For countless active adult homebuyers, choosing to retire in Ocean County, New Jersey is really a no-brainer. It offers over 40 miles of the NJ shoreline, laid-back beach towns like Long Beach Island, and vibrant riverfront hubs like Toms River.
The county is also home to abundant greenspaces like Double Trouble State Park as well as indoor and outdoor recreational treasure troves like Popcorn Park Zoo, the Albert Music Hall, and The Strand Center for the Arts. Also, with 65 active adult communities in the area, you can bet Ocean County has more than its share of shopping centers, medical offices, restaurants, and services.
Although New Jersey real estate is associated with a high cost of living, you can easily find affordable homes and reasonable property taxes in many of its retirement communities. For your consideration, we’ve put together a list of Ocean County’s best-selling 55+ neighborhoods, based on the number of sales through 55places from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
All the listed communities have active homeowners’ associations that provide for community services like lawn care, exterior maintenance, and clubhouse membership. Read on to learn more about these best-selling communities.
1. Holiday City at Berkeley – Toms River, NJ
Below $100k – Low $300s
It doesn’t get much bigger than this. With over 10,000 resale single-family homes, Holiday City at Berkeley is the largest 55+ community in the state. This small-city-in-itself was built from 1969 to 1996, and it has five subdivisions: Berkeley, Carefree, Heights, South, and West.
Each subdivision has its own clubhouse with amenities like tennis and bocce ball courts, craft rooms, outdoor pools, auditoriums, and activity rooms. If you like to stay busy, the impressive list of clubs and activities includes line dancing, singles club, golf club, exercise classes, chorus, fishing, and bowling.
There are over 20 floor plans ranging from 757 to over 1,852 square feet with one to three bedrooms, one or two baths, and a one- or two-car garage. The community bus takes homeowners to local shopping outlets, and Holiday City’s Toms River location places it near Philadelphia, Atlantic City, golf courses, and the Ocean County Mall.
Learn more information about Holiday City at Berkeley here.
2. Leisure Village – Lakewood, NJ
Below $100k – High $100s
The gated 55+ community of Leisure Village is in the northern part of Ocean County, and it offers 2,433 resale attached homes. The 10 floor plans have one to two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one-car garages, and options like granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.
Leisure Village offers its residents desirable amenities, including a private 9-hole golf course, a health care center, and two clubhouses. Each has its own fitness center, outdoor pool, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, libraries, and craft rooms. And like other large 55+ communities, there are dozens of groups and events, such as quilting, the Italian American Social Club, golf clubs, American Irish Club, yoga, and dance.
Learn more information about Leisure Village here.
3. Westlake Golf and Country Club – Jackson, NJ
High $200s – High $400s
Here’s another gated golf course community, completed in 2006 with 1,421 single-family homes. Westlake Golf and Country Club’s resort-style atmosphere attracts retirees who appreciate championship golf, tasteful homes, and upscale amenities.
The 30,000-square-foot clubhouse has a modern fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a restaurant, a catering kitchen, a ballroom, and activity rooms as well as volleyball, tennis, and bocce ball courts. There are more than enough organized activities to keep you occupied, including pickleball, movie nights, and the investment club.
The 13 floor plans are available in single-level ranch and second-story loft models, sized from 1,800 to 3,500 square feet. They have two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. You can expect features like gourmet kitchens, high ceilings, sunrooms, and hardwood floors in these elegant homes.
Learn more information about Westlake Golf and Country Club here.
4. Leisure Village West – Manchester, NJ
Below $100k – High $100s
This affordable, amenity-rich community was completed in 1993 with 2,692 attached homes, two golf courses (Willow and Pines), clubs and activities for every interest, and three clubhouses. Homeowners enjoy using the exercise room, sports courts, multipurpose rooms, woodworking shop, and outdoor pool. There’s also a performance theater, a catering kitchen, and a lounge.
There are 21 floor plans ranging from 737 to 2,013 square feet with one or two bedrooms and one to two-and-a-half bathrooms. Some models feature garages, sunrooms, dens, and fireplaces. This sought-after community is about 12 miles west of beautiful Cattus Island County Park; beach towns like Ortley Beach and Seaside Park are only a few miles further.
Learn more information about Leisure Village West here.
5. Renaissance at Manchester – Manchester, NJ
Low $200s – Low $400s
Located 10 miles from Leisure Village West, Renaissance at Manchester has 1,904 resale single-family homes, an 18-hole golf course, and a fabulous clubhouse within its gates. The 11 floor plans range from 1,522 to 2,256 square feet with one to two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Larger models offer expansive master suites, dens, eat-in kitchens, and family rooms. Upgrades include French doors, vaulted ceilings, laminate wood flooring, and sunrooms.
Renaissance’s must-see clubhouse has indoor and outdoor amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis and bocce ball courts, a deli and cafe, a ballroom, a hobby room, crafts studios, and a computer room. There’s also a pickleball court, a children’s playground, and an RV parking lot on the grounds as well as vibrant clubs for wine lovers, crafters, chefs, golfers, martial arts, and others.
Learn more information about Renaissance at Manchester here.
6. The Fairways at Lake Ridge – Lakewood, NJ
Mid $100s – High $400s
And now, back to golf. Our final best-seller is The Fairways at Lake Ridge, a gated 55+ community next to Eagle Ridge Golf Club, which offers homeowners discounted memberships. Don’t worry if you’re not a golfer; there’s a modern clubhouse that offers other amenities like indoor and outdoor pools, a cafe, a catering kitchen, a ballroom, an arts and crafts studio, sports courts, and an exercise room. If that weren’t enough, there are plenty of fun clubs and activities to keep your social calendar full year-round.
The attached floor plans range from 1,352 to 1,508 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached one-car garage. The single-family floor plans are sized from 1,308 to 3,048 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two or three bathrooms, and attached one- to three-car garages. These comfortable homes offer options like vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, and bay windows.
Learn more information about The Fairways at Lake Ridge here.
