Downsizing is often a top priority for many active adults who are planning for retirement. A smaller house means less space to take care of, less upkeep, and a lot less time spent doing mundane chores around the house—which in turn provides the freedom that comes along with living a low-maintenance lifestyle as well as a lot more time to spend doing things that they really want to do.
Offering floor plans with 1,350 square feet or less, here are four communities near Raleigh, North Carolina that are incredible options for active adults looking to downsize.
Carolina Preserve – Cary, NC
Low $400s – Mid $700s
Located in the charming town of Cary, just outside of Raleigh, Carolina Preserve is an age-restricted community that has both single-family and attached home options. Residences are available only on a resale-basis with prices starting in the low $300s.
There are four home collections to choose from with more than a dozen unique floor plans. The smallest of the floor plans offers 1,217 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
As part of the larger master-planned community of Amberly, Carolina Preserve residents have access to a wide variety of amenities, including a 34,000-square-foot clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an aerobics and crafts studio, as well as three ballrooms, a library, and a putting green. Additionally, homeowners will have access to the Amberly Residents Club that has an aquatic center, indoor basketball and pickleball courts, plus an outdoor amphitheater and event lawn.
Creekside at Bethpage – Durham, NC
Low $400s – High $600s
Creekside at Bethpage is an age-restricted community located in Durham. It consists of a mixture of 650 single-family and attached homes, both new and resale. Within the community, there are three types of townhomes that are perfect for anyone looking to downsize; they vary from 1,294 to 1,342 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. There are a dozen floor plans to consider when it comes to single-family homes in Creekside at Bethpage, with the smallest plan offering 1,320 square feet.
The community’s resort-style amenities include a 13,000-square-foot clubhouse, social rooms, an arts and crafts studio, a computer center, billiards, a hobby and game room, and gardening plots. And, for those residents who want to stay fit and active, there are plenty of options, including a fitness center, an aerobics and dance studio, a pool, multiple athletic courts, and walking and biking trails.
The Villas at Culp Arbor – Chapel Hill, NC
Mid $300s – Low $600s
The Villas at Culp Arbor should be on the radar for active adults looking to downsize in a smaller community within the Raleigh area. Located in Chapel Hill, the age-restricted community is set to have a total of only 64 single-family and attached homes upon completion. Between the attached and single-family homes, there are seven floor plans to choose from. All of the floor plans are less than 2,000 square feet with the smallest—the Aboreta—being 1,137 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-and-a-half car garage.
Notable amenities include a clubhouse, a fitness center, a card room, a kitchen, a billiards table, an outdoor pool, and walking and biking trails. There are also several organized clubs and social events for residents to get involved with that range from book clubs and movie nights to watercolor art classes and card nights.
The Walk at East Village – Clayton, NC
Low $300s – Mid $300s
Rounding out the list of active adult communities to consider for downsizing near Raleigh, The Walk at East Village is located in the town of Clayton. The age-restricted community will consist of 265 single-family homes upon completion. While there are several floor plans to choose from, Holden Barnett Properties’ Azalea plan is the smallest option, and it’s ideal for downsizing. It offers homeowners just over 1,300 square feet of living space, and it has only two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage.
While The Walk at East Village offers smaller homes, the list of amenities is anything but small. Residents will get to enjoy a clubhouse, fitness center, yoga studio, ballroom, business center, sports lounge, and arts and crafts studio. Outdoors, there’s a pool and patio, multiple athletic courts, a grilling area, a putting green, a community garden, a dog park, and walking and biking trails.
