Active retirement communities in Florida

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sarasota is great. I live in a 55+ community. I wasn't looking for one but the condo I found when I was getting ready to retire happened to be in one and I loved the condo so I pursued it. Turns out I love living in this community. It's beautifully landscaped, the villas and condos are so attractive and there is so much to do here, both in and out of my community. It's about half and half Rs and Ds. Mostly nobody talks about politics though. Everyone with few exceptions has been very friendly and welcoming. I've been here a year now and found the activities I enjoy, and nobody cares whether you stay busy or prefer to have a lot of alone time. People care about each other but also respect privacy preferences.

When I bought a little over a year ago 1500 SqFt villas with two car garages were selling for around 250K, they are now over 350K. An 1100 SqFt 2/2 condo was around $140K and is now closer to $00K. A 1/1 was around 110K and now goes for around 170K. So that's kinda crazy (but also great for me and anyone who got in under the wire) but there are definitely nice places here in nice communities for less than $350K. There are also somewhat nicer places for more than that, and up to many millions if you want to be right on the water or have a large single family home on a big lot.

My community is about ten minutes from fantastic beaches, all kinds of shopping and restaurants are nearby, ten minutes from downtown Sarasota and all that has to offer including a great cultural scene and many museums. I'm about 45 min to St. Pete and an hour to Tampa. Sarasota has a great airport that has many flights to many destinations, and there are several bigger airports in the Tampa area.

In my community there are a number of people who still work full time or part time, quite a few who are totally retired, lots who do volunteer work, many who are fit and active and some who are infirm or have typical ageing limitations. It's a good mix. Small pets are allowed. Kids can't live here but can visit and often do.

I highly recommend this life for retirees, snowbirds, and anyone who wants to live in a vibrant, fun place with lots to do, all kinds of people, great weather, nearby beaches and semi-urban attractions as well as great parks and green space (golf courses!).

Can you share a little more about the kid visit limitations? We are possibly helping my parents buy a place like this in FL. We are overseas right now and usually visit with them in the summer. Would it be possible for teenagers to visit for 6-8 weeks at a time?

[Anonymous]

Timber Pines in Spring Hill is great! Tons of activities. My mom loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sarasota is great. I live in a 55+ community. I wasn't looking for one but the condo I found when I was getting ready to retire happened to be in one and I loved the condo so I pursued it. Turns out I love living in this community. It's beautifully landscaped, the villas and condos are so attractive and there is so much to do here, both in and out of my community. It's about half and half Rs and Ds. Mostly nobody talks about politics though. Everyone with few exceptions has been very friendly and welcoming. I've been here a year now and found the activities I enjoy, and nobody cares whether you stay busy or prefer to have a lot of alone time. People care about each other but also respect privacy preferences.

When I bought a little over a year ago 1500 SqFt villas with two car garages were selling for around 250K, they are now over 350K. An 1100 SqFt 2/2 condo was around $140K and is now closer to $00K. A 1/1 was around 110K and now goes for around 170K. So that's kinda crazy (but also great for me and anyone who got in under the wire) but there are definitely nice places here in nice communities for less than $350K. There are also somewhat nicer places for more than that, and up to many millions if you want to be right on the water or have a large single family home on a big lot.

My community is about ten minutes from fantastic beaches, all kinds of shopping and restaurants are nearby, ten minutes from downtown Sarasota and all that has to offer including a great cultural scene and many museums. I'm about 45 min to St. Pete and an hour to Tampa. Sarasota has a great airport that has many flights to many destinations, and there are several bigger airports in the Tampa area.

In my community there are a number of people who still work full time or part time, quite a few who are totally retired, lots who do volunteer work, many who are fit and active and some who are infirm or have typical ageing limitations. It's a good mix. Small pets are allowed. Kids can't live here but can visit and often do.

I highly recommend this life for retirees, snowbirds, and anyone who wants to live in a vibrant, fun place with lots to do, all kinds of people, great weather, nearby beaches and semi-urban attractions as well as great parks and green space (golf courses!).

Can you share a little more about the kid visit limitations? We are possibly helping my parents buy a place like this in FL. We are overseas right now and usually visit with them in the summer. Would it be possible for teenagers to visit for 6-8 weeks at a time?

In my 55+ community the rules state that those under 18 may not visit for more than 30 days a year so a 6-8 week visit would not conform to that. I'm not sure if other 55+ communities have the same rule or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The prices in Florida have skyrocketed and $350K won't get much of anything close to a population center.

Houses 1-2 years ago were barely hitting 100k in my Central Florida suburb…they bought when it was cheap. Parents bought their home at 40k not too long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The prices in Florida have skyrocketed and $350K won't get much of anything close to a population center.

Houses 1-2 years ago were barely hitting 100k in my Central Florida suburb…they bought when it was cheap. Parents bought their home at 40k not too long ago.

Prices have gone NUTS in Florida! At least in the populated areas. I live on the edge of Tampa Bay. Nothing is 'cheap' here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Our friends also like Sarasota very much. My folks went between Naples and Cape Cod until their early 90s. They decided to establish residency in Florida in those years, but it was best to return home in 90s to a life care community. Mother passed away at 96 with dementia. Dad passed away several weeks shy of 100 with full faculties intact and still active until last three weeks when he thought he was in a very nice hotel (actually hospital and then skilled rehab due to kidney disease.) In Naples they were in a golf community which my dad liked. My mom liked taking adult classes there in computer use, Spanish and painting. My dad kept them both active and doing while there. He did Habitat weekly for over 20 years. They spent summers on Cape Cod.

This is basically my dream retirement.

[Anonymous]

Checking back in again and I will say my folks mentioned above had a golf place, called The Wilderness in Naples right off of Route 41 and pretty centrally located. They found the medical care down there very good. The fact is though you reach a point where you are going to have health issues and being closer to family does matter. There are seven of us and five are in the Boston area and although my dad at 99 was cognitively with it and drove until last March, very locally, like to Walmart or Stop and Shop, he should not have. He went out a couple of times a week with one of my brothers and a sister had him out to lunch most weeks, too, even during Covid as he was in independent living. The thing is buying a unit is one thing, but you also need to do your research on what might need updating as all share such as new roofs, or say the golf course being redone, even if you do not play golf. There is saying you go to XXX at 65 and go home at 85.