The Mesa and Phoenix Arizona region has a plethora of 55+ communities. Whether you’re looking for an active social calendar, convenient landscaping, and maintenance, or just an active and vibrant community with everything from restaurants and swimming pools to golf courses and tennis courts, our region has some of the best and highest rated active adult communities in the nation. So, when it comes time to purchase something in this demographic, what are some things to look for?
Consider a single-family home or condominium.
You have to weigh the positives and negatives of each type of housing and whether you will be living there full-time or seasonally. Nearly every type of home regardless of the construction will require homeowner association dues. These can be anywhere from $20 a month to several hundreds of dollars a quarter based on amenities and perks of the community. You want to buy a home that you can be happy with regardless of its structure so are you looking for more privacy or something that’s easier to maintain? While condos are generally easier, they do offer less privacy. Utilities might be more costly the larger the home and of course, more maintenance. Each of the communities around Mesa Arizona has a variety of different construction styles from townhouses, condominiums, and detached homes. Perhaps you’re not ready for full on low maintenance, but still want the added benefit of an adult community.
How close do you want to be to modern conveniences?
This could mean being in close proximity to adult children and grandchildren, hospitals and clinics, entertainment such as golf courses, movie theaters, restaurants, shopping, and more. Are you looking to walk to these conveniences or do you prefer a short drive?
Consider the costs.
Some 55+ communities require you to purchase a membership to live there, and this can get expensive. There will always be some sort of association costs but there may be additional management costs or membership for upkeep, services offered, or membership to a club. You’ll have to weigh these different fees to determine what’s best for your budget.
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Consider the lifestyle.
Budget and lifestyle might not match up so you have to determine what you want more. Do you prefer an active social calendar with events, parties, get-togethers, tours, and other social events or do you prefer just having the privacy and security of an adult community? These are things to make notes on and discover as you search through the 55+ communities in our area.
Ask about the approval process.
Of course, most of these adult communities will verify that you’re a good fit before they allow you to join. The more exclusive the community, the more strict their policies and they may even request financial records and references. Feel free to talk to me at any time about the requirements for the different adult communities throughout Mesa.
Ask about management.
How is the community managed? Do you agree with the homeowner association policies and requirements? Are there any deal breakers such as the limitations on gardening, outside structures or satellite dishes? What about pets, grandkids that come to stay the night, or the number of vehicles in the driveway. You might not think of all these little details when touring the communities, but if they are of concern to you now, it’s important to bring them up when discussing and determining the right neighborhood.
Assisted living versus 55+ housing
While you might not need fully assisted living yet, the term “retirement community” could bring different things to mine for different people. Senior housing choices don’t have to be the last step before the ground type of environment. Many of these communities are vibrant, active, and very social with exercise and aerobic classes, wine tastings, museum tours, board game night, movie theaters and more. You don’t have to stop living just by choosing one of these communities and in my opinion, many of these people live better than I’ve ever lived my whole life.
Read More: Best Cities for Aging Successfully
If you are still overwhelmed, simply give me a call. Because I work with hundreds of seniors and those over 55 throughout the Mesa area I can help narrow down your search to a few of the best options for adult housing. Give me a call and let’s discuss your needs and your budget and tour a few of these communities for free.