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No Millennials Allowed: Boomers Are Flocking to Cool 55-Plus Communities

Hoping to buy into a vibrant community of homeowners that offers perks like daily fitness classes, lavish spas, and awesome cocktail hours? Maybe even a crazy theme party or two, with funny hats and copious amounts of booze? Ready to leave behind all that mundane lawn mowing, leaf raking, snow shoveling, and other daily home maintenance? Hey, we’ve got you covered.

Just don’t forget your AARP card.

Some of the hottest housing communities these days are strictly for those aged 55 and up, say real estate agents and homebuilders. And just as the vast group of Americans known as baby boomers forever changed pop culture, business, politics—well, just about everything—they’re now inexorably transforming the idea of older group living.

These communities range dramatically in size, configuration, and price of entry. But here’s what they share: a slightly irreverent attitude, an emphasis on nonsedentary living, and a pronounced unwillingness to go quietly into old age. Just like boomers themselves.

Unlike a previous generation of 55-plus Americans, active boomers don’t show a great desire to settle into rocking chairs for sleepy “golden years.”

So as the nearly 75 million–strong boomer generation (born 1946 to 1964, so now 53 to 71) shifts into the empty nest and retirement phases of life—the largest generation ever to do so—developers have spotted a big opportunity.

A flurry of age-restricted developments have cropped up across the country as middle-agers downsize from their big homes in the suburbs into smaller abodes in these active adult communities. And each new development seems to be upping the game with bigger and better amenities.

Many of today’s super-active boomers would rather be out playing power tennis than bingo, and would prefer to have their neighbors over for cocktails—or even hit up the newest bar—instead of puttering around in the garden. And why not? Plenty have the cash to buy into these pricey communities, and quite a few of them are still working, with the concept of retirement barely a glimmer in their eyes.

“Part of the reason that the market is as hot as it has ever been is the sheer size” of the boomer generation, says spokeswoman Samantha Reid of 55places.com, a real estate resource for active adults looking for a community. “And they saved their money.”

More vacation resort than retirement community

For residents of The Villages, an ever-expanding 55-plus community centered in the Sumpter County region of central Florida (about 60 miles northwest of Orlando), every day is a vacation day. There’s complimentary golf, plenty of pools, and no shortage of bocce, pickleball, and tennis courts. Locals can join wine clubs, gardening clubs, or even singles clubs for those looking for some later-in-life romance (or hanky-panky). Those with dramatic flair can perform in shows and learn how to swing dance; more introverted types can craft pieces in the woodworking shop.

The community is massive—so big, in fact, that the U.S. Census counts it as its own metro, the nation’s fastest-growing for the fourth year in a row. About 157,000 older adults live in The Villages complexes, and 20 more move each day into the community’s one- to four-bedroom mix of cottages, ranch homes, and villas. There’s been a 4.3% population increase since 2015.

“Everyone who comes here needs his and her activity calendars,” says 69-year-old Amy Donato, who moved to The Villages 15 years ago from New York City. “You can’t rest even if you wanted to.”

Donato and her 68-year-old husband, Anthony Donato, jet around the community in their his-and-her golf carts. She also oversees the Boomer Loomers club, which makes hats and other apparel items for people in need.

The rise of 55-plus communities

These communities got their start in the Sun Belt in 1960, when the first Sun City (dubbed “The Original Fun City!”) opened its doors just outside Phoenix. Around 38,000 residents still live in the development’s garden apartments, condos, patio homes, as well as single-family houses. They can often be found playing in the community’s eight golf courses, a bowling association, fitness centers, pools and clubs, and other activities designed to appeal to just about every resident.

Several other Sun Cities (Grand, Festival, West, and more) have sprouted nearby over the decades.

Today’s communities for older adults are still mostly located in warmer climates, but they’re expanding into colder areas as well.

The top state for these communities is (unsurprisingly) Florida, says Reid of 55places.com. The popular destination stop (and we do mean stop) for snowbirds and retirees has over 300 age-restricted communities.

But colder, more expensive New Jersey came in second place, with more than 230 age-restricted communities. Arizona, known for its warm, dry climate, was third. Other popular states include Oregon, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Utah.

Part of this is because many retirees—who are living and staying active longer—want to stay close to their children, grandchildren, and pals.

That desire is “pushing builders into states they never thought they’d be in,” Reid says.

With epic perks, what are the homes like?

Homes in these communities often come with special touches like master bedrooms and full bathrooms on the first floor, so aging homeowners don’t need to navigate stairs. Some even have chef’s kitchens, (aging) man caves, art studios, and guest rooms for visitors.

“Buyers are looking to downsize and simplify their lives,” said Steven Dubb, principal of the Beechwood Organization, which has developed several age-restricted communities on Long Island, NY. “The houses are smaller than the ones they are moving out of. They tend to be designed for a simpler life.”

That was the appeal for Marty and Carol Cohen when they downsized from the five-bedroom home in Huntington, NY, where they had lived for 50 years in October 2015.

While many of their friends were heading south to Florida, the couple wanted to stay near their children. So they bought a smaller, 1,500-square-foot home in the 55-plus community of  Beechwood’s Meadowbrook Pointe Links & Spa, in Medford, NY. Today, the pair spend their days golfing and hanging out with their new friends in the community’s various clubs, including one devoted to wine and mah-jongg.

“My wife fell in love with (this house) and bought it immediately,” says Marty, 76, a retired pediatrician. “As you get older, we were tired of going up and down the stairs. … We had to find something new.’

One big misconception about these communities is that they’re all ultraluxurious, says Reid, of 55places.com. Some are, some aren’t. There are some bargain developments with homes starting at less than $100,000 as well. They just don’t have all those perks that have the millennial grandkids lining up to visit.

Want to move here? You’d better get in line

Finding the perfect home or even a rental apartment in some of the nation’s hottest real estate markets, like New York or San Francisco, may seem next to impossible. But that’s nothing compared with scoring a residence in some of the most desirable active-living communities.

Suzie Kopolow, 69, put in an offer over asking price on her current home in Ocean Hills Country Club in Oceanside, CA, a day before it even hit the market. She acted immediately after getting a tip that it would be going up for sale. And she and her husband were delighted they got the property— despite heavy competition, including all-cash offers.

She’s now on her third home in Ocean Hills, which consists of about 1,600 abodes.

And with the spa, golf course, dozens of clubs, and tons of parties, she has no desire to leave. Demand is so hot at the community that she estimates there are fewer than 10 homes available at any one time.

“If you live in Ocean Hills and you’re bored, it’s your own fault,” Kopolow says.

Not all fun and games in age-restricted community

However, there are trade-offs to living in an age-restricted community. Residents need guest passes for visitors, and many communities demand special permission for guests staying longer than 30 days. That means family members can’t just move in—much to their parents’ and grandparents’ chagrin (or delight).

Plus, although demand is soaring now, there may not be as many potential buyers for the homes down the line when the owners need to move into assisted-living or nursing homes. That’s because the next crop of buyers, Generation X, simply isn’t nearly as big. And adding age restrictions (no millennials allowed) limits the pool of buyers.

In addition, residents on fixed incomes are on the hook for those homeowners association fees. They can range from a few hundred dollars to quite a bit more. The fees pay for all those great amenities, plus maintenance tasks (shoveling snow, fixing leaky faucets, raking the leaves) which many new residents were all too happy to leave behind.

However, that’s not stopping the surge of buyers.

“It’s kind of like being on a cruise ship,” says Ocean Hills resident Kopolow. “You don’t leave here unless you go out in a box, or go to assisted living.”

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