What is an Active Adult Community?

Are you ready to downsize?  Need one story living?  Want someone else to take care of the maintenance?  Perhaps a patio home in an active adult community might be worth exploring.  Most patio homes are one story although some have finished and/or unfinished space over the garage.  A few have basements.  The homes will be 2 and 3 bedrooms, Great Rooms with adjoining Dining Rooms, Kitchens with all the bells and whistles but just a little smaller.  Rooms are designed for multiple purposes – bedrooms can be offices or dens.  There may be a sunroom with a hide-away bed sofa so it can double as a guest room or be used as a den.   Garages are single and two car.

If there is unfinished space over the garage, it replaces a basement for storage.  If the space is finished over the garage, again it can be a bedroom or home office – there are usually large storage closets also.  Ranch condo, garden home, and patio homes are synonymous for the same style home.  The size of the homes are smaller thus the downsizing.  You will find storage however most folks will need to start paring down their possessions.  Another feature of active adult neighborhoods is the homes are attached – it could be homes are attached side to side or side to courtyard.  In other cases, four homes share a common roof with homes sharing side and back walls.  Garages are in the middle between units giving each owner an entrance to the home.

Active adult communities come in numerous shapes and sizes.  The most common in Metro Atlanta is a community designed for mature adults wanting a smaller one story home with nice appointments and storage.  The neighborhood has been marketed for mature adults with couples and singles in these neighborhoods.  Some homes will have patios and courtyards.  The lawns and green space are part of the Homeowner Associations and maintained by the HOA.  Thus there is no lawn to mow, leaves to rake, or snow to shovel.  The size of the community can vary from 40 homes up to 500 homes, though most are in the 50 to 100 homes range.

Amenities in the communities will vary.  Most neighborhoods will have a clubhouse for residents.  These clubhouses usually include a gathering room, kitchen, bath and maybe a fitness room.  Some communities will have a swimming pool and tennis courts.  You can be as active as you choose.

Covenants and deed restrictions are part of active adult communities.  These documents create the Homeowners Association.  The HOA is responsible for the landscaping and ground maintenance; exterior maintenance of the buildings – roofs, painting, etc.; trash pickup; water and sewer; termite bonds; and reserve funds.  In some communities cable television and Internet service are included.  HOA fees typically range from $190 per month to $275.  Members of the HOA Board are chosen by the residents

A second type of active adult community could be age specific.  The community bylaws state you must be 55 or over to live there and children under age 18 may not live there- plus guests can only stay for 14 days.  These numbers are generalities.  Such communities usually have a thousand homes and are developed by large national entities such as Del Webb.  Activities are numerous with large clubhouses and pools.  Some communities may have social directors and full time staff.  In these communities the HOA fees could be $225 to $450 per month.

Some outstanding active adult communities in North Metro Atlanta include Arbor Oaks in East Cobb, The Willows in Woodstock, Orchards at Windward in Milton/Alpharetta.

Related Posts:

• Active Adult Friendly Woodstock, GA