The Good, Bad, and Ugly about 55+ Living in AZ

Are you considering retiring to Arizona and are wondering if a 55+ community is right for you? In this episode of The Great Escape, we’re going to talk about the good, bad, and ugly of moving to Arizona based on opinions from past clients just like you who considered moving here. We’ll examine everything from amenities to HOAs so you can make the best decision on where to retire.

The Good

The number one good thing about retiring to a 55+ community is the amenities. Most of the communities include plenty to do, with pools, golf courses, fitness centers, and everything else you need to have a good time. Second, there are also plenty of social activities scheduled so you’ll never get bored. And lastly: no kids. Need I say more?

The Bad

While there’s so much good to these communities, we should also consider the bad. The first negative is that there are fewer choices. 55+ communities are less common than traditional neighborhoods, but Arizona does have more choices than other states. This is because we have a 17% of our population that’s 60 or older—only second to Florida, which has a 20% population 60 or older.

The second bad thing is the restrictions. A lot of the communities do have restrictions to keep the integrity of the community, so it’s important to do your homework. Lastly, most of the homes are a little bit smaller, as they’re designed for only two people.

The Ugly

Unfortunately, everything can’t be perfect, so let’s talk about the ugly. The first is HOA fees. I hate HOA fees, but even the traditional neighborhoods now have HOA fees. It’s really difficult to get away from them. Additionally, there are fewer choices of design. However, newer communities are opening up all the time now, and therefore our choices are opening up on the designs as well.

Is A 55+ Community In Arizona Right For You?

I hope this gave you a good idea about the good, bad, and ugly of the 55+ communities here in Arizona. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to me and I’d be happy to connect. Make sure to stay tuned to the next episode of The Great Escape, where we’re passionate about helping you escape to your new chapter.