What to Look for When Evaluating Over 55 Communities in Colorado
Communities for people over 55 are low-maintenance, residential areas that provide new single-family homes and facilities for adults in this age group. These age-restricted communities usually offer amenities such as swimming pools, fitness areas, gaming areas, pickleball courts, dog parks, demonstration kitchens dance halls, and clubhouses with a lifestyle director.
When evaluating 55+ communities, there are a few things to look for to help make your decision:
Your New Construction Home
First and foremost, you’ll want to look at the type of free-standing home you’re interested in. Is it comfortable? Are the bedrooms and the bathrooms on the main floor or do you have to go to the basement to do your laundry? Is the space a good fit for your needs (not too big or too small)? Is it easy to maintain? Are there brilliant storage solutions throughout the house and the garage that make downsizing seem easy? Another aspect you might want to look at is energy efficiency. Over 55 communities typically offer energy-efficient homes to help keep you comfortable while also saving money on utility bills. As you approach retirement, you will need to consider that you will be living on a fixed income, so having guaranteed energy bills is an important factor.
Community life and recreation activities
When retiring, you want to move somewhere where you can enjoy the best possible life. When evaluating 55+ communities, ask about the recreational amenities and opportunities to take up new hobbies and engage in meaningful social interactions. In most over 55 communities, residents have access to social events, classes, club memberships, volunteer activities, and more. True 55+ communities even have a lifestyle director who can help you set goals for fitness, pursue your passion for arts and crafts, help you meet other community members who can help you start a book club, and work with the entire community to serve charitable causes that are close to your heart. These lifestyle directors also plan fun activities and events like cooking clubs, gardening clubs, hiking and biking clubs. They also bring in teachers for residents to learn about technology, smart phones, investing, starting a business after the age of 55, and finding volunteer opportunities in the community.
All of these things should be considered during the assessment of 55 plus communities in Colorado.