55places.com Awards: 5 Most Innovative Active Adult Communities of 2018

Trilogy at Summerlin in Las Vegas is one of the five most innovative communities of 2018.

Active adult homebuyers are always in search of the perfect home, whether it’s in an age-restricted community or in a master-planned development with active lifestyle neighborhoods. Many active adult builders like Minto, Shea, and Lennar are developing new 55+ communities that feature energy-efficient and modern home designs along with impressive amenities that cater to the Boomer crowd.

Luckily, there are several active adult communities that offer state-of-the-art amenities and recreational facilities as well as innovative home designs and welcoming social environments. We determined this list by looking at which communities offer unique amenities, incorporate new approaches to active adult living, or develop communities in interesting locations. Check out the list below to see the five most innovative active adult communities on 55places.com.

Click here to learn more about our criteria and methodology.  

Trilogy at Summerlin – Las Vegas, NV

Builder Shea Homes opened Trilogy in Summerlin in 2017 and plans to offer 354 attached homes upon completion. Priced starting in the mid $400s, homebuyers can choose from three distinct collections called Resort, Modern, and Luxe that range in size from 1,538 to 2,915 square feet. What makes Trilogy at Summerlin stand out from the crowd is its architectural distinction. All the homes here are built with an abundance of windows in a style that is described as “desert modern,” which takes indoor-outdoor living to the next level.

Homeowners can walk in through the courtyard which seamlessly opens into the home, leading to rolling glass walls that open into the kitchen and great room. Homes within Trilogy in Summerlin may also be customized with many optional features including casitas, guest suites, and private elevators.

In addition to beautiful home designs, Trilogy in Summerlin will also host world-class amenities at its Resort Club that will be the centerpiece of the community. Some of the proposed amenities include a rooftop deck, culinary studio, off-leash dog park, Zen garden, pickleball and bocce ball courts, event lawns, fitness studio, and an outdoor resort and lap pool. The clubhouse will also combine Trilogy at Summerlin’s unique location, which is at the edge of Las Vegas but also at the beginning of the desert. The clubhouse’s slight elevation provides views of nature to the west and of the Las Vegas skyline to the east. Homeowners will also have access to the amenities and lifestyle in the master-planned community of Summerlin, which has over 150 parks and just as many miles of trails.

Heritage Solaire – Roseville, CA

Heritage Solaire is one of the newest 55+ communities coming to the Sacramento area and is being built by Lennar Homes. This gated active adult community in Roseville, California will host a total of 493 single-family homes priced starting in the high $300s to the mid $600s. Energy efficiency is at the heart of Heritage Solaire. Lennar offers homeowners a wide selection of floor plans that range in size from 1,246 to just over 2,700 square feet.

All homes also come with home automation technology and a variety of Lennar’s Thoughtful Design details that accommodate the changing lifestyle needs of active adults. Some of the Thoughtful Design features include wider hallways and doorways, lower appliance designs, extra lighting throughout the home, reinforced backing for future handrail placement in bathrooms, and walk-in showers with hand-held sprays. Lennar also takes energy efficiency to the next level by offering optional solar packages for all their homes.

Mirabella – Bradenton, FL

Mirabella is one of the most innovative and luxurious active adult communities in Bradenton, Florida. This 55+ community is not only known for its low-maintenance lifestyle and exciting amenities, but also for its award-winning, energy-efficient home designs and environmentally friendly building practices.

In the past few years, Mirabella has won numerous awards. In 2016, the community received the LEED for Homes Platinum certification for its villas, making them the first LEED-certified villas in Florida. Mirabella also won multiple Aurora Awards as well as the NAHB Best of 55+ Housing Silver & Gold Award two years in a row. Thanks to Mirabella’s award-winning designs, homeowners enjoy innovative floor plans with energy-saving features, quality construction, and luxurious finishes throughout. And with just 160 homes at build-out, residents are sure to foster new friendships within this close-knit active adult community.

Tree Tops – Lancaster, SC

Tree Tops is a new 55+ community in Lancaster, South Carolina being developed by Lennar Homes that will cater to the outdoor enthusiast and nature lover. This active adult community will offer 850 single-family homes spread across 613 acres of lush landscape. Many of the features of this innovative active adult community will be centered on its superb amenities that combine nature and social recreation. A world-class clubhouse with a rich lineup of resort-style amenities like a fitness center and hobby and game rooms will provide plenty of space for activities.

Outdoor adventurers will love the community’s numerous outdoor facilities such as a rookery, ten-acre lake, and parks and open spaces that are ideal for bird watching or just enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Tree Tops will also have miles of wooded walking trails, perfect for leisurely strolls throughout the neighborhood. Residents will also have access to the Village Center, which is a separate facility that offers ten log cabin-style buildings for recreational purposes such as a celebration room, business center, card room, sewing room, and nature room. Tree Tops takes full advantage of the spectacular South Carolina climate by emphasizing a true outdoor lifestyle. If you’re looking for a community with amenities like no other, then Tree Tops just might be the perfect place for you.

Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL

Latitude Margaritaville is paving a new path for the way active adult communities are conceived and developed. This 55+ community is inspired by the music and lifestyle of world-famous musician Jimmy Buffett and is being developed by Minto in Daytona Beach, Florida. It will offer a total of 6,900 villas and single-family homes upon completion with pricing starting in the low $200s. Latitude Margaritaville will offer retirees a combination of world-class amenities, modern floor plans, and an island vibe that promotes a fun and laid-back lifestyle. But the amenities extend beyond the boundaries of the community. Residents will also have access to a private beach club that is nestled along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

All homeowners have to do is hop on the free shuttle to enjoy a day at the beach. Minto offers a wide selection of home designs that range in size from 1,503 to 2,564 square feet and feature energy-efficient construction, oversized walk-in closets, luxurious master suites, dual vanities in master baths, gourmet kitchens, GE kitchen appliances, and professionally designed lush landscaping packages. Retirees will love having innovative homes within a vibrant and exciting location that’s close to fine dining, live entertainment, and plenty of recreation in Daytona Beach, FL. Not only is Latitude Margaritaville an exciting and unique opportunity for active adults, it could also redefine the future of 55+ communities.

Can you spot the $207,744 difference between these identical homes?

Financing is the difference!

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