement communities, Florida is still the granddaddy of them all. But as developers continue to build, the power is starting to shift. Florida may always be the cream of the crop when it comes to drawing retirees, but other states are making a huge push. It will be interesting to see which states move to the forefront as a large group of baby boomers close in on retirement. 2006-11-18 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=158 As people near retirement age they seem to calm down quite a bit. When they finally get to leave their job for good the only thing that they can think about is having a little bit of peace and quiet. But in some cases this is not possible without moving. And unfortunately moving does not necessarily mean that quiet time is on the way; that is until now!Adult only living communities are becoming increasingly popular amongst the older crowd that is around retirement age. In fact, to move into one of these adult only communities you usually have to be age 55 or older. Kids are permitted if somebody over 55 is living their, but they must be at least 19 years of age. This helps to greatly reduce the amount of noise, which in turn increases the time to relax for the residents.There are many benefits that go along with living in an adult only community. Obviously the first one is that you will not have to worry about a lot of kids running around and disturbing you. In addition, the noise level will be much lower because there are no baseball games in the street, or kickball in the backyard; that is unless the old timers are playing!In addition, an adult only community does not put a burden on the area as much as other developments. One way that this holds true is that the school system is not bogged down with additional students since no kids are allowed in the communities. In fact, an adult only community helps out the financial situation by bringing in more property tax dollars.Each adult only community is different. Some of them only have townhouses available, whereas others offer single family living. And there are also communities that offer both. Adult only communities cannot be found all over the country, but there are quite a few of them available. If you think that you may be interested in this type of living all you have to do is a bit of research. Chances are that you will be able to find at least one community in your area. Just make sure that before you move in you know what all of the rules are. The rules are not strict, but they may restrict the type of lifestyle that you want to live. All in all, adult only communities offer many benefits to interested parties. 2006-11-17 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=157 If you are going to be retiring soon, an active adult community may be right for you. Before you get any ideas, no this is nothing like a nursing home or anything like that! Some people get the two mixed up, and end up passing on a great opportunity to live in an active adult community.All over the country active adult communities are being built. And as more and more baby boomers near retirement age, this trend is only going to continue. The most popular active adult communities are condos. These are large buildings that house anywhere from 20 or more units. They make for great retirement homes, and are fully equipped with everything that a retiree could need.In addition to the larger buildings that have condos, some active adult communities also have freestanding units. These are also great buys, and are preferred by people that want the feeling that they still own their own home. When searching for a condo at an active adult community, there are features that you will want to look for. Of course the most important thing is that you get what you want, but since there are so many options you will want to get the most bang for your buck.If you have a couple of cars, you may want to search for a condo that has a two car garage. In the newer plans garages of this size are the norm for free standing condos. At the same time you may not need a two car garage, so saving money and finding a condo with one car storage capabilities may be the way to go.A lot of people that are moving into active adult communities are doing so because they want something smaller that is easier to care for. This is a great idea and one that should be carefully considered by retirees. To take this a step further, a one story condo may also be the best option because you will not have to worry about making your way up and down the steps as you get older. The choice is yours when it comes to moving into an active adult community. If you do not find anything you like at first, simply keep your eyes open. These communities are being built at a record number. For this reason, you will find something that suits your needs sooner rather than later. 2006-11-16 http://www.myactivecommunity.com/news-full.php?news=156 If you are interested in moving into an active adult community there are many things that you will have to consider. With every active adult community, different features arise. And to make the decision even more difficult, you will have to deal with the fact that there are thousands of active adult communities available all over