Everyone talks about downsizing, but those who are truly serious about it may eventually make the move into a condo community. Without a lawn to mow, snow to shovel, or exterior maintenance to take care of, this kind of low-maintenance living is what retiring is all about. If you can find an active adult community with a homeowners’ association to manage these chores, you can consider yourself very lucky!
There’s an excellent selection of 55+ neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area with condo homes for sale, including two within the city limits and others in the surrounding suburbs. If you haven’t thought about moving to this area, consider this:
- Pennsylvania is retirement-friendly when it comes to taxes. Retirement income like pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and Social Security are exempt. The state sales tax is six percent, but it doesn’t apply to food, clothing, pharmaceutical drugs, or heating fuels.
- There are 250 hospitals, and 13 of these are ranked nationally. Some of the finest near Philly include Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Roxborough Memorial.
- If you like sports, recreation, and culture, this region is filled with choices. From the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies to Independence National Park to one of the top restaurants in the country (Zahav), you won’t have to look far for rewarding ways to spend your leisure time. And this is all in addition to the region’s outdoor recreation areas, museums, wineries, breweries, and charming small towns.
Need we say more? Here’s a sampling of Philadelphia area retirement communities that offer condos.
Salem Manor – Bensalem, PA
Low $200s – Mid $200s
With affordable home prices and a desirable Bucks County zip code, Salem Manor is a real find. Built from 2001 to 2005, it has 120 resale condos and sought-after amenities.
The community clubhouse has an exercise room, a catering kitchen, a gathering room, and game rooms. Outside, you’ll find a putting green, tennis and bocce ball courts, gardening plots, a children’s playground, and walking trails. The city of Bensalem is known for the popular Parx Casino, the Neshaminy Mall, and the beautiful Poquessing Park.
Condos at Salem Manor range from 1,137 to 1,411 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, lofted second floors, and assigned parking next to the units. The homeowners’ association (HOA) fee covers snow and trash removal, lawn care, and exterior building and common area maintenance.
Request more information about Salem Manor.
Village of Southampton – Southampton, PA
Low $300s – High $300s
Also in Bucks County, Southampton is about 18 miles north of Philly. The small, tight-knit community of Village of Southampton offers a peaceful sanctuary for retirees, with 49 resale condo homes built from 2014 through 2016. Housed in three buildings, condo units range from about 1,000 to 1,300 square feet. They offer two bedrooms, two baths, and access to a one-car garage for each resident. Standard features include in-unit laundry areas and balconies, and every floor of the buildings has elevator access.
A monthly HOA fee covers landscaping, common area maintenance, exterior maintenance, and trash and snow removal. Village of Southampton is conveniently located near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other main roads. You won’t have to drive very far to get to the grocery store, pharmacies, salons, coffee shops, gas stations, or shops. Area landmarks include the Historic Southampton Railroad Station, Warminster Community Park, and Holy Redeemer Hospital.
Request more information about The Village of Southampton.
Bluestone Creek – Warrington, PA
Mid $300s
Bluestone Creek is another Bucks County 55+ community with 162 condo and attached homes completed in 2007. It’s just outside of the Bradford Reservoir Recreation Area, and it’s a stone’s throw away from a large shopping center that has a Walmart, a JOANN Fabrics, a Lowe’s, an LA Fitness, a movie theater, eateries, and a grocery store.
The condo units are located within five buildings, and each unit is around 1,730 square feet with up to three bedrooms, two baths, and assigned parking spots. The townhomes are larger at 2,900 square feet with up to three bedrooms, three baths, and attached one-car garages. Some of these lovely homes offer first-floor master suites and full basements, and the HOA fee provides for trash and snow removal.
Bluestone Creek’s clubhouse has its own fitness center, and there’s a scenic trail that winds its way through the wooded property and along Little Neshaminy Creek (you can go fishing here).
Request more information about Bluestone Creek.
Traditions at Ridley Creek – Brookhaven, PA
Mid $200s – High $200s
Located 17 miles west of Philly and close to the Commodore Barry Bridge (it crosses over into New Jersey), Traditions at Ridley Creek is a friendly active adult community with 140 resale condos. Set in Delaware County, the community was finished in 2012, and it was designed with 11 three-story buildings. There’s one model offered at 1,178 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private master suite, a balcony or patio, a den, and a designated parking spot.
Traditions has a nice clubhouse that offers an exercise room (with lockers), a community room, a catering kitchen, and an outdoor patio. Route 352 is the city’s main road, and it’s dotted with shops and services like Brookhaven Veterinary Hospital, Walgreens, CVS, restaurants, banks, and grocery stores. Nearby golf courses include Springfield Country Club and Paxon Hollow.
