Downsizing is often a main goal for active adults who want fewer responsibilities after retiring. A smaller home has less space to clean and maintain—inside and out. They also typically come with a smaller, more affordable price tag.
Fortunately for the 55+ crowd looking to downsize in the Charlotte area, there are several active adult communities that offer smaller floor plans at affordable price points. Here are the four best communities for downsizing in and around Charlotte, North Carolina.
1. Cresswind Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
Mid $200s – High $300s
Only 15 miles from Uptown Charlotte, Cresswind Charlotte is a new, age-restricted community that will span a total of 370 acres and have 850 single-family homes upon final completion. The community offers a variety of single-level floor plans that are perfect for active adults, but there are two in particular that will appeal to anyone hoping to downsize. Cresswood’s Ashford and Beechwood models offer around 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. Each home can also be customized through the builder to fit a homeowner’s specific wants or needs.
Final plans for the neighborhood’s amenities include an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse, a fitness center, a catering kitchen, plus indoor and outdoor pools. Additionally, residents will have access to tennis, pickleball, and bocce courts as well as walking and biking trails.
2. The Polo Club at Mountain Island Lake – Charlotte, NC
Mid $200s – High $300s
The Polo Club at Mountain Island Lake is a gated, 55+ community located 20 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. The neighborhood is small with just 98 resale homes. Homes are strategically laid out in a pinwheel pattern to give homeowners the feel of living in a single-family home while enjoying the low-maintenance perks of a smaller, attached home.
There are nine floor plans to consider with the smallest being 1,137 square feet—ideal for buyers who want to downsize. The floor plan features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-and-a-half-car garage.
Amenities within the development include a 3,000-square-foot clubhouse that boasts a multipurpose room, a catering kitchen, an exercise room, and a lounge with a fireplace. Outside, residents will find a pool, a patio, a grill, scenic ponds, and walking and biking trails that wind throughout the property.
3. The Vineyards on Lake Wylie – Charlotte, NC
Mid $200s – Mid $500s
The Vineyards on Lake Wylie is another desirable community for active adults who want to downsize. The community sits along 1.2 miles of Lake Wylie’s shoreline and features an array of single-family and attached homes.
Although attached homes tend to be smaller than single-family homes in many communities, The Vineyards on Lake Wylie’s single-family homes are the best option for downsizing. There are two models to consider that offer less than 1,500 square feet, two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one- or two-car garages.
Along with the waterfront location, the community also boasts several amenities for residents to enjoy. The list includes a clubhouse, a fitness center, a pool, several athletic courts, 50 boat slips, and space for RV parking.
4. Bella Sera Villas – Matthews, NC
Low $200s – Mid $300s
Located less than 30 miles outside of the Queen City in one of the city’s most popular suburbs, Bella Sera Villas rounds out the list of the best active adult communities for downsizing in Charlotte. This gated development has 166 resale attached homes available in three floor plans starting at 1,522 square feet. The smallest plan—the Tuscany—is perfect for downsizing, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
Bella Sera Villas’ residents have access to a number of amenities which include a community clubhouse with a multipurpose room and a catering kitchen. There are also several outdoor amenities, including a pool, a putting green, scenic ponds, and walking and biking trails.
