Choose the Best Retirement Community for You

You’ve worked hard. Now it’s your time. Time to think about what you want and where you want to be for this next phase of life.

Choosing the best community for your retirement years is essential to leading a fulfilled and enriching retired life. But with so many options around the country and even the world, choosing your own special spot can be overwhelming to think about.

With the hope of making your decision easier we’ve outlined some important factors to take into account.

Define Your Dream Lifestyle in order to find more than just a home

Both your home and your community should meet your wants and needs, so thinking about your lifestyle is a crucial aspect of your retirement planning. Make sure you consider your needs not only now, but also in the future.

If living life to the fullest and filling up your calendar with activities and social gatherings is a main priority, look into active adult communities. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that come with an active adult community but you still want to live among people your age, an age-restricted community could be a good fit.

Do you want an easy place to lock and leave so you can go enjoy the world? Maybe a loft, townhome, condo or gated community is right for you. Does gardening and yard work make you feel good to the bone? Possibly look into a single family home with enough outdoor space to get your hands dirty.

Luckily, most of Arizona’s retirement communities won’t have snow to shovel, but even still, homeownership requires maintenance. There’s the above mentioned yard work painting, roofs to repair, all sorts of home needs. Question is, do you want to be in-charge of doing these things or have them done for you?

Almost all retirement communities have HOAs, and each HOA has a different level of maintenance services they provide… with costs that go right along with those services. You’ll want to consider what level of home maintenance you want to take on when deciding which community is right for you. Be sure to consider what is included in an HOAs dues, how much will the HOA cost per year, are there going to be special assessments and fees, and are their rules going to make my life more, or less, enjoyable?

If you’re a pet owner, don’t forget to check that there aren’t any rules or restrictions that would prevent you from bringing your little companions with you.

As for your home itself, it’s smart to purchase a single story home as stairs can become a hassle as we age. Do you love to host friends and family?  If so you’ll want indoor and outdoor space with open areas. Similarly, if you anticipate prolonged visits from children or grandchildren, you’ll want space for guest and an HOAs with rules that allow you to have people of various ages stay for longer periods of time.

Location, Location, Location

You’ve heard it before, location is the key to buying real estate. Climate, family, travel, a healthy environment, and your community are all important when choosing a location to buy your retirement home. Do you love being part of the hustle and bustle of a busy city or would you rather be somewhere quaint and quiet? Is it important for you to have easy access to airports, healthcare, medical facilities, family members and friends? Will you have a car or rely on public transportation? Do you enjoy fishing, skiing, walks on the beach?

Living near a city means more convenient access to amenities like public transportation and airports and also often provides more opportunities for entertainment outside your immediate community. And being on the outskirts of a town could put you closer to the outdoor life you love.

What Amenities Do You Need

Close your eyes and dream of the life you want to build for these years ahead. What does it look like? What do you need to build it? Many communities offer access to a wide variety of facilities and activities and now that you have more time and freedom to explore your hobbies and new pastimes, you’ll what to find a place with the amenities you’ll appreciate the most!

Maybe you want to get or stay physically fit and a gym is important to you. Or you’re an avid swimmer who needs to get laps in every morning? How about 18 holes of golf 3 times a week? Or is your things getting together with friends to play cards, do yoga, watercolor painting or taking Italian cooking lessons? Maybe you want to be active in the community and do volunteer work in local schools or churches? Whatever your interests, you’ll want to make sure the community you choose offers the activities you want to be doing. This way you’ll never get bored!

Live within Your Budget

Cost certainly can’t be overlooked when choosing your new home. Depending on the community you choose and where it’s located, costs will vary greatly. You may or may not have a mortgage to deal with, but you’re sure to have HOA fees, property taxes, utility bills, homeowners insurance, health insurance, and other bills to consider. There may also be additional fees for recreational facilities and other amenities. And be sure to check to see if you’ll be required to pay flood insurance.

Do your research and inquire with the community about what kinds of fees you’ll be responsible for and how much they are. If you’re required to pay for your own utilities, get an idea of what your average monthly bills might look like.

If you’re still unsure about where to settle, a great way to determine if a retirement community is a good fit is to test it out! Get together with your Sonoran Sky Real Estate Agent and tour  areas and homes that interest you. Go through various communities facilities and different amenities. Drive and walk the neighborhood and talk to residence, ask what they think of the community and the HOA.

Consider all these points and you’re sure to find your perfect community for your next phase in life.

Call Sonoran Sky Real Estate for Help Finding

Your Perfect Home