Avenida Del Rio Drive, Twin Falls
$6,540,000 - 9 Acres
MLS® # 98860448
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55+ Communities | Idaho Real Estate
Among all the great places to live here in the Boise area, a 55+ community is definitely one to look into. Though there aren’t a lot of 55+ communities in the Boise area, it is a growing trend. More and more developers are opting to create 55+ communities instead of traditional communities. However, there are many things to keep in mind when one considers moving into a 55+ community. Let's go over the basics of what a 55+ community is and what a 55+ community is not; we will also talk about why people like to live in 55+ communities, the difference between 55+ communities, active adult communities and the like, and then talk about the usual amenities that you will see in a 55+ community.
55+ Community Listings
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What is a 55+ community
To begin, let’s talk about what a 55+ community really is. A 55+ community is a neighborhood that is built for residents over the age of 55. They come in many varieties including large condo complexes, single-family resident neighborhoods, and so on. They tend to have stricter rules for their residents, the number one rule being that residents need to be over 55+ (in most cases). Now, most of the time communities will allow a spouse or significant other to live there as well as long as one of the residents is over 55. The specific rules, however will differ from community to community.
Some of the other common rules will be for how long visitors under the age of 55 can stay and so on and so forth. (Usually, these communities have very active and very strict HOAs that will monitor these rules and create new ones as the need arises.)
What a 55+ community is not
55+ communities are not separate cities of their own and they are not exclusive neighborhoods. The only requirement to live there is that you are over 55. However, even this can be flexible in some cases. You see, to be considered a 55+ community, 80% of a community’s residents must be over the age of 55. So, technically, if you can find a community whose rules allow for it, someone under 55 could buy a home there.
55+ communities are also not closed to visitors. Like we said earlier, visitors are allowed to stay the night, several nights, for some places. So, don’t think that by living in a 55+ community you are never going to see anyone under 55 come through there.
Benefits of 55+ communities
Here in the Boise area, people live in 55+ communities for a number of reasons, but the biggest benefits to living there are: A quieter and more peaceful atmosphere Lower prices Socializing with people their own age Smaller and easy to maneuver houses and yards Security.
A quieter and more peaceful atmosphere
Since most of the people that live in a 55+ community are—well—over 55, they typically tend to be quieter than those of their younger counterparts. Now, this isn’t always the case, but for most people that move into 55+ areas, the quieter atmosphere is almost a universal trait.
Lower Prices
For most 55+ communities, prices are pretty low compared to comparable home in the same city. They are sold for less for a handful of reasons, but whatever the reason, it is a distinct advantage for those living there.
Socializing with people their own age
Many people comment that they like living in a 55+ community because it allows them to be around people of the same age. Since these are the only communities that allow age restriction, this is one of those rare scenarios where all of your neighbors are almost guaranteed to be your same age.
Smaller and easier to manage homes and yards
A great thing about the homes and lots in 55+ communities would have to be their smaller sizes. You hardly ever see 55+ communities where the homes have more than 2 bedrooms, for instance, not to mention their lawns are usually below a quarter of an acre (depending). This combination means there is less to maintain both inside and outside.
Security
Usually, 55+ communities are gated—meaning that you must have a passcode to get in. They will also have a few more security measures added that a typical neighborhood would. This makes it a little safer to live in a 55+ community than in neighboring areas.
What is an active adult neighborhood and how does it differ from a 55+ community?
An active adult neighborhood is actually very similar to a 55+ community and, in fact, these names are usually used interchangeably. However, if you had to make a distinction between the two, an active adult neighborhood is usually always made of detached single-family homes. They are hardly ever condos or townhouses. This is because they are built for those who want to have a more active lifestyle. They are still age restricted, but they can be set at a different age than 55. So, for instance, you could have an active adult community for 50+ or 65+ or something to that effect. They will sometimes also have more amenities than a standard 55+ community, but this is not always the case. (The kinds of amenities you can expect in a 55+ community will be listed later in this article)
What is the difference between a retirement community and a 55+ community?
A retirement community is different from a 55+ community and an active adult community because they are usually large centers instead of condo complexes or detached single-family home neighborhoods. Usually, a retirement community is a large building with apartment style rooms that can be rented. They are built for retired persons who can still care for themselves for the most part and just want a place where they can be with other retired people and relax. Most of these communities will have many amenities for residents to enjoy as well as social events, and so much more. Most of these retirement communities include food in the cost of rent.
What are the differences between senior living, independent senior living, assisted living, adult communities, assisted living communities, senior communities, and 55+ communities?
Now, when it comes to senior living, independent senior living, assisted living, adult communities, assisted living communities, and senior communities there aren’t a lot of distinctions between them. For instance, an independent senior living community will be almost identical to a retirement community. In that same sense, the same can be said about senior communities and so on. However, an adult community will most likely be more similar to a typical 55+ community. Whenever you see the words ‘assisted living’ though, that means the community is meant for older persons who cannot take care of themselves (or at least struggle to take care of themselves or need a lot of medical attention).
It is important to remember though that there are no set distinctions between all of these terms aside from when the word ‘assisted’ is used. So, no matter what the community is called it could be completely different from our explanations here. Be sure to check out the community’s website (since they will usually have one) to find out what kind of community they are before you start looking for a home there.
Amenities you will usually see in a 55+ community
55+ communities are great for those who are looking for a lot of amenities. For instance, many 55+ communities will have a community pool, community recreation centers, parks, and much more. Some of them may even have lawn care services that are procured by the HOA so that no one has to take care of their lawn at all. A lot of the time these communities are also built near shopping centers for easy and convenient shopping and other establishments to make resident’s lives easier.
All in all, they amenities, rules, prices, and lifestyle you can expect from an age restricted community will all depend on the community itself. If you want to look into any of the 55+ communities (or other age restricted communities) available here in the Boise area, be sure to call us today. We here at the Hughes Group are always ready to help you with any of your real estate needs. Our team is made up of some of the most dedicated real estate agents in the Treasure Valley. They service Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Kuna, Caldwell, Middleton, Star, Eagle, Hidden Springs, and everywhere else in the Treasure Valley. So, give us a call today to find the home of your dreams, and maybe even the community of your dreams.
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Listing information last updated on March 29th, 2023 at 4:37pm MDT.
