Filled to the brim with Midwestern charm, Illinois offers world-class attractions and destinations to explore, including the city of Chicago and a number of scenic natural sights like Starved Rock State Park. Thankfully, the state is also the site of several affordable active adult communities.
Read on to learn about some of the most affordable communities in Illinois.
Sun City Huntley – Huntley, IL
Mid $100s – High $400s
A massive community of over 5,400 homes, Sun City Huntley is a Del Webb 55+ community located in Huntley. Potential homebuyers can choose between nearly 55 floor plans, with styles including attached ranch townhomes, condos, and single-family residences. Although the homes are designed to differentiate in terms of style, each residence is constructed to be low-maintenance, meaning residents can spend more of their time enjoying the community and all that it has to offer.
Sitting at the heart of the community is Prairie Lodge, a 94,000-square-foot clubhouse. Here, residents can come together and enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness facility, multipurpose rooms for hosting events and parties, a dance studio, and an indoor spa. Besides Prairie Lodge, the community also features Meadow View Lodge, a 20,000-square-foot facility that includes its own fitness center, dance and aerobics studio, and outdoor pool.
Though there’s much to see in the clubhouses, outside features even more to see. One-third of Sun City Huntley’s land is protected open space and nature preserves. One of the highlights is Wildflower Park. This area provides hundreds of acres of space that includes a 19-acre fishing lake, miles of biking and walking trails, a softball field, volleyball courts, and more.
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Saddlebrook Farms – Grayslake, IL
Below $100k – High $200s
Saddlebrook Farms is an age-restricted community with over 100 acres of lakes, nature preserves, and a working farm. Though Saddlebrook Farms doesn’t have expansive amenities, residents do enjoy the neighborly feeling in this community. Saddlebrook Farms in Grayslake is a land-lease community, but it offers some of the most reasonably priced ranch homes in all of Lake County.
The Saddlebrook Farms clubhouse is a historic cabin overlooking a lake. It features large vaulted ceilings with timber beams and several multipurpose rooms for cards, crafts, and aerobics. Outside, residents can enjoy the bocce ball court, horseshoe pits, and miles of walking trails.
The properties available at Saddlebrook Farms are low-maintenance, single-family homes with 1,169 to 2,516 square feet. All of the homes feature front porches, attached two-car garages, and numerous upgraded features like nine-foot ceilings. With over 20 floor plans to choose from, homebuyers can find a home that meets their needs and tastes. There are also water-view homes available.
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Carillon – Plainfield, IL
Mid $100s – High $300s
Located in Plainfield, Carillon was the first 55+ active adult community in the Chicago area. Started in 1989, this gated golf community is now complete with nearly 2,100 homes, a large clubhouse, and countless desirable amenities. There’s a variety of housing styles available including condos, townhomes, coach homes, and single-family homes.
The Club Carillon is a 32,000-square-foot facility with an enviable lineup of attractions. It includes an indoor pool and spa, a fitness center with an aerobics and dance studio, a large ballroom with a stage and dance floor, a card room, a billiards hall, a library, and several hobby and craft studios. Outdoors, there are shuffleboard courts and horseshoe pits as well as bocce ball and tennis courts. There are also two outdoor pools and a three-mile walking and biking trail, among other amenities.
Located 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Carillon’s proximity to I-55 allows for quick access to the western suburbs. The area surrounding this community provides everyday necessities, groceries, and shopping opportunities. Plus, a community bus service makes multiple stops at Carillon, providing transportation to local retail establishments.
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Shorewood Glen – Shorewood, IL
Low $200s – Mid $300s
Located in Shorewood, one of Chicago’s southwest suburbs, Shorewood Glen is an active 55+ community of 765 homes. First opened in 2004, Shorewood Glen is made up of single-family homes and duplexes. These homes each offer anywhere from 1,269 to 2,450 square feet and include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage.
At the heart of the community is the 17,000-square-foot clubhouse, Lakeview Lodge. Inside, residents find a fitness center, an Olympic-size lap pool, and an indoor spa. Outside of the facility, residents will be able to sit out with friends and family by the sundeck and outdoor pool, all while enjoying the pleasant weather. A nearby 18-acre fishing lake is especially popular during the hot summer months. Surrounding the lake are miles of walking and biking trails as well as bocce and tennis courts.
For day trips, downtown Chicago is just 45 miles away. One of the most popular cities in the world, Chicago is a haven of culture and history. Whether it’s enjoying a Cubs game at Wrigley Field or shopping on Michigan Avenue, Chicago is a city with so much to see and do that retirees will never be bored.
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