One can’t think about New Jersey real estate without the question of price coming to mind. Yet even with a strong market like there is today, active adults can find plenty of appealing homes for sale under $200K throughout the many 55+ communities in the state. From top to bottom and in between, there are numerous established neighborhoods of different sizes where you can comfortably afford a low-maintenance home with desirable amenities.
Though Jersey’s cost of living is not as high as other states, the property taxes can be up there, depending on where you live. However, many of its active adult communities are in areas with lower property taxes, and this information is available on the descriptions of the homes we show for sale. NJ also has low sales tax rates and items like groceries and clothing are exempt; the gas tax here is also among the lowest in the country.
Additional perks of living here include access to top-tier medical organizations like Robert Wood Johnson and Cooper Health, international airports, and outstanding golf courses like Scotland Run. New Jersey is also known for incredible shopping complexes like Garden State Plaza and Freehold Raceway Mall.
Read on to learn all about some of the Garden State’s best active adult communities with homes priced at $200K and under.
Covered Bridge – Manalapan, NJ
Low $100s – Low $200s
Talk about getting great value for your money; Covered Bridge has two clubhouses, sits next to a golf course, and offers over 40 clubs and activities for its residents to enjoy. This established active adult neighborhood of 1,557 resale attached and condo homes was built by K. Hovnanian, and it offers six condo models and a select number of townhomes.
The condo units range from 978 to 1,130 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and assigned parking spots in front of each two-story condominium building. The townhome model is 1,143 square feet and also offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and parking spots out front. Upgrades may include stainless steel appliances, remodeled kitchens, and wood floors. The homeowners’ association (HOA) fee includes trash and snow removal, lawn care, and exterior maintenance.
The two clubhouses offer game and activity rooms, exercise rooms, a sauna, and a woodworking studio. Outdoors, you can find a lovely pool, bocce, tennis, horseshoes, basketball, a driving range practice net, and gardening plots. Pine Brook Golf Course offers discounted rates for Monmouth County residents, and this 18-hole, par 61 course is adjacent to Covered Bridge.
Atlantic Hills – Manahawkin, NJ
Mid $100s – Mid $200s
Considerably smaller and about an hour south of Covered Bridge is Atlantic Hills, a must-see 55+ neighborhood of 250 resale single-family homes. It was completed in 2001, and it offers three floor plans sized from 1,240 to 1,673 square feet with two bedrooms and bathrooms. Features like dens, eat-in kitchens, covered patios, and fireplaces make these homes charming and comfortable. The HOA fee covers snow removal and common area maintenance, and fencing is permitted.
The private clubhouse offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a ballroom, and additional activity rooms. It’s the perfect place for resident activity groups like the ladies’ and men’s clubs to meet, and it’s also used to hold dances and other events.
Manahawkin is an easy drive away from beach towns like Long Beach Island (seven miles away), and it’s also close to outdoor recreation areas such as the Manahawkin Wildlife Area. Virtually everything else you need is a short drive away, including a Shoprite, Home Depot, Lowe’s, dollar stores, restaurants, salons, and medical offices.
Leisure Village East – Lakewood, NJ
Below $100K – High $100s
Leisure Village East is an established, gated 55+ community of 1,412 resale attached homes located in sought-after Ocean County. Its five floor plans range from 630 to 1,690 square feet with one to two bedrooms and bathrooms, screened porches, and garages or assigned parking spots. Some include dens, updated bathrooms, and bay windows, and the HOA fee includes trash and snow removal, lawn care, and exterior maintenance.
The impressive list of amenities begins with a 9-hole golf course, and continues with a boat-accessible lake, walking trails, bocce and shuffleboard courts, and an outdoor pool. The large clubhouse has an auditorium, a fitness center, and activity rooms. Popular group activities include ceramic classes, dance club, cultural and religious groups, ladies’ golf, woodworking, and Tai Chi.
Cheesequake Village – Old Bridge, NJ
Mid $100s – High $100s
Located on the fringes of the 1,610-acre Cheesequake State Park, Cheesequake Village is an established active adult community with 713 resale attached and condo homes. The ranch-style condos range from 708 to 976 square feet with one to two bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, and parking out front. The attached homes range from 700 to 1,000 square feet, also with one or two bedrooms and bathrooms as well as parking out front. Options may include wood floors, crown molding, granite countertops, and eat-in kitchens, and the monthly HOA fee provides for trash and snow removal, lawn care, and exterior maintenance.
Cheesequake Village’s clubhouse includes an outdoor pool and patio, an exercise room, sports courts, and a ballroom. Residents can also use the community bus and picnic area on the property. This appealing community is conveniently located just minutes from the Garden State Parkway, Cliffwood Beach Waterfront Park, and a slew of shops and services.
