Affordable Retirement Communities Options

Many people getting ready to retire are wondering what affordable retirement communities options are available. These communities for most people are usually thought of as up to $200,000.

This is not a discussion of low income retirement communities or affordable housing. That would be another article. See Senior Low Income Housing

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Active Adult Site-Built Affordable Retirement Communities

For site-built homes, we would like to point out that many large first-class communities by major builders have many price range options within the same community. If you can go with a smaller square footage single-family home, villa, co-op or condominium in a community, while the other homes are more expensive, you can greatly decrease your costs and it becomes an affordable retirement communities option for you, and you enjoy the same amenities as more expensive homes.

Also, choose a home without an expensive view to decrease your costs or choose affordable retirement communities with fewer amenities.

There are areas of the country that are more affordable areas than others. Consider states like Texas, Florida, the Carolina's, Tennessee and many states in the Midwest.

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Also, some affordable retirement communities are co-ops or have them as an option and this may also be an affordable option for you. You own a share in a corporation and the corporation pays for many items such as electric, heating, appliances, etc. Check with individual community. Items are included in homeowners fee. Many co-ops are listed on this site and so noted.



Leisure World of Maryland has a huge co-op section comprised of co-op apartments, townhomes and duplex homes. You can find studios and one-bedroom apartments in the $50's and $60's now due to the current real estate market. The homeowner fee is additional but includes utilities and many activities and amenities.

All the following examples of affordable retirement communities are by Del Webb but many other developers will have a variety of pricing options in the same community as well.

South Carolina: Sun City Carolina Lakes by Del Webb. Close to award-winning medical facilities. Great villa collection and small square footage homes from $180,000. Higher priced homes are in the community up to $386,000. You will have the same amenities such as a 40,000 clubhouse, golf, lake and more. This collection includes nice small square footage homes from 1103 SF.

South Carolina: Sun City Hilton Head Bluffton - Start $169,990 for a smaller square footage home. This is a competitive price for this retirement area. Other homes start in $300's. Amenities include 2 golfcourse, 4 pools. Sun City Hilton Head

Texas: Hill Country Retreat by Del Webb. Start $141,490. Low-cost area near San Antonio with great climate. Texas Hill Country Retreat

Texas: Sun City, Texas - Georgetown, Texas--From $151,990. Small homes in Georgetown. Sun City Texas

Michigan: Villas at Bridgewater Start $149,990. Southeast Michigan area includes snow removal and lawn mowing in monthly fees. 3-unit attached ranch villas with 2-car garages. Private fishing lake with 2 docks, community trail system with walking path along water.Bridgewater

Indiana: Britton Falls - 2-unit ranch villas from $142,990. Britton Falls

Ohio: Pioneer Ridge No. Ridgeville - 2 BR-2BA duplex starts $129,990. Pioneer Ridge

Note: Many people are looking for affordable retirement communities with a smaller home size that are more affordable and they can downsize. If you are one of those, you must seek these homes out as today's communities feature many large square footage homes.

(Please keep in mind that larger sq. footage homes are also available at these communities but at higher prices.)

Going Forward: Today, retirement communities are being built with many more small square footage home offerings, which is a change from just a few years ago.

Check the area you are interested in on this website for more site-built homes in communities with affordable pricing.

Go to our Manufactured Homes Communities for a comprehensive listing.

Manufactured homes are becoming very popular and are affordable retirement communities. There is a cost savings from 20 to 50% over site-built homes. Many land-lease communities go from the $80's up to $190's. It may be more affordable for you when you lease your lot. You don't have the large layout of money for your land. See Land Lease Community Estimated Expenses

However, you can also find communities where you purchase your land and home together as a package and also some where you can just purchase the lot. There are many advantages to land-lease because you don't have to pay for a lot. However, when you buy the land and home together your appreciation may be better if the land is appreciating in your area. This is a financial decision you must make.

Manufactured homes dealers often know what affordable retirement communities are available in their area. Also, modular homes are more affordable than site-built but more expensive than manufactured, generally.

When you combine a low-cost area with a manufactured homes community, you have a real winner. See our Manufactured Homes in Florida page.

Here are just a couple examples of manufactured homes communities by Jensen Communities a developer of land-lease manufactured homes communities. You buy the home but pay extra monthly fee to lease the lot.

South Carolina: Country Lakes - Little River - minutes to Grand Stand area. Homes priced as low as $81,500. Land lease.

Ocean Pines - Garden City Beach - Close to Myrtle Beach - Some homes priced as low as lower $20,000's. Land lease. See our Review of Ocean Pines by Jensen Communities

North Carolina - Coastal Plantation Retirement Mini-Estates near historic Wilmington in Hampstead. 30 minutes to Wilmington Airport and 15 miles to Wilmington. New homes as low as $98,000's. Land lease.

New Hampshire - Brook Ridge - Winner of Homes of Distinction Award from Mobile Homes Institute. Hooksett - 3 acre pond with walking trails - Nearby Concord or Manchester - Single family ranch homes start at $190's - www.brookridgenh.com

These are usually smaller homes or "park models" and so they will be even more affordable. They are most numerous in Arizona, Florida, California and South Carolina. Mobile home communities for adults over 55 are often neat and quiet and many in prime locations. Some of these are leased land where you pay monthly rent and some are resident-owned parks where you own your land.

Mobile Homes is a term for older mobiles built before 1976. The newer ones are now called manufactured homes. See our Retirement Mobile Home Parks Also see our interview with an expert on RV parks

These are referred to as Senior Apartments.

They are numerous in number and in many price ranges depending on area and amenities. Some can be very affordable. Some are designated low-cost senior housing if you can meet income requirements. The rent can be priced under market for low cost housing. Others are market rent rates and range from affordable to very luxurious apartments. You have no mortgage, taxes, etc. or large outlay of cash.

Many adult apartment communities provide housekeeping and maintenance. Some include a meal in your fee. Check with the individual community for details as they vary.

See also numerous Christian retirement communities--some of these are very focused on the individual and affordable and open to all persons. There are other numerous religious-based communities such as Jewish and other religions that give excellent care, are affordable and open to all persons. Most are rental communities and many include some assistance available. See Christian Retirement Communities

If you have an RV you can purchase a space which makes an investment for you as well as giving you a permanent home and using your RV. You can also rent spaces in RV parks on an annual basis giving a less transient feeling. Of course, RV spaces can be rented by day, week or month as well so that you can use them as an affordable "second home" to get away from winter weather. See RV Retirement Parks.

Please see our new article "RV Park Life: What is it Like" describing how an RV park model can be purchased as low as $10,000 and space leased at reasonable rates for a very affordable lifestyle for retirement--RV park life. "RV Park Life: What is it Like"

There are many wonderful affordable retirement communities available. We have listed many on this website. We hope this guide will help you in your search.

Please personally verify any prices or information quoted on Affordable Retirement Communities as they can change frequently. We are not responsible for the information on this site or any referred to.

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