There are about 74 million Baby Boomers living in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With this large number of retirees in the country, it’s easy to see why builders and developers are catering to the 55+ crowd. Some of the top master-planned communities in America offer a wide selection of homes and resort-style amenities, making them ideal retirement destinations.
These communities also have age-restricted sections within the development that cater to the 55+ buyer with impressive private amenities and low-maintenance homes.
A majority of the fastest-growing active adult communities in the U.S. are located within some of the most impressive master-planned communities, which tend to be located in warmer climate states like Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas, according to the Top 50 Master-Planned Communities of 2016 report by John Burns Real Estate Consulting LLC.
Florida Communities
The Villages in Central Florida will consist of more than 56,000 homes upon completion and is still offering new construction home sites for Boomers. This massive 20,000+ acre active adult community is regularly ranked high on many retirement lists and is one of the largest age-restricted active adult communities in the world.
It has been called a retiree’s utopia due to its multiple amenities centers, recreational facilities, and over 100 miles of golf cart streets. In 2015, it was the number one fastest-growing area in the country, but in 2016 it fell to the number two spot with a slight decrease in home sales.
Florida also had a handful of other master-planned communities with age-restricted sections making the top master-planned community list: Nocatee in Northeast Florida and Lakewood Ranch in Southwest Florida. Nocatee has two 55-plus sections, Del Webb Ponte Vedra and Artisan Lakes, each offering its residents private amenities and distinct home designs from premier builders within a gated suburban setting.
Lakewood Ranch, a 17,500-acre master-planned community that is the largest green-certified development in the U.S., is home to the age-restricted community of Del Webb Lakewood Ranch as well as all-ages neighborhoods like Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch and Indigo, offering new construction home designs and world-class amenities that appeal to retirees.
Nevada Communities
Nevada’s booming Las Vegas area is home to Summerlin, a beautiful master-planned community developed by The Howard Hughes Corporation. It’s carefully designed to include numerous neighborhoods with distinct homes and amenities that attract a wide range of buyers.
Summerlin’s established 55-plus neighborhood of Sun City Summerlin, which was Del Webb’s first active adult community in Las Vegas, offers affordable resale homes, multiple clubhouses, and a renowned 18-hole golf course.
Boomers looking for new construction will find that and much more at Regency at Summerlin, a new 55+ community offering 425 single-family homes and a proposed 16,669 square-foot clubhouse.
South Carolina Communities
Cane Bay Plantation was the only master-planned community from South Carolina, nabbing the tenth spot on the list. Ideally situated in Berkeley County, the area is full of natural beauty and historic landmarks, and is the fastest-growing county in the state as well as the 35 fastest-growing county in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau.
Cane Bay Plantation saw a 45% increase in year-over-year sales due to its attractive and affordable neighborhoods, one of which was Four Seasons at The Lakes of Cane Bay, designed to meet the needs of today’s active adult homebuyer.
Utah Communities
Daybreak offers residents with a beautiful paradise combined with outdoor adventures in South Jordan, UT. And retirees won’t feel left out of the mix either.
Garden Park at Daybreak is the active adult neighborhood that provides convenient access to everything the Salt Lake City area has to offer as well as a luxurious clubhouse, social events, and maintenance-free homes.
Arizona Communities
Arizona, especially the Phoenix area, has been a popular retirement location for many years due to its warm weather, abundant sunshine, and affordable cost of living. Eastmark is the largest master-planned community in the Phoenix metro area and is ideal for many retirees because of its prime location near world-class attractions and daily conveniences.
To top it all off, the community’s active adult section, called Encore at Eastmark, offers new home designs by AV Homes as well as private amenities and recreational facilities for its 55+ residents.
Other successful master-planned communities in the Phoenix area include Verrado in Buckeye and Vistancia in Peoria, each offering an age-restricted section, Victory at Verrado and Trilogy at Vistancia.
With a wide range of home designs from top builders and a small-town concept, both Verrado and Vistancia know how to appeal to all kinds of buyers.
Texas Communities
The Lone Star State also had several of its master-planned communities make the top 25 list. Alamo Ranch is San Antonio’s largest master-planned development with its 55+ section of Hill Country Retreat being built by Del Webb and Village Builders. Along the Coastal Texas region, Cross Creek Ranch was one of the Houston area master-planned communities that also made the top list.
Located in Fulshear, Texas, Cross Creek Ranch provides buyers with premier builders, a small-town atmosphere, and a native landscape that allows residents to enjoy an engaging and peaceful community setting.
Taylor Morrison is the prime builder within the active adult section in Bonterra at Cross Creek Ranch, which offers buyers new and distinct floor plans and a 10,000-square-foot private clubhouse as well as access to the master-planned amenities of Cross Creek Ranch.
