Is a retirement community right for you?
Today’s active adult retirement communities offer a unique living environment designed to provide their residents with the best place to retire. They are different from those of the past. In fact, they should not be confused with nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
55+ retirement communities such as the ones found in Vero Beach FL are independent living, age-restricted residences for those who want to downsize and live a more maintenance-free lifestyle. Vero Beach has many retirement and active adult living communities. You can choose from a wide array of options including independent living community, assisted living community, leisure community, or active adult community.
Moving is always a challenge and making such a serious change in retirement comes with unique challenges and pitfalls. So before you get too excited with the idea of living a more maintenance–free lifestyle, you need to be aware of certain red flags that signal the need for a deeper look when evaluating communities:
1. CDD Fees
Before you move into a retirement community, make sure to ask how much the CDD fees are and how long you have to pay them. Most of the time, CDD fees do not get paid off for 20-30 years. If you are paying $1000 a year for a 20 year CDD assessment then, you are paying $20,000 extra for your home.
2. Land Lease
If you choose to buy into a retirement community featuring manufactured homes, you may find yourself in the position of owning your home, but not the land on which it sits. That’s not unusual because many manufactured home communities are “land lease ” communities. Even though you pay your home, you still have to pay monthly rent for your spot in the neighborhood. The downside here is that the yearly rent may increase and hurt your budget.
3. HOA restrictions
Before you commit to any retirement community, check out if the HOA restrictions fit your lifestyle. Each retirement community has a set of rules that all residents must follow. You will need to find out if you can have pets, or if you are allowed to have a family member move in with you long term. You should also find out about the limit on home customizations such as landscaping, paint, and indoor decorations.
I understand that making a mistake in your choice of retirement home can have detrimental effects on your finances as well as your emotions. That’s why I want to help you every step of the way.
I am Karen Mathers of Keller Williams Realty Vero Beach and my passion is to help you find your dream retirement home. Retiring to Vero Beach is the BEST decision you will make when it comes to finding a place to call your own. Contact me now at 772-532-3221 and let’s get started!
