It may not be the most inexpensive place to retire, but savvy active adult home seekers can find reasonably priced homes for sale in sought-after communities in North Jersey. Such communities offer low-maintenance living and proximity to modern conveniences, good health care, and outdoor recreation.
You may think this region is overcrowded and overdeveloped, but this is only true for certain areas. The top of the Garden State is flush with abundant greenspace, like Allamuchy State Park and Buttermilk Falls. Like to golf? You can’t do much better than Valley Brook in Rivervale or Weequahic Golf Course in Newark (both are open to the public).
Living in this part of NJ also means you can visit New York City when the mood strikes, find different shopping malls for every day of the week, dine at any type of restaurant you can think of, and take advantage of top medical facilities like Hackensack Meridian Health and the Kessler Institute. Below are four budget-wise active adult neighborhoods that are sure to impress.
1. Brookfield Glen – Belvidere, NJ
Mid $100s – High $100s
This Warren County condo community is pleasantly situated between a family farm and Pophandusing Brook, and with 124 resale condos, it’s perfect for downsizing. These condos come in three floor plans sized from 1,188 to 1,864 square feet with one to two bedrooms, two baths, and heated underground parking. Options include fireplaces, kitchen islands, and private balconies.
For a small community, Brookfield Glen has some appealing amenities, like a clubhouse that features game and meeting rooms, a catering kitchen, three exercise rooms, an outdoor pool, a bocce ball court, and walking trails.
The historic town of Belvidere has small-town charm, and it’s along the banks of the Delaware River; you can take the Riverton-Belvidere Bridge over it, and you’ll be in Pennsylvania within minutes. In and around town, landmarks include the Warren County War Memorial, the Van Nest Hoff Vannatta Farmstead, and Four Sisters Winery.
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2. Brookfield Estates – Belvidere, NJ
Low $200s – Mid $300s
Also in Belvidere, Brookfield Estates is an established, gated active adult neighborhood with 274 resale single-family homes. It’s less than half-a-mile from Brookfield Glen, and it has some very nice resort-style amenities.
The six floor plans range from 1,275 to 1,920 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Some of these well-designed homes also have features like three-season rooms, side-load garages, gas fireplaces, and private outdoor spaces.
More about those amenities: The modern clubhouse has its own exercise center, complete with a sauna and locker rooms. There’s also a ballroom, meeting and game rooms, and a swimming pool and patio. Outdoor sports aficionados will also appreciate the putting green, bocce ball and tennis courts, walking trails, and horseshoe pits. Brookfield Estates is also close to Roaring Rock Park and Oxford Furnace Lake. And when you need to run errands, the area is full of grocery stores, specialty shops, pharmacies, and banks alongside houses of worship and restaurants.
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3. Bald Eagle Commons – West Milford, NJ
Below $100k – High $200s
Farther to the northeast is scenic West Milford, home to the gated, established 55+ neighborhood of Bald Eagle Commons. It was designed with 463 resale attached and condo homes, offering four condo models and one attached home model.
Condo units range from 655 to 1,581 square feet with one to two bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, and assigned parking spots. The select number of townhomes range from 2,175 to 2,414 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached one-car garages. Features like hardwood floors, fireplaces, open layouts, and private patios make these low-maintenance homes comfortable and spacious.
Grange Hall is the community clubhouse, where residents can enjoy a media center, an exercise room, a crafts studio, and activity rooms. There are also bocce ball and tennis courts, plus an outdoor pool and spa, parks and natural space, a community transit bus, and a greenhouse. The long list of clubs and activities includes holiday parties, Zumba classes, an annual craft fair, and day trips (casino trips included).
West Milford is surrounded by numerous state parks and open space, but it’s also right next to a pharmacy and restaurant. Head down the road a few miles and you’ll find additional restaurants, pharmacies, a ShopRite, and other services.
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4. Clove Hill Manor – Wantage, NJ
Mid $100s – High $300s
Another affordable North Jersey 55+ community is Clove Hill Manor, which is only about five miles south of the New York state border. It has 117 resale attached and single-family homes, and the models are thoughtfully designed and spacious.
The two attached floor plans offer 2,105 or 2,391 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two-and-a-half to three baths, and attached one-car garages. The three single-family floor plans range from 1,668 to 2,204 square feet with two to four bedrooms, two to three baths, and attached two-car garages. You can expect features like open floor plans, walk-in closets, hardwood floors, and patios in these beautifully-appointed homes.
Clove Hill’s clubhouse is a popular gathering spot, with its outdoor pool, bocce ball and tennis courts, exercise room, and meeting room. Head off the property and you can find pristine outdoor recreation areas like Wawayanda State Park or High Point. Local shopping centers include the Wantage Shopping Plaza and the Town Center At Wantage.
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