Active adults who like the idea of a Florida retirement but who aren’t quite ready for a full-time commitment often become snowbirds, spending the coldest months of the year in sunny Florida. Part-time residency has its merits, and the most important thing to do when looking for the perfect snowbird home is to find a place that’s affordable, easy to maintain, and secure while you’re away.
These are some of the best 55+ communities for snowbirds in Southeast Florida, one of the most popular regions for northerners who migrate south when the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler.
1. The Pines of Delray – Delray Beach, FL
Below $100k – High $100s
Snowbirds flock to The Pines of Delray for its affordable condos and attached villas as well as its easy lock-and-leave lifestyle. The 55+ community is gated and secure, and extra safety watches are provided by the Citizen Observer Patrol, a volunteer group of residents who keep their eyes and ears on homes that aren’t occupied year-round.
The HOA takes care of landscaping as well as common area and exterior maintenance. The resale condos have 812 to 1,600 square feet with one to three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms, while the attached villas have 982 to 1,167 square feet with two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms.
At The Pines of Delray, residents have plenty of amenities to enjoy. There are two clubhouses with pools and multi-purpose rooms at the north and south ends of the community. There’s also a fitness center, a game room, and bocce ball courts. Art workshops and poker clubs frequently meet, and there’s also bingo and a baking club.
For more information on The Pines of Delray, request info here.
2. Park Place Pembroke Pines – Pembroke Pines, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Park Place Pembroke Pines is an ideal condo community for snowbirds looking for Broward County real estate. This gated 55+ community is in an ideal location, and it offers cozy, low-maintenance condo homes that are perfect for a part-time lifestyle. It’s one of the most affordable retirement communities in Florida’s southeast region, but it has a lot to offer.
A total of 1,028 units in six high-rise buildings provide great views and extra security. Homes are 780 to 1,475 square feet with one to three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Residents have assigned parking, access to community transit, and lots of extra storage.
Four pools are available to residents as well as eight saunas. The clubhouse includes a bar, an auditorium, and multi-purpose rooms. There’s an internet cafe, table tennis, and six outdoor tennis courts with lights. Movie nights, game nights, and happy hours are frequently held in this socially active community. Pembroke Lakes Golf and Racquet Club is right next door for residents who want a place to golf.
For more information about Park Place Pembroke Pines, request info here.
3. Kings Point in Tamarac – Tamarac, FL
Below $100k – Mid $300s
The established snowbird club is only one great reason to choose Kings Point in Tamarac when looking for a 55+ community that’s set up for part-time living. This is a gated and secure neighborhood with more than 5,000 condos and attached homes.
Residents enjoy the constant activity and social buzz, feeling welcome and a part of things even if they’re only in town for half the year. Clubhouses are busy with meetings and events, and the pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard tournaments, and exercise classes are fun and friendly. There’s also scrabble, poker, and a harmonica club.
Homes are easy to maintain and perfect for locking and leaving. Most condos and villas have one or two bedrooms with one or two bathrooms. Each condo building is secure and locked. Kings Point is close to country clubs and golf courses, and it’s not too far from hiking trails, wetlands, and even the Everglades.
To learn more about Kings Point in Tamarac, request info here.
4. Century Village at Boca Raton – Boca Raton, FL
Below $100k – High $200s
Low-maintenance living and affordable condos in secure buildings can be found at Century Village at Boca Raton, a gated 55+ community popular with snowbirds and active adults. There are 7,500 condo homes with one or two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, and between 601 and 1,563 square feet. There’s security and an HOA that covers general community maintenance, building upkeep, and trash removal.
Amenities include a 125,000 square-foot clubhouse; a fitness center; indoor and outdoor pools; shuffleboard, tennis, bocce ball courts; and a putting green. There are party and computer rooms, a library, a ceramics studio, and a game room. Community transit is available, and there are paths and trails throughout the community for walking, biking, or even jogging. Residents enjoy social clubs and get together for bowling trips and chess games.
For more information about Century Village at Boca Raton, request info here.
5. Poinciana – Lake Worth, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Snowbirds who love to golf in the winter may want to consider Poinciana in Lake Worth, a charming beach town in Palm Beach County that also has a large lake and lagoon. Poinciana is a gated 55+ community with an 18-hole golf course and eight outdoor pools. There are also four tennis courts and a place to play shuffleboard and bocce ball. Homes are affordable, and there’s no additional membership fee for the golf club; residents simply pay as they play.
Condos are in seven buildings with homes ranging from 1,222 to 1,663 square feet. They have one to three bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, and assigned parking. Buildings have elevators and security. Buyers who want a little extra space in their winter residence can consider the attached and single-family homes available at Poinciana. These have 1,500 to 2,100 square feet and two or three bedrooms and bathrooms. They’re on a single story and come with attached garages.
To learn more about Poinciana, request info here.
