Palm Beach real estate isn’t always described as affordable, but active adults looking for a Florida retirement that doesn’t break the bank might find some options in these 55+ communities. Among the area’s million-dollar mansions and high-end shops, Palm Beach County’s most economical homes often come with some of the best amenities and most desirable locations.
Buyers looking for a bargain can still live close to the water, on a golf course, and in a spacious single-family home. Take a look at these five options in particular when you’re looking for affordable retirement communities in Florida.
Lakes of Delray – Delray Beach, FL
Below $100k – Mid $200s
Clubs, social activities, and lifetime learning are a big part of life at Lakes of Delray, a 55+ condo community with a number of scenic lakes and ponds all over the grounds. Residents take painting and exercise classes together, maintain an AARP chapter, and enjoy movie nights and discussions about current events.
Amenities are abundant; there’s a clubhouse, an exercise room, multiple satellite pools, shuffleboard, and racquetball. There’s no need to drive every day as community transit takes residents into town, where there are grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, and hospitals.
Condos in Lakes of Delray have one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms, with between 800 and 1,500 square feet. The homes are in two or three-story buildings, and most properties come with balconies or patios. Delray Beach is a fun and active part of Palm Beach County, with a thriving downtown area that includes art, shopping, and fine dining.
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Whisper Walk – Boca Raton, FL
Below $100k – High $200s
Locals call it Boca, and while it’s full of swanky penthouses and sprawling winter estates, Boca Raton can provide an affordable Florida retirement, especially in a 55+ community like Whisper Walk.
This gated collection of 2,637 attached homes and villas provides residents with everything they need to stay active, healthy, and socially connected. The Whisper Walk villas have two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There’s an attached garage with each home and large master suites. Sizes run from 1,000 to 1,921 square feet.
The community breaks out into five neighborhoods, each with its own personality and selection of amenities. Clubhouses, pools, and patios are only a short walk away, and there are also pickleball courts, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and handball courts.
The community is close to grocery stores like Publix and Whole Foods, and there’s a ton of shopping in the area. Golf is a popular pastime in Boca Raton, so it’s easy to find a championship course within 10 or 15 minutes of the community. Southwinds Golf Course is a public and inexpensive place to play, and Boca Greens Country Club offers memberships to retirees without minimum monthly expenses or initiation fees.
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Mirror Lakes – Boynton Beach, FL
Low $100s – High $100s
Waterfront living is the main draw at Mirror Lakes in Boynton Beach. There’s a dock, a fishing lake, a clubhouse that sits on the water, and plenty of storage for boats with a minimal monthly fee.
Residents also enjoy an outdoor pool, an exercise room, an arts and crafts studio, and tennis and shuffleboard courts. Popular activities include a travel club and a book discussion group. The lake covers 11 acres, providing an ideal backdrop for scenic walks or bike rides.
There are 238 single-family and attached homes ranging from 1,200 square feet to 1,868 square feet. Most homes have two bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as a garage. Boynton Beach has some of Palm Beach County’s best shoreline, with spots like Gulfstream Park offering a beach and a marina. Mangrove Park offers a long boardwalk that winds through mangroves to the beach.
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Poinciana – Lake Worth, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Golf course living doesn’t have to break the bank, especially at Poinciana, a 55+ community in Lake Worth. The 18 holes of golf don’t require an expensive membership; residents simply pay when they want to play. In addition to the golf course, Poinciana provides other amenities like eight pools and patios, four tennis courts, a clubhouse, and courts for shuffleboard and bocce.
Properties are diverse; most are condos, but there are also single-family homes and attached villas available for purchase on a resale basis. They have between one and three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms spread out over 1,200 to 2,100 square feet.
Poinciana is well-located for conveniences like grocery stores, shopping centers, and restaurants. It’s also close to several parks and the Lake Worth Pier, where it’s fun to watch surfers navigate the Atlantic waves. The Pier is also a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. Stop by Benny’s on the Beach for fresh seafood and drink specials. Locals settle in on the weekends to sip bloody marys at brunch.
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Las Verdes – Delray Beach, FL
Below $100k – High $100s
Zumba, chair yoga, and card nights are just some of the social events happening at Las Verdes in Delray Beach. Residents at this affordable 55+ community in Delray Beach stay busy. There are wine and cheese tastings, holiday parties, and a snowbirds club for part-time residents. It’s a great place for active adults who prize location, activity, and value.
There are 1,235 attached villas and condos offering between 600 and 1,696 square feet and two to three bedrooms. Open floor plans, walk-in closets, and upgraded appliances and flooring are pretty standard in these homes, which still come with price tags that are less than $200,000.
From Las Verdes, it’s easy to get to Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach and all the art, shopping, and galleries that line the street. Lois Brezinski has a gallery of coastal and botanical art, which is popular in Southeast Florida.
