Active adult communities are designed to support healthy, active lifestyles for adults 55 and older. The features, amenities, and community planning all appeal to 55+ adults who benefit from elegantly accessible and empowering designs. Among active adult communities, there are different policies for who is welcome to move in. Some are age-restricted, requiring residents to reach a certain age, while others are simply age-targeted, so they are designed to be more inviting to adults 55 and older.
If you are curious about the detailed differences between age-restricted and age-targeted active adult communities, we’d be glad to shine a light to help you find the best community.
What is an age-restricted active adult community?
An age-restricted active adult community is one in which only adults above a certain age are welcome to move in. These communities are designed to provide a peaceful and stately life for residents without the distractions and mixed priorities that come from more age-blended neighborhoods. Every neighbor will be someone of a relatable age, and most residents will either be enjoying their retirement or the respectable closing years of an active career.
Del Webb’s Sun City Huntley, located in Illinois, is a perfect example of an age-restricted active adult community for those 55 years and better.
These communities may also limit how long visitors under a certain age are allowed to stay in the home, ensuring that temporary visitors do not become permanent residents below the required age.
What is an age-targeted active adult community?
An age-targeted active adult community is where the homes have been built with residents aged 55+ in mind. Homes are more spacious and accessible, promoting safe mobility with appealing amenities like peaceful vistas, walking paths, and elegant clubhouses where target residents enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. However, people below 55 are welcome to move in and become part of the community.
This makes it possible for younger people who enjoy the features of an active adult community to enjoy the neighborhood and for 55+ residents to invite friends and relatives to stay for longer periods without worrying about age-restricted rules.
Age-targeted communities may be very appealing to people who prefer a quiet lifestyle, those that need mobility-friendly home designs, and multi-generational families that include relatives within the target age group.
What are the rules for 55+ communities?
The rules regarding residence at age-restricted communities can vary greatly from one community to the next. These include rules about the age of residents and general lifestyle guidelines to ensure the shared quality of the community.
Age Limits and Flexibility
Many active adult communities only allow residents who are over the age of 55. However, the rules are unique to each community. Some communities may set the minimum age at 50, or even 45.
The strictness of the rules can also vary. For example, some communities require only one resident to be above the required age, which can make a community more inviting for couples with some age difference and residents who enjoy hosting long-term family visitors.
Community Policies
Active adult communities typically have many community policies that may not directly relate to the age of the residents. They are often planned communities with shared amenities and policies intended to maintain the quality of the neighborhood. Policies might include where it is acceptable to park, home decor guidelines, usage rules for shared amenities, and so on. Anyone familiar with HOAs or luxury rental communities will be familiar with these types of rules.
It’s important to choose a community that aligns both with the age range of your household and community policies that you feel the most comfortable with.
How to Choose Your Ideal Active Adult Community
When looking for the perfect 55+ community, several factors can help to define your best choice. You can match your household, plans, lifestyle, and, of course, your favorite amenities to ensure that you will be delighted when you move into your new home.
The Age of Your Household
The first choice is to match the ages within your household with the age policies in your chosen community. An age-targeted community can welcome residents of all ages. If everyone in your home is over the age of 40, 45, 50, or 55, then you may be able to include age-restricted communities in your considerations as well.
The Visitors You Host
If you like to host younger friends or family for long periods, like visiting grandchildren over the summer or welcoming your grown children for a season, then you’ll want to choose an age-targeted community or one with generous visitor policies.
Desirable Home Features
Naturally, you should choose a community with homes that you love. Define the home features you love most that will ensure your new house is a dream home. This might include elements like a soaker tub, a spacious kitchen, or a broad sunny deck for outdoor living enjoyment. Explore communities where the homes are of a style and design that you will most enjoy.
Community Amenities
Every community is unique when it comes to amenities. Some have ponds and lakes with beautiful walking paths. Some have state-of-the-art fitness centers, luxurious clubhouses, or even integrated shops and restaurants. Explore communities based on the amenities you’ll most enjoy having access to as part of your active adult lifestyle.
Vehicles and Parking
Many active adult communities have specific parking policies. Some have garages and driveways. However, others may not allow street parking. Some may even have recreational vehicle parking options. Consider the vehicles that are part of your household and where you will park them.
Comfortable Community Policies
Lastly, make sure you are comfortable with the community policies in the neighborhood you choose. Find a place where the rules feel like natural common sense, and you will never need to worry about them.
Finding Your New Active Adult Home
Some potential residents are drawn to the community amenities and low-maintenance homes found within active adult communities but enjoy the diversity of living in a community that is open to all ages. Before buying a home, it is a good idea to spend some time visiting different areas within the community. If possible, visit at different times, as the environment at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday may be very different than it is at 2 p.m. on a Saturday.
The choice between age-restricted and age-targeted active adult communities is largely a matter of personal preference. By considering the options and comparing various communities, residents can have a better idea of which environment they will prefer. Let the team at 55places help you find your dream home!
