55 Retirement In Williamsburg and Tidewater Areas

Susan Quilty is an experienced freelance writer based in Ashburn, Virginia. She has written extensively for a wide range of online publishers, with both bylined and ghostwritten articles featured on platforms such as Gaiam Life, WebMD, San Francisco Magazine, The Washington Post, Embrace Home Loans, Hannaford Fresh Magazine, and 55places.com. Susan’s work blends clarity, creativity, and a strong sense of audience, whether she’s writing lifestyle content, real estate descriptions, or engaging editorial pieces.

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Mayra Rocha is a writer and editor from Chicago with a strong background in real estate, lifestyle, and digital content. As an Editorial Manager at 55places.com, she helped lead the creation of engaging articles, community profiles, and lifestyle features focused on active adult communities and urban living. Over the years, Mayra has built a diverse editorial career with roles at well-known companies such as Groupon, Info.com, Remilon LLC, Thomas P. Gohagan & Co., Screen Magazine, The Chicago Reporter, Greenhouse Business Magazine, and Crane Works Magazine. Her writing consistently blends clarity, creativity, and reader-focused insights across a wide range of subjects.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Born in St. Louis, Karl has called the Chicagoland area home for over two decades. His background as a touring musician and his academic studies in sociology inform his nuanced perspectives on community and place. Whether writing about historic bars, architectural tours, or the intricacies of homeowners' associations, Karl brings a blend of storytelling and research to his work. As a contributor to 55places.com, he has authored numerous articles exploring active adult communities and topics relevant to 55+ living.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Deana Becker is the Senior Content Strategist at 55places.com. With an extensive editorial background, she has been writing, editing, and researching real estate topics since 2018. Her work has brought her in contact with many subject matter experts in the real estate industry, and she enjoys continually improving her SEO and content marketing skills. As a Chicago native, she's also well-versed in the Midwestern housing market (as well as the best places for deep-dish pizza).

Ellen Kershner is our creative content writer from New Jersey. She has 20+ years of experience writing for local publications, websites, and real estate marketing companies. She has a knack for crafting reader-friendly, original content that educates our readers with clear information. Ellen has lived in Central NJ, Southern NJ, Washington, DC, and Owings Mills, Maryland.

Deana Becker is the Senior Content Strategist at 55places.com. With an extensive editorial background, she has been writing, editing, and researching real estate topics since 2018. Her work has brought her in contact with many subject matter experts in the real estate industry, and she enjoys continually improving her SEO and content marketing skills. As a Chicago native, she's also well-versed in the Midwestern housing market (as well as the best places for deep-dish pizza).

Ellen Kershner is our creative content writer from New Jersey. She has 20+ years of experience writing for local publications, websites, and real estate marketing companies. She has a knack for crafting reader-friendly, original content that educates our readers with clear information. Ellen has lived in Central NJ, Southern NJ, Washington, DC, and Owings Mills, Maryland.

Madeline Crozier Sutton (she/her) is an experienced freelance writer and editor who has worked with 55places since 2018. Now a fifth-year PhD Candidate in English at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she has a BA and MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse from DePaul University. She specializes in researching real estate trends across the country with a focus on the Midwest and Southeast regions, including the housing markets of Chicago, Indianapolis, and East Tennessee. Dedicated to helping homebuyers make evidence-based decisions, she brings six years of experience in real estate writing and research.

Deana Becker is the Senior Content Strategist at 55places.com. With an extensive editorial background, she has been writing, editing, and researching real estate topics since 2018. Her work has brought her in contact with many subject matter experts in the real estate industry, and she enjoys continually improving her SEO and content marketing skills. As a Chicago native, she's also well-versed in the Midwestern housing market (as well as the best places for deep-dish pizza).

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Susan Quilty is an experienced freelance writer based in Ashburn, Virginia. She has written extensively for a wide range of online publishers, with both bylined and ghostwritten articles featured on platforms such as Gaiam Life, WebMD, San Francisco Magazine, The Washington Post, Embrace Home Loans, Hannaford Fresh Magazine, and 55places.com. Susan’s work blends clarity, creativity, and a strong sense of audience, whether she’s writing lifestyle content, real estate descriptions, or engaging editorial pieces.