California 55+ active adult communities & homes for sale

California does not tax Social Security benefits. Pensions, 401(k)s, and traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income across state tax brackets ranging from 1% to 12.3% (plus a 1% surcharge on taxable income over $1M), though most middle-income retirees land between 4% and 9.3%. Property taxes are capped at roughly 1% of purchase price under Proposition 13, and Proposition 19 allows buyers 55 and older to transfer their existing low property tax base to a new primary residence anywhere in California up to three times.

alifornia's top retirement regions sit directly adjacent to leading medical networks: Eisenhower Health anchors the Greater Palm Springs area with specialized geriatric care; Sutter Health and UC Davis Health serve the Sacramento–Lincoln foothills; and UCI Health alongside MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center support coastal Orange County buyers.

It comes down to budget and seasonal lifestyle. Coastal communities offer mild year-round temperatures but carry higher home prices and HOA dues. Desert hubs deliver larger homes, extensive golf amenities, and higher value per square foot, with the honest trade-off of summer highs exceeding 110°F that prompt many residents to travel during peak summer months.

In California, there are 49 large communities with over 1000 homes, 29 medium communities with 500-1000 homes, and 151 small communities with less than 500 homes.

The smallest 55+ communities in California has 24 homes, the largest has 12736 homes, and the average communities consists of 732 homes.

Yes, there are new 55+ homes available in California. The most recent communities started in California include Toll Brothers at Griffin Ranch, Vinova, Metro Heights. There are also 57 communities in California that offer new construction homes, including Liberty, Esperanza, Junipers.

Yes, there are gated 55+ communities in California. Approximately 63.2% of 55+ communities in the area are gated. For instance, Sun City Shadow Hills is a gated communities with 3400 homes, and The Retreat at Holiday is another gated communities with 108 homes.

On average, listings in 55+ communities in California stay on the market for around 309 days. The average price of homes for sale in these communities is approximately $859,784, though prices can range widely based on the size, location, and amenities of the communities. For example, homes in Toll Brothers at Griffin Ranch average around $29,950,000, while homes in Springfield at Whitney Oaks average around $624,265.