A New Home for Christmas at Retirement Communities

Being home for Christmas is easier than ever at your retirement community.  This is the time of year best for choosing a home from the builder's inventory and especially from ready-to-move-in homes.

Your builder is anxious to deplete their stock of new homes waiting for a buyer.

There are often additional incentives and interest rates are at an all-time low.  End-of-year inventory may have further discounts.   You need to ask though.

I'm seeing some unbelievable prices in areas previously very exclusive and upscale.  This, in part, is due to builders adding on some smaller square footage plans that cost way less.

There's still time but hurry since moving you in will take time in many different ways: Getting your financing if necessary, a final move-in check, adding any special features you may want and more all require time.

At least when you buy a new home, you may receive warranties not available on a resale or foreclosure home.  But be sure to ask if there are warranties whether new or resale.

Today when you buy new, you may also receive  more energy-saving features than homes that are ten years older since these features are more popular now.

For those finding savings in resale or foreclosure homes, there are plenty of vacant homes just waiting for a buyer.  Some of these homes are often already in marketing condition with fresh paint and/or carpeting if carpet is the floor covering.  Many homeowners have found it necessary to install new fixtures and features to get a sale such as granite countertops, which continue to be appealing to buyers.

Of course moving in quickly may not be an option if you have a home to sell.   But some communities may be able to advise you and some even offer solutions. But always check with real estate experts.

Most retirees pay all cash for their home and that eliminates the time it takes to get a mortgage.  Builders may have their own financing department.  Ask your builder how fast you can expect to move into your new home.

At some communities, it is still time to be in a new home and lifestyle for Christmas but probably best to visit this weekend.

Architectural Homes Walk

Yesterday we enjoyed an architectural walk through an older neighborhood of homes built at the turn of the century. We thought it was a treat for the eyes and hope you enjoy it. Queen Anne style, built 1911:


My favorite was this Bungalow Style, built 1925:


and it's sweet side garden:


Colonial Revival home built by C. Walton Fitch 1920

American Foursquare style 1905:


There were many old flowering trees:


We liked this wavy fence:


We hope you enjoyed our walking tour of historic homes (route planned by "Walk Arlington.")

Is This Home Builder Going Bankrupt?

Recently I drove into a new community that had no models open, no amenities built, and no open house hours. There was a lawn sign half leaning over that said "model homes" with an arrow pointing but I could find no model.

This is a reminder that there are home builders that are still seeing bankruptcy. I then came across a homeowner who said the builder may be going into Chapter 11 and that the homeowners were "keeping an eye on it." Some of the signs to watch for:

• no agent on the property,
• no security guard, no models, no amenities,
• maintenance not kept up
• more obvious things like construction stopped, employees laid off, no workers showing up
• home warranties not honored.

This community seemed had those signs. I don't think the builder is bad or scamming. They may be caught in today's poor economy. A builder can do their best to keep promises but if their homes aren't selling and they can't get loans, they can go broke. Be very observant.

Reminder: if there are amenities promised that you really want and they aren't built yet, you may wish to wait until they are. Some people have opted to wait until amenities are completely finished. Look for positive signs also. Today's builders advertise heavily when the amenities are built.

They aren't bragging; they just know it will be a good sign to buyers that the project is moving along as promised. (This is not a 100% guarantee either.) So "snoop" around. Sometimes the current homeowners are the best ones to ask. While a bankruptcy can have disastrous consequences, keep in mind that some communities have gone through this and survived.

The National Association of Home Builders market index hit 40 in September, a high this year and the most since 2006, but still has not gone to 50 which signals a good rating. This ranking shows the confidence of home builders in the market. We do not make recommendations of communities. Always do your own research.

Upgrade Your Life by Buying a New Retirement Home

It's so exciting to purchase a new retirement community home--so much about it will change your life--hopefully, for the better. If you're happy where you are now, then there may be no need to change. But for most, a change will be for the better. So much about our lives in the first half is so different from our lives as seniors. What age do the most changes take place?

I think not until you are in your 60's and very much so in the latter 60's. So much has to do with health. In your fifties you may have planned on eating out every night when you retired, but in your sixties, you want to stay home and cook healthier.

It's very hard to find a restaurant that cooks the way you want to eat (or have to) in your senior years--lower salt, sugar and fat. If you cook at home, you can leave out the salt, saute in water instead of oil, and put in less sugar. Not so when you eat out.

So I find that this is a huge change when you turn 65 or become retired. If your current kitchen is less than inviting to cook in, please go to your nearest retirement community and see how great the new kitchens are--perhaps larger, more light, upscale features, kitchen islands, eating areas, blend with the great room and more. When a couple cooks together, 2 separate work spaces makes it more fun


Yes, a lot can change when you buy a new retirement community home and the looks and functionality of a kitchen for the senior years is not the least of those changes.

Good article about Kitchen functionality by a senior kitchen designer

Another article on Retirement, Happiness and Health

Great Resource for Real Estate News

We realize that most people visiting our site are primarily interested in knowing about where the retirement communities are.  However, with so much happening in the real estate news and news in general of late, we would like to refer you to a website with videos to help with some of the real estate market confusion that results from so many news stories and news events in general.

The National Association of Realtors has a page of video news updates  on the market that are very professionally done. 

We have our page "Real Estate Update" on our site following news and projections, however, we feel this site by the National Association of Realtors gives  more specific information with their frequent videos with their experts. 

So if you are interested in everything newsy about the real estate market, you will find this a good resource.  Many of the videos are for Realtor members but the News and Analysis video section or the Home & Design video Section would be of interest to everyone.   Enjoy!

Realtor TV Videos-- Go to the News and Analysis Category

Retirement Community Homes on Sale

A reminder we are starting to go into the retirement community homes on sale time of year. It is  starting already at some communities.  Every week I hear about new offers from our builders about incentives and sale prices on inventory homes.

The cooler weather is a great time to get out and see a community or two.  As we go from October through December each year, more communities have offers and are as pleasant to see as holiday gifts. 

Of course you won't buy a home just for an incentive but if you have been sitting on the fence, they may help you decide to buy this year (or help compensate for any losses from sale of your home). 

You have to ask about incentives as they aren't always advertised.

My email has brought to me recently:

Shea Homes Active Lifestyle Communities Fall Sale through Oct 9 -- sale of Designer Inventory selected homes.  

Fall activities are starting at some retirement communities too.  Here are a couple examples: 

Del Webb Octoberfest at Celebrate community in Virginia.

Ford's Colony in Virginia Fall Parade of Homes Oct 8 and 9.

If a retirement community near you has a Fall activity (you can find out by visiting their website or calling), enjoy the Autumn weather and finding out more about the community in this fun way.

Not all retirement communities have incentives or inventory homes on sale.  Please verify all information as it can change.  This is an information only website.