Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 13:07     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:My grandparents moved to Laguna Woods (formerly Leisure World) right next to Laguna Beach, CA. This is a 55+ community.

They loved it. My grandfather was a former contractor and they flipped at least 12 houses within the 55+ development before they died. If you're into real estate, you can live in very nice areas for much cheaper than going rate in the surrounding neighborhoods outside the community (try buying a house in Laguna Beach...). If you are a RE investor, tons of opportunities to buy an older home, update it, and sell for big money without any competition from families or institutional investor money.

Other pluses: no maintenance, no yardwork, active security, easy access to golf/tennis/club houses, lots of activity-based (my grandmother led the Computer Club for 20+ years and taught thousands of retirees how to use computers and smart phones), discounted travel tours, etc.

Laguna Woods actually seceded from the adjacent city in the early 2000s because of escalating property taxes. So that's another benefit to a 55+ community that incorporates as its own jurisdiction - it can control property taxes to a degree.


My parents live in Laguna Woods now. I grew up near there (Mission Viejo.)
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 12:27     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Another pro of Laguna Woods: no political signage allowed! They limit you to two political signs or stickers on your car LOL
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 12:24     Subject: Re:Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Laguna Woods actually seceded from the adjacent city in the early 2000s because of escalating property taxes. So that's another benefit to a 55+ community that incorporates as its own jurisdiction - it can control property taxes to a degree.


and

The age cutoff was mostly to avoid paying school taxes,


The most appalling thing about these places is their attitude toward taxes in general, and schools in particular.


Why do you think people move to Florida in old age? It's a tax dodge. At least these people in 55+ communities are still paying state taxes.


Well, another big reason people move to Florida is to avoid cold winter weather, which I believe for most people is a bigger motivation than avoiding taxes.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 12:23     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:My FIL lives in one. The age cutoff was mostly to avoid paying school taxes, and my 20-something SIL lived with him for a while without issue. The residents are mostly retired, so they have a lot of time on their hands, and the HOA is VERY active.


Super huge con.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 12:17     Subject: Re:Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:
Laguna Woods actually seceded from the adjacent city in the early 2000s because of escalating property taxes. So that's another benefit to a 55+ community that incorporates as its own jurisdiction - it can control property taxes to a degree.


and

The age cutoff was mostly to avoid paying school taxes,


The most appalling thing about these places is their attitude toward taxes in general, and schools in particular.


Why do you think people move to Florida in old age? It's a tax dodge. At least these people in 55+ communities are still paying state taxes.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 12:15     Subject: Re:Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Laguna Woods actually seceded from the adjacent city in the early 2000s because of escalating property taxes. So that's another benefit to a 55+ community that incorporates as its own jurisdiction - it can control property taxes to a degree.


and

The age cutoff was mostly to avoid paying school taxes,


The most appalling thing about these places is their attitude toward taxes in general, and schools in particular.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:35     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
I'm 61 and until the last few years these places sounded awful to me, particularly not having a diversity of ages. Just the name Leisure World is off-putting.

But most of my neighbors are now in their 30s with young kids, and I just don't have that much in common with them at this point. While they're friendly to me, they hang out with other neighbors their own age and stage, which makes sense. So having a ready made community of peers is becoming more appealing.

I'll be working till I'm at least 65, so I can't imagine living in one of these communities where almost everyone else is retried while I'm working 40 hours a week.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:27     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
My FIL lives in one. The age cutoff was mostly to avoid paying school taxes, and my 20-something SIL lived with him for a while without issue. The residents are mostly retired, so they have a lot of time on their hands, and the HOA is VERY active.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:26     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My grandparents moved to Laguna Woods (formerly Leisure World) right next to Laguna Beach, CA. This is a 55+ community.

They loved it. My grandfather was a former contractor and they flipped at least 12 houses within the 55+ development before they died. If you're into real estate, you can live in very nice areas for much cheaper than going rate in the surrounding neighborhoods outside the community (try buying a house in Laguna Beach...). If you are a RE investor, tons of opportunities to buy an older home, update it, and sell for big money without any competition from families or institutional investor money.

Other pluses: no maintenance, no yardwork, active security, easy access to golf/tennis/club houses, lots of activity-based (my grandmother led the Computer Club for 20+ years and taught thousands of retirees how to use computers and smart phones), discounted travel tours, etc.

Laguna Woods actually seceded from the adjacent city in the early 2000s because of escalating property taxes. So that's another benefit to a 55+ community that incorporates as its own jurisdiction - it can control property taxes to a degree.


OP again thanks for this post. These items you mention are huge.


Another pro of Laguna Woods was the sheer diversity of housing in the development. Real SFHs, connected multi-level townhouses, single level connected garden-style town houses, 4-6 unit garden apartments (with no stairs - just long ramps up to the upper level units), condo towers with various degrees of assistance, etc. Really awesome 55+ community with a housing style to suit most preferences and budgets. They had studio apartments in small, no-frills elevator buildings if that's all you could afford.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:26     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love how your pro list is basically "get rid of all diversity!" and then you con list is like "will it be diverse?"

OP here wasnt meaning to imply I was anti-diversity. Quite the opposite but keeping an open mind to what lies behind the gates is probably much more white than the surrounding area or where I live now. Is that a negative? I'm white maybe I don't care?


To be diversity is about more than race. Economic and age diversity are a thing too. It's up to you if that's important or not.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:25     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love how your pro list is basically "get rid of all diversity!" and then you con list is like "will it be diverse?"



How does that pro-list equate to "get rid of all diversity"? Stop being a troll.


No children and no poor people. There goes 2 ways to make a diverse community...
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:25     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:I love how your pro list is basically "get rid of all diversity!" and then you con list is like "will it be diverse?"

OP here wasnt meaning to imply I was anti-diversity. Quite the opposite but keeping an open mind to what lies behind the gates is probably much more white than the surrounding area or where I live now. Is that a negative? I'm white maybe I don't care?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:23     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
Anonymous wrote:I love how your pro list is basically "get rid of all diversity!" and then you con list is like "will it be diverse?"



How does that pro-list equate to "get rid of all diversity"? Stop being a troll.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:21     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
I love how your pro list is basically "get rid of all diversity!" and then you con list is like "will it be diverse?"

Anonymous
Post 04/19/2022 11:20     Subject: Pro/Con of over 55 communities
OP here this is one of the models we are considering.
https://www.brookfieldresidential.com/new-homes/virginia/loudoun-county/lansdowne/cadence-at-lansdowne/55-villa-collection/19027-coral-reef-square-unit-010018?media=e92c2af9-9337-493c-b525-0091891e101a&tab=Photos