Need 55+ Community Advice

[Navigator]

My wife and I are thinking of moving to a 55+ community near Austin, TX to be near our adult children. We are looking at Sun City in Georgetown, TX, a community that has been around for more than 20 years and has great amenities. However, we are concerned the average age of people there may be older than we would feel comfortable with, as we wish to have an active retirement. I should note, that Pulte is still building new houses in Sun City, but are on the last phase of development. Has anyone moved into an established 55+ community like Sun City? What was your experience like?

An alternative might be Kissing Tree in San Marcos, TX, a 55+ community that is just getting started and has residents about our age. The downside is that the developer has never built a 55+ community before and seems to be making a lot of mistakes. For example, the community center and pool are both too small to accommodate the planned number of residents. Also, the people who live there say the developer is slow to keep his promises.

For those who live in 55+ communities, what are your thoughts on these issues?

 

[Tom52]

We live in a 55+ community but have no knowledge or experience with your options in Texas. We looked at several other 55+ communities here in Florida and it quickly became apparent that more amenities makes for a more vibrant community. No way would we want to live where everyone sits in front of the TV all day and rarely goes outside.

Average age where we live is 67 years old. We have many older neighbors who golf, walk, bike, pickleball, swim, participate in numerous clubs, and interact with friends and neighbors frequently. We are fortunate to live in a very active community.

I would suggest that you rent for a year if possible to see if you fit the lifestyle of the community. Make sure there are enough entertainment options/sports activities to maintain an active lifestyle. Close by shopping and restaurant options are also important. Also close by medical/dental choices are important.

As example we have at least 30 different golf courses and 40 restaurants within a 20 minute golf cart ride, 10 minutes be auto. We can buy groceries visit our doctors/specialists or even the hospital via golf cart.

We would never want to live in a community with only one or two golf courses or rec centers or pools. Nor would he want to have to travel far for shopping or restaurant options. Convenience and variety are important.

 

[eytonxav]

We were all set to move to a 55+ community nearby, but started to get cold feet when we noticed how elderly some of the residents were. Then we discovered a small gated community that was also near our prior home and it had similar patio style homes as the 55+ one and nice common areas for walking. We have not had any regrets about our choice.

 

[Midpack]

We live in a 55+ community but have no knowledge or experience with your options in Texas. We looked at several other 55+ communities here in Florida and it quickly became apparent that more amenities makes for a more vibrant community. No way would we want to live where everyone sits in front of the TV all day and rarely goes outside.

We seriously considered a 55+ community, and decided against it - we're much happier in a mixed generation neighborhood.

Amenities may be a factor, but I'd suggest amenities are secondary - it's primarily the original build date of the 55+ community that drive the median age and level of activity. An established 55+ community, built 20-50 years ago, will have a substantially higher median age than another built in the last few years. A newer 55+ community will have a more active population than another built in 1980. If you don't believe it, just drive around one of the Sun City, Del Webb or other communities built long ago - many of the few who are out will have walkers. We drove around an old Del Webb 55+ community, and it was very sad (to put it kindly).

When a 55+ community first opens for sales, the majority of home buyers in that community are going to be the younger subset of the 55+ age bracket. These people are just reaching their retirement years, they often desire the newest and latest home upgrades and community amenities which are most often found in new construction communities.

In time, the community will eventually sell out of new construction and another, newer age-restricted development will likely pop up somewhere nearby that will attract the latest crop of retirees. Throughout the life of a retirement community, some residents will move out and new residents will move in but, overall, many of the original home buyers at the community will continue to age with the community. Therefore, if you are a younger retiree looking to be around younger, more physically active residents, you will likely find that a newly constructed community will fit you best.

https://www.55places.com/blog/retirement-communities-average-age

 

[VanWinkle]

My wife and I are thinking of moving to a 55+ community near Austin, TX to be near our adult children. We are looking at Sun City in Georgetown, TX, a community that has been around for more than 20 years and has great amenities. However, we are concerned the average age of people there may be older than we would feel comfortable with, as we wish to have an active retirement. I should note, that Pulte is still building new houses in Sun City, but are on the last phase of development. Has anyone moved into an established 55+ community like Sun City? What was your experience like?

An alternative might be Kissing Tree in San Marcos, TX, a 55+ community that is just getting started and has residents about our age. The downside is that the developer has never built a 55+ community before and seems to be making a lot of mistakes. For example, the community center and pool are both too small to accommodate the planned number of residents. Also, the people who live there say the developer is slow to keep his promises.

For those who live in 55+ communities, what are your thoughts on these issues?

My brother and his wife have lived at Sun City in Georgetown for about 4 years. I have visited them there and found the amenities to be first class. I am not sure about the age groups, but most of the people in the active areas appeared to be in their 60s. Not unlike life anywhere else, the higher the age, the less activities for the most part.

My brother and wife are very happy with their decision, but YMMV.

Best of luck,

VW

 

[REWahoo]

One data point, but first I'd like to make it clear I'm reporting only what I've been repeatedly told and I have no first hand experience with Sun City:

My BIL and his wife live about a mile from the entrance to Sun City in Georgetown. Whenever we visit they always complain about how all the "out of state" folks who moved to Sun City are trying to take over/ruin/destroy the town, and point to the disastrous contract the city signed to purchase only renewable energy as an example. YMMV.

How 100% renewables backfired on a Texas town

 

[Jimmie]

We looked at Tuscan Village in Horseshoe Bay, an hour's drive northwest of Austin. It's a new 55+ community set in a real nice area close to Lake LBJ. Same company built first 55+ community in Lakeway in 2012. We liked what we saw and heard, but decided we wanted a place on Lake LBJ.

 

[Navigator]

Thanks for all the replies. Even though I hate moving multiple times, I think my best bet is to simply rent at Sun City for a while and see what it is like.

 

[REWahoo]

Thanks for all the replies. Even though I hate moving multiple times, I think my best bet is to simply rent at Sun City for a while and see what it is like.

A very wise move.

 

[OldShooter]

One data point: My parents rented a duplex (before they bought) in Sun City West. One day my dad damaged the molding trim design on the garage door of the rental. That molding was no longer available, so the community rules forced him to pay to have a couple of feet handmade to match. He was not allowed to replace the trim design with something similar. Caveat emptor.

Oddly enough, mom and dad seemed to like the rules-saturated life in the development. I'll never understand that.

 

[Van-Guard23]

DW and I actually live in Kissing Tree...relocated to Central Texas from Hawaii in summer of 2018. We are both retired military and wanted to be closer to military bases but not live in San Antonio...and DW wanted to live in a 55+ community.


We are on the younger end of the age spectrum here (I think I might actually be the youngest resident...not quite 55) and, for the most part, we are amazed at how active residents are who are in their 70s. There are quite a few residents who are in their late 50s and early 60s, this being a new community.



This is the developer's first foray into the 55+ active adult community market and, often times, most of the residents feel like the developer still has a lot to learn about how to deal with this demographic, which are mostly retired professionals who were successful businessmen/women, high level executives, or prominent public servants.


For the most part, DW and I are happy with our decision...it's the community of people more so than the amenities that we are loving. We practically know everyone in this new community...and you can choose to do as much as you want or as little as you want.


I do suggest you try it out by renting (there are houses for rent here for a minimum duration of 6 months) so you can get a feel as to whether this is right for you and your spouse.

 

[Navigator]

DW and I actually live in Kissing Tree...relocated to Central Texas from Hawaii in summer of 2018. We are both retired military and wanted to be closer to military bases but not live in San Antonio...and DW wanted to live in a 55+ community.


We are on the younger end of the age spectrum here (I think I might actually be the youngest resident...not quite 55) and, for the most part, we are amazed at how active residents are who are in their 70s. There are quite a few residents who are in their late 50s and early 60s, this being a new community.



This is the developer's first foray into the 55+ active adult community market and, often times, most of the residents feel like the developer still has a lot to learn about how to deal with this demographic, which are mostly retired professionals who were successful businessmen/women, high level executives, or prominent public servants.


For the most part, DW and I are happy with our decision...it's the community of people more so than the amenities that we are loving. We practically know everyone in this new community...and you can choose to do as much as you want or as little as you want.


I do suggest you try it out by renting (there are houses for rent here for a minimum duration of 6 months) so you can get a feel as to whether this is right for you and your spouse.

Thanks for writing about your experience with Kissing Tree. Your thoughts match pretty closely with my impressions. I am glad to hear they are now renting. Once the coronavirus pandemic dies down, we will give them another look.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Friends of mine just moved to Sun City (I say just, they've been there a year now). They built a new house there while renting on the next block. They remarked they are happy with their new build but their neighbors who didn't supervise the build, so to speak, and just drove up in the yard from out of state type of thing when it was finished are very much so NOT happy with their builds. Another vote for renting and observing.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Update: I emailed my friend in Sun City that article and asked her about the electric bill. She said 1) she had not seen the arricle so thanks for sending 2) yes there are major complaints on $400 electric bills 3) none from her bc she lives in the northern/ newer (?) Part and they are with a different electric company. Pedernales something er the other. Her electric is VERY reasonable at $60-$140 range fir 2200sqft. Thats less than mine in south Texas but I run a pool pump.

 

[REWahoo]

3) none from her bc she lives in the northern/ newer (?) Part and they are with a different electric company. Pedernales something er the other. Her electric is VERY reasonable at $60-$140 range fir 2200sqft. Thats less than mine in south Texas but I run a pool pump.

She's in the Pedernales Electric Cooperative service area. Electrical co-ops generally have very reasonable rates.