TOP SELLING

MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES OF 2019

Ideal-Living tracks moves through the U.S. Postal Service’s National Change of Address. The top five states Ideal-LIVING readers moved from in 2019 were New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, and Illinois, and the top five they moved to were Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.

TOP REASONS IDEAL-LIVING READERS RELOCATE

These numbers slightly changed from 2018 where moving to reduce property taxes topped out at 89%. Although the winter weather was milder in the northeast and midwest in 2020, it’s still a driving force for improving baby boomers' quality of life. They no longer want to shovel snow and want to be active outdoors year-round, if possible.

Top 5 New Home Preferences

#1 86% Single-floor Living

#2 66% Maintenance-free

#3 65% Large, Open Kitchen

#4 62% Separate Master Suite

#4 62% Energy Efficiency

#5 51% Outdoor Living Top States for Ideal-LIVING

RCLCO Real Estate Advisors also conducts an annual study of more than 3,000 respondents with a yearly income of $50,000 who are planning to move within the next three years. Their surveys conclude the top five preferred states for retirement among 55+ are Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Nevada, and 26% plan to purchase in 2020, 45% in one to two years, and 38% in three to four years.

With mortgage rates back down below 4%, a strong economy, and home sales being the highest they have been since 2007, retirees are finding their ideal homes in master-planned communities. RCLCO tracks sales in master-planned communities, and the market is booming. The top 50 master-planned communities sold over 30,000 homes (a 9% increase over 2018). The Villages took the top spot, followed by Lakewood Ranch in the second spot.

Townhomes and higher densities with smaller homes are on the rise in popularity. But, what boomers really want is exceptional amenities, like cutting edge health and wellness facilities with lifestyle components that offer diverse home types and price points.

What is the most impor tant to you in a new community.

What is the most impor tant to you in a new community.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN A NEW COMMUNITY?

Our Ideal Community Would Be:

*Note that property taxes vary by county, and a higher number for a state does not indicate that all counties within the state have a high property tax rate.

According to ideal-LIVING readers, they are most concerned with having quality healthcare nearby, and approximately half of the respondents want to live in a 55+ active adult community near water. The top requested amenity has remained the same since we began asking the question: over 80% of respondents want walking trails, and they are in luck as most master-planned amenity communities have them. The other top requested amenities include wellness/ fitness centers (75%), dining options (67%), social clubs (60%), and swimming pools (58%).

The top items ideal-LIVING readers want for their new home are first-floor living (86%), maintenance-free living (66%), and a large, open kitchen (65%). Outdoor living spaces are essential to this generation as well.

Master-planned amenity communities overwhelmingly meet the desires of the retiring boomer population who want an active lifestyle in a warmer climate with lower taxes and cost-of-living. The future for master-planned communities remains bright, and the migration patterns to new locations that cater to the retiree market should strengthen over the next decade.