| With today's planned lifestyle communities, | | | | the new property will serve as a primary |
| golf and boating enthusiasts have an | | | | residence, second home getaway or retirement |
| opportunity to purchase the home of their | | | | abode. The final location decision is |
| dreams just a chip shot away from the green | | | | generally based on three primary factors: |
| or stone's throw from the marina. In addition | | | | home use, surrounding area and local weather. |
| to an ideal home setting, golf and waterfront | | | | |
| community residents enjoy an active and | | | | For most of us working folk, our primary |
| diversified lifestyle experience complete | | | | residence is located within an hour or so of |
| with first-class golf courses, marinas, | | | | a major metropolitan center. Don't fret, |
| beaches, spas, clubhouses, recreation areas, | | | | there are hundreds of golf and waterfront |
| fine dining and countless other amenities. | | | | communities centrally located within driving |
| | | | distance from most major metropolitan areas. |
| Out of the 10,000 master planned communities | | | | If by chance you live near Dallas, you have |
| across the United States, over 2,500 are | | | | several options to choose from including |
| built around golf courses and pristine | | | | Stonebridge Ranch in north Dallas and Black |
| waterfront property. Making sense of all the | | | | Horse Ranch which is only 25 minutes from |
| options can be mind boggling. If you are | | | | downtown. Washington D.C. commuters are also |
| thinking about relocating to one of these | | | | in luck with conveniently located golf and |
| golf and waterfront communities, it is | | | | waterfront communities in Virginia, Maryland |
| imperative to be able to distinguish one | | | | and Delaware. Belmont Country Club, a Toll |
| community from the next and more importantly, | | | | Brothers property, is a mere 40 minutes from |
| know what to look for before you buy. | | | | Washington D.C. in Ashburn, Virginia. These |
| | | | examples represent only a fraction of the |
| Community Types | | | | actual number of suburban golf and waterfront |
| | | | developments. |
| In the past, golf and waterfront master | | | | |
| planned communities catered to distinct | | | | The location decision is a bit more |
| segments of the housing market, namely middle | | | | complicated and not as clear cut when one |
| to upper income empty nesters and retirees. | | | | considers purchasing a second home retreat or |
| Things have changed. Today, golf course and | | | | retirement residence. In this situation, |
| waterfront developments are designed to | | | | other factors come in to play such as the |
| accommodate budgets of all levels and | | | | activity and cultural richness of the |
| generally fall into one of two categories: | | | | immediate area and of course, local weather. |
| multi-generational and age restricted. | | | | If you are looking for a second home, would |
| | | | you like to be nestled in the woods away from |
| The construction of multi-generational | | | | the hustle and bustle of the city, located in |
| communities represents a recent trend in | | | | a more suburban area or some in between? |
| planned community home building. The | | | | |
| underlying idea is to attract a diverse | | | | Climate is also an integral factor to take |
| population of families including retirees and | | | | into consideration when purchasing a home |
| young professionals of varying income levels | | | | particularly if you are feeling abused by |
| and backgrounds in order to establish a | | | | recent harsh winters. This may clearly point |
| robust and vibrant community. After decades | | | | to a direction that takes you out of your |
| of building age restricted communities, | | | | home state or even to another part of the |
| builders and developers have recognized that | | | | country. Conversely, the summer's never |
| the traditional elements of planned community | | | | ending heat may drive you to consider the |
| living such as security, on-site amenities | | | | cooler climates up north. Fortunately, there |
| and low maintenance housing appeal to home | | | | are 2,500 golf and waterfront communities |
| buyers of all ages. | | | | spread out across the United States from |
| | | | Minnesota to Texas and California to |
| Most new communities are multi-generational | | | | Massachusetts. |
| developments. Vistancia situated in the | | | | |
| beautiful Sonoran desert outside of Peoria, | | | | What is clear in the case of retirement homes |
| Arizona is a recently opened golf community | | | | is that good local health care and |
| attracting individuals and families of all | | | | transportation facilities are a must. For |
| ages. Since home sales began in March 2004, | | | | most retirees, living over 60 miles away from |
| almost 500 families have moved into this | | | | the closest hospital or airport is just not |
| scenic development with 1,700 total acres of | | | | an option. In the end, it comes down to |
| open space and a 900-acre mountain preserve. | | | | striking a balance between modern necessities |
| | | | and the beauty of the great outdoors. |
| Conversely, age restricted planned | | | | |
| communities are developed for the +55 home | | | | Amenities |
| owner with amenities and facilities for | | | | |
| today's discerning empty nester and retiree. | | | | Once you have settled on a geographic |
| Typically, the age restriction requires one | | | | location, the next area to focus on is |
| household resident to be at least 55 in order | | | | amenities. These can vary greatly from one |
| to qualify for home ownership. Over the last | | | | golf and waterfront development to the next. |
| decade, an evolution has occurred with the | | | | Typically, these expanded 'goodies' fall into |
| age restricted community model of yesteryear | | | | two categories: conveniences and lifestyle |
| making way for contemporary activity based | | | | enhancements. Conveniences include such |
| developments complete with lavish amenities | | | | things as security services, home |
| and world-class recreation areas, not to | | | | maintenance, gardening services, concierge |
| mention the conventional facilities required | | | | service, on-site retail and office space, |
| by the +55 demographic. | | | | cable television and high-speed internet. |
| | | | |
| The undisputed leader in age restricted | | | | Lifestyle enhancements relate to recreation |
| master planned community development is Del | | | | activities and rest and relaxation befitting |
| Webb. Since the 1960s, Del Webb has | | | | an enhanced life of leisure. One can find a |
| constructed numerous age restricted golf and | | | | mix of facilities at planned communities |
| waterfront communities across the United | | | | which support numerous activities like |
| States. Del Webb's Sun City developments are | | | | tennis, hunting, boating, skiing, and hiking. |
| arguably the most recognizable line of age | | | | To balance the rigors of recreation, planned |
| restricted communities stretching from coast | | | | communities provide residents with rest and |
| to coast with Sun City Hilton Head in North | | | | relaxation amenities such as spas, |
| Carolina and Sun City Lincoln Hill in | | | | clubhouses, wilderness preserves, pools, |
| California. | | | | beaches and fine dining. |
| | | | |
| Location | | | | With real estate opportunities for every |
| | | | budget, isn't it about time you looked into |
| The most important criterion in selecting a | | | | moving to a golf and waterfront community |
| traditional home is location and the same is | | | | that offers unbelievable vistas, year round |
| true when deciding on a golf and waterfront | | | | activities, low maintenance living and |
| community. The old adage "location, location, | | | | first-class amenities? |
| location" aside, one has to consider whether | | | | |