Yes, when I searched for senior, all I found were assisted living type places - not what we were looking for. You do better limiting the zillow search with the 55+ criteria.
In states like NJ and MA there are many of these being built right now - both condos and apartments. Towns are anxious to approve these types of new housing, which don’t add new students to their school systems.
We weren’t limiting ourselves to 55+, we were really just looking for an apartment. You could ask a local realtor in the area you are looking for, they will know of any 55+ places. Generally when they say 55+ community they are usually not what you are looking for - they are assisted living.
Our 55+ is a mixture, some residents are very old and use a walker etc. and some still have high school kids. The family across the hall from us have a toddler living in their apartment (I am assuming it is their grandchild).
@kiddie - I’m surprised they let people under 18 live there. Some places don’t.
A friend of mine and her H moved to an over 55, active adult community a few years ago. He was 60 at the time and she was 54. She was not allowed to use the gym, pool or other community facilities until she turned 55! I was shocked. Considering she (along with her H) was a homeowner, I did not think that was right.
My husband is about to turn 55, and I’m including those communities in our search. I’m a few years younger but much more open to the idea than he is! When we visit my FIL at Sun City, I’m suddenly viewed as a young femme fatale in that space just as I’m fading into invisibility in the real world.
The rules for this place is that one renter must be 55+ (so can be either spouse). Facilities are open to everybody who lives there and within limit guests (2 guests for the pool for example)
Some states are changing the rules for the 55+ living because so many grandparents are becoming guardians for their grandchildren. Some allow one child/grandchild under 55 while others still restrict even underage visitors (maybe to a certain number of nights per year).
I had a boss who loved living in his 55+ community. He was a masters swimmer and loved the pool. His wife didn’t want any outdoor maintenance. The real issue was their son who was in his 40s. I don’t think he could live with them (which I think was a plus for them, even if they had to pay for him to live elsewhere).
I like the idea of a 55+ community - there are a lot of plusses. But does anyone worry about resale? That you are limiting the pool of purchasers?
Or, around where I am they seem to building so many 55+ communities, that I worry that the place I buy now will be too old or outdated in 20 years when I may need to move again?
We live in Arizona where 55+ communities are plentiful and desirable. Resale is not a problem as the demographic for these communities is growing, and AZ has always been a retirement destination, mostly for the weather. The community we live in has a section that is 55+ and those homes have appreciated at the same rate as the homes in the non-age restricted areas.
Many of these are luxury communities (golf courses, hiking/riding trails, spas, restaurants, pools, and extensive fitness centers nestled in beautiful locations) that people hover over until they age in and can buy.
I’ve done some looking, and I’ve found that places in 55+communities are appreciating while condos not in 55+ communities aren’t. At least in the areas I’ve searched.
I have a friend who bought in a 55+condo community 10 yrs ago. At the time community was 15 yr old. According to my friend, 5 years ago, rules were changed to 50+ because resales couldn’t compete with newer communities.
Not sure how the prices stand now.
Our population is aging, 55+ should not be hard to sell in the future. Note, I am living in a 55+ apartment building. The manager tells me that these apartments rent faster than other non 55+ apartments owned by the same management company.
About 10 years ago, my aunt’s kids had trouble finding her a buyer for her lovely pricey condo (with beautiful pool area, an elevator up from the garage to her floor) in a 55+ condo. But that was in CT, where taxes are high and many retirees opt to seek a warmer/cheaper location.
A major concern for any condo community is how HOA rules can change. Acquaintance bought a condo that allowed pets (with restrictions). But after a few years, the board voted to stop that perk for new buyers (evidently too many complaints). Anyone with a unit, could of course keep their pet (not sure about future pets). However, it did make it much harder to sell, since the pool of buyers was now much smaller.
I’ve been listing to the “Retire There with Gil & Gene” podcast for about 2 years. A fun couple on the verge of retirement asking other couples why they retired to the places they did. It’s been so informative. They just interviewed an older couple that raved about Eugene, OR.
Wondered if anyone else had traveled/relocated to this area and had a thought about it as a ‘latter stage of life’ location? (we wouldn’t have the advantage of pre-existing connections in the area)
My husband traveled for biz v. often in Seattle and says he finds the area cold, rainy, and gloomy (my apologies to PNW folks!). This couple made it sound amazing, though!! And I/we love nature, hiking, being active - this sounds like it’s wonderful for that!
We have friends in Eugene. When the husband got a great job in Seattle, he chose to commute rather than move here. They love it there and will not move anywhere else.
Speaking of Seattle rain and gloom… it is not much different from Scandinavia. We too can do hugge. Snow rarely falls in the city but is within an easy reach. No need to bundle up in the winter. One can deal with the rain simply by having a waterproof coat with a hood. Hiking trails are plentiful. My husband and I are planning to retire in this area.
My hub has finally become forthright with his post-retirement desires and is (at this point) firm on FL - wanting warm weather and - it seems - some kind of beach vibe.
But right now we are in the middle of the bone-chilling cold, grey northeast winter. I’m thinking if we were in a place that wasn’t so cold (even if a bit rainy) it would be a big improvement.
And, I really like the mountains. None of that in FL!
Bunsen - can I ask what general area you’d be coming from?
I promised my hub I’d give FL a chance with a visit (likely at end of this year) - but I’d also love to do a long weekend in the Eugene area - just to get a feel! Is there a best time to go? (hehe to show it in it’s best light?).
Edit to add: I will research, just curious from someone familiar w/the general area!
Once upon a time, we hoped to retire to the Seattle area, because kids are there – but housing costs nixed that at least for now. Love to visit for extended stays, however. We rent our tiny pied-à-terre", but own in the Midwest. At least for now, we can commute several times a year much cheaper than purchasing. Friends of ours moved to Portland. They loved all the great trails, and outdoor beauty. They moved to San Diego
We’re similar in liking warm weather, but with the gorgeousness of mountains. HI and some islands in the Caribbean seem to suit us better than FL. We’re still investigating, but we have the advantage that we lived in St Pete for 5 years, and I spent an additional year there in my youth in Boca Raton.
For us the Caribbean seems to suit better than HI because we still love to travel and HI, while gorgeous and we love it, requires one to travel quite a bit to get anywhere else. It’s relatively short hops to the Caribbean with a lot of islands close by to explore too.
Snow rarely falls in the city but is within an easy reach. No need to bundle up in the winter. One can deal with the rain simply by having a waterproof coat with a hood. Hiking trails are plentiful. 
My husband and I are planning to retire in this area.