Retirement Community Builders

Del Webb Ponte Vedra pool

Here is a list of some of the major retirement community builders/developers of over 55 communities. We cannot make recommendations as you must always do your own research in selection of builders.

Go to their websites to see their entire collections.  After you find the builders in the area of interest, get on their mailing list or contact them for upcoming communities for 55 plus.  Most have only one or a few 55+ communities and some builders only build age-qualified communities.

Developers/Builders ask: What do boomers want in the current market?

• Communities near good commute lines to employment centers from the suburbs and rural areas
• Smaller homes
• Fewer luxury features to decrease price
• Green building and saving energy

What problems do homebuilders have and how do they solve them?

The homebuyers problems are the homebuilders problems.  The job of the homebuilder is to build homes for people and help them buy.   No matter what the market is, homebuilders must meet the challenges to survive. 

• Homeowners find it harder to sell their main home. Builders have stepped up with assistance programs in that area.  
  
• Builders are still competing with abundant foreclosures though these have greatly decreased in recent years.  The future is unknown in this regard.  Update: Foreclosures have greatly decreased.
• Both builders and homebuyers find it harder to get financing and qualify in a poor economic climate.  Update: The real estate market has improved.

Builders Solutions

• Many builders are offering buyers powerful incentives to buy such as free luxury features and optional items and financing incentives.  These incentives decrease when times are good. 
• There are frequent appraisals which may necessitate price adjustments to keep up with shifting market conditions.  In recent days, prices have moved up in most markets.   
• Creative buyer financing.
• Offering communities and features that appeal to buyers such as smaller floorplans that cost less.
• Better marketing and customer service.

Check with local Realtors as the real estate market conditions can vary greatly depending on location.  Some areas are better than others.  Check the financial condition of your builder as well as there have been some bankruptcies.   

Our Most Precious Asset: Our Home

Think about it!  America's homebuilders are charged with the task of building our most valuable asset: our home.  We are lucky to have great builders with great entrepreneurial spirit.  

List of Builders:

Largest and/or National 

Dell Webb

A division of Pulte Homes. Over 50 years experience building homes throughout the U.S. The largest of the over 55 retirement community builders, also called active adult communities. Offers reasonably priced 3-day Discovery visits.

THEY BUILD IN: Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, S Carolina, N Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri 
Del Webb

K Hovnanian Homes

Active Adult Communities are called Four Seasons. Since 1959. Builds resort-at-home communities for a country club lifestyle. Throughout U.S. KHovnanian is brother to JSHovnanian Homes but separate companies.

THEY BUILD ACTIVE ADULT HOMES IN: California, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia 
K. Hovnanian Homes 

Brookfield Homes

Providence by Brookfield Homes is the active adult contingent. Since 1956. One of the top 20 largest homebuilders in the nation. Priority One customer service program and offering many design options to the buyer for a custom look and feel.

THEY BUILD ACTIVE ADULT HOMES IN: Currently in Delaware
Brookfield Homes

Lennar

Developer in 20 different states, headquartered in Miami. Active adult communities called Heritage with 30 luxury communities in 13 states. Founded in 1954.  Recent purchases of top builders WCIC and CalAtlantic.

THEY BUILD ACTIVE ADULT HOMES IN: California, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.
Lennar 

Beazer Homes

Based in Atlanta, Georgia - 16 states and over 50 years as a builder - their active adult series is called "Gatherings."
Beazer Homes

WCI Communities - Now part of the Lennar family of homes

Collection of active adult communities is called Encore except for its large community in Florida called Sun City Center near Tampa and Sarasota. Waterfront and country club style in Florida and East Coast. WCI says "the experience is everything."  Update:  In 2017 WCI was acquired by Lennar and is now part of their family of companies.
WCI Communities

Ryan

"Welcoming Families Home for Over 50 Years." They call their over-55 communities "Legacy" or "Hearthstone."  They have a good-size portfolio of communities for adults 55 and better.
 Ryan Homes

Erickson Retirement Communities

Age 62+ - continuing care apartment communities in Colorado, Midwest, East Coast, and Texas.  Many have assisted living options as well as independent living. 
Erickson

Shea Homes

Major builder of Over 55 communities called Trilogy - 125 years beginnings in Northern California. One of the largest private homebuilders.  Among the first to have day spas, fitness centers with personal training, and restaurants with Executive Chefs and organic food.    

THEY BUILD ACTIVE ADULT HOMES IN:   California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Washington State, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas and North Carolina.     
Trilogy Life by Shea Homes

GL Homes

Leading builder in Florida and other areas. GL Homes

Traditions of America

TRADITIONS OF AMERICA  builds exclusively for over 55 throughout Pennsylvania.

David Weekley Homes   Largest private builder in U.S. - Builds in Ga., Texas, Florida, NC, SC, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, TN, Arizona, Utah.  DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES

CENTEX HOMES - Another of the major retirement community developers with 50 years of home building experience and has now merged with Pulte. 
Centex Homes

KB HOME Based in Los Angeles with more than 50 years experience. Builds coast-to-coast in 9 states. Some innovations are homes with Martha Stewart designs and the Open Series which features smaller and more flexible homes. KB Home

Meritage Homes Based in Scottsdale, Ariz - Large builder builds homes in Southern and Western states.  Meritage Homes  

D R Horton - Largest builder in U.S. by volume building in some 26 states nationwide (verify as can change) and has some over 55 communities. Main office is in Fort Worth, Texas.  Freedom Homes is their 55+ builder.   D R HORTON

CAL ATLANTIC HOMES Ryland Homes and Standard Pacific have merged to become the 4th largest homebuilder in the U.S.  Lennar has purchased CalAtlantic Homes.   CalAtlantic Homes  

VI LIVING  (Formerly Hyatt Classic Living) - 10 upscale rental and care communities located in six states in some of the best places for retirement. Now called "Vi." Vi Living 

PRINGLE - Offers a free comprehensive guide on Florida lifestyle. Features Pringle's Design Center for customizing your home. Discovery tours. Pringle 

TAYLOR MORRISON HOMES

National home builder in 9 states.  Frequently has 55 plus communities.  Upscale and usually in great locations.    Acquired AV Homes and Acadia Homes.  Taylor Morrison

TOLL BROTHERS - "America's luxury home builder." Upscale homes. Large 55 plus portfolio.   Toll Brothers

ROBSON COMMUNITIES - Retirement communities in Arizona and Texas. Active adult resort living. Send for beautiful DVD or video. Wonderful "visit" packages. Robson

MCKEE BUILDERS Operates in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland for 60 years. McKee Builders

NV HOMES Luxury homebuilders of single family homes and villas since 1979. Over 55 communities are called Dolce Vita. Has communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Delaware. NV Homes

More retirement community builders with a portfolio of over 55 communities:

Northeast/Mid Atlantic

MD/PA  ADMAR HOMES - Builds in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.

Delaware  Benchmark Builders - Delaware  

PA/DELAWARE  BLENHEIM HOMES - Since 1982 - trust is an important word to this builder and communication.   We agree that customer service is a key ingredient in the building process.

New Jersey  BOB MEYER - 40 years building in Southern New Jersey.

MD/PA  BOB WARD - Metropolitan Baltimore, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Connecticut  CARRIER

Mid-Atlantic  BOZZUTO - Mid-Atlantic area Bozzuto Homes

Maryland  CARUSO HOMES

Fl/NJ/PA DELUCA 43 years - Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. DeLuca

Virginia CORNERSTONE HOMES - Virginia Cornerstone Homes

Mid-Atlantic GEMCRAFT HOMES Mid-Atlantic Gemcraft Homes

Pa  JUDD BUILDERS

JS Hovnanian & Sons

NJ/DEL JS HOVNANIAN & Sons - New Jersey and Delaware  JS Hovnanian

IDI Group

Maryland and Virginia (Leisure World) IDI Group

Virginia OAK CREST BUILDERS - Virginia

NJ   KOKES FAMILY BUILDERS

DE/MD/Eastern Shore    LAYTON CONSTRUCTION

New Hampshire  LEWIS BUILDERS

PA/DE WILKINSON BUILDERS Pennsylvania and Delaware Wilkinson Builders

Long Island NY BEECHWOOD HOMES - Award-winning builder on Long Island.

Long Island, NY ENGLE BURMAN

Long Island, NY NORTHWIND GROUP - Builds on Long Island, NY

CENTRAL PA LANDMARK HOMES

DE/PA  McKEE - Delaware and Pennsylvania

PA MILFORD BUILDERS

PA TRADITIONS OF AMERICA - Builds exclusively for over 55 throughout Pennsylvania.

PA PENN HOMES

Starvou Associates Builds over 55, affordable, and senior living communities in Maryland in Prince Georges and Montgomery counties.   Stavrou

Thorndike Development

Photo by Thorndike Development.

Massachusetts - Quality upscale homes Boston area and suburbs. See our review.
Thorndike Development

Builders in Florida/South/Southeast

Photo by Kolter Homes (Peachtree City model home).

FL/GA/SC/NC KOLTER HOMES - 55+ communities are called Cresswind. 

Florida ANSCA HOMES - Family owned developer of luxury homes and apartments in Florida.

Florida ARMSTRONG HOMES - Ocala, Florida Armstrong Homes

Florida BLAIR COMMUNITIES - Florida custom homes and manufactured homes communities Blair Communities

Florida CRF COMMUNITIES - Florida CRF Communities

Florida  ERNIE WHITE CONSTRUCTION

Florida ON TOP OF THE WORLD COMMUNITIES Florida On Top of the World Communities

FL MINTO FLORIDA - Builds luxury communities throughout Florida.

Atlanta

Atlanta  MILLARD BOWEN COMMUNITIES - Atlanta homebuilder - Bowen Homes

Atlanta JIM CHAPMAN COMMUNITIES

Atlanta  ORCHARDS GROUP

Atlanta O'DWYER HOMES Atlanta O'Dwyer Homes

Atlanta WINDSONG PROPERTIES Atlanta area windsong Properties

West

Texas  GRENADIER HOMES

Texas JACOBS HOMES 

Texas VILLAGE BUILDERS  Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio

TN/MS/COLORADO  KW COMMUNITIES - low maintenance homes geared to empty nesters by Kemmons Wilson.

Arizona

Phoenix/Tucson MARACAY BUILDERS

Oregon/Wa  STONEBRIDGE (has some multigenerational homes)

Please take the time to read the history of these retirement community builders usually found on their websites. The pride in their product and dedication is very evident. Besides being interesting, you can see that most homebuilders have contributed so much to our happiness and comfort in our homes and the responsible development of our land. We thank them for that.

This is not a complete list.

Please verify all above information as it changes often. Also, always do your own inspections. We refer you to builders for your convenience and information only and give no recommendations or even opinions.  Always consult with your real estate professionals especially before any purchase.