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55+ Active Adult Communities – What’s the Big Deal?
By Leah Sides | July 30, 2008
It’s funny – as a forty something year old, I do all I can to appear and feel as young as possible, but as a Realtor visiting many of Atlanta’s 55+ neighborhoods, I eagerly anticipate turning the magic age that would allow me to become a resident of one. So, what’s the big deal?
55+ Active Adult Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and cater to the lifestyles of their residents. They range in size from less than 100 homes to several thousand homes. Likewise, amenities vary greatly. This is where you decide what best suits your lifestyle. Is the extent of your daily activity a walk to the mailbox and a drink with your neighbor, or do you anxiously look forward to the next activity? Basic amenities such as sidewalks and a pool can be found in most 55+ Active Adult Communities, but if you’re truly an on-the-go kind of person, there are incredible communities designed especially for you (and me too, eventually)! The larger 55+ Active Adult Communities have full-time activities directors who plan daily activities such as bridge clubs, book clubs, bunko, yoga, aerobics, sporting event outings, cocktail socials, game nights, orchestras, choirs, dancing lessons, support groups, language clubs, travel clubs, and the list goes on. These communities also have large amenity centers, 20,000–40,000 square feet! What do they do with all that space? Usually there’s a LARGE state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool, a billiards room, library/computer room, ballroom, teaching kitchen, game/hobby rooms, and exercise studios. Additionally, these neighborhoods have extensive outdoor recreation such as tennis, bocce ball, softball/baseball, horseshoe, volleyball, gardening areas, grandchildren’s parks, outdoor pools, miles of multi-use trails, and maybe even a Golf Course or Lake. RV/boat parking is also available in some communities.
What does it cost to live such a lifestyle? As of today, home prices in the Atlanta area range from approximately $120,000 to $400,000+. Monthly association fees are generally around $200 to $300, depending upon the amount of landscaping and/or building maintenance in your community. If you’re considering a move, don’t delay; prices typically start around $180,000 and have been temporarily adjusted in some communities in response to the market.
So, what’s the big deal? When’s the last time you bought a house with a Full-time Activities Director, State-of-the-art Fitness Center, and a Built-in Bridge Club?
For more information on 55+ Active Adult Communities in the Atlanta area, go to www.55places.com . Realtors qualified to assist 55+ buyers with their next home purchase may be found at www.TheHomeSourceRealtors.com
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