Showing posts with label Del Webb retirement communities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Del Webb retirement communities. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Gavilan for Retirees in Rancho Mission Viejo, California

With the incredible number of Baby Boomers who are reaching age 65 (approximately 10,000 a DAY), the need for retirement housing is immense and growing larger all the time.  Consequently, a number of home builders have stepped up to build senior housing in a wide variety of price ranges.  Here in Southern California, retirees frequently want to stay in the area and, fortunately, there are a plethora of options available to them ... from Palm Springs to the Pacific coast (shown in this photo).

Until recently, those residents who wanted to live in a senior community in Orange County were limited primarily to older communities.  Now, however, there is a new option for home buyers.

Gavilan in Rancho Mission Viejo

One of the newer communities that is gaining in popularity in Orange County, California is the gated senior community of Gavilan in Rancho Mission Viejo.  There are three builders who are developing Gavilan, each offering their own styles and price options:

Standard Pacific Bungalows - 2 bd/2 bath/2 car garages - $500,000 - $600,000

Standard Pacific Casitas - 2 bd/2 bath/2 car garages - $600,000 - $700,000

Shea Single Family Homes - 2 bd/ 2 1/2 bath/2 car garages - $750,000 - $850,000

Del Webb Single Family Homes - 2-3 bd/2 1/2 bath/2 car garages - $800,000 - $900,000+

This gives home buyers a variety of options whether they can afford to spend $500,000 or twice that amount.

Amenities at Gavilan

Most of the new, modern homes in Gavilan are one story, with the exception of a few styles for those retirees who prefer the two-story option.  Among the green amenities you can expect in your home are: tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, water-efficient fixtures, weather sensing sprinklers, extra insulation and high efficiency air-conditioning systems.

The homes in this community surround the beautiful adult rec center known as the Hacienda.  Built around a luxurious salt water pool and spa, the Hacienda has a large, open great-room with a giant flat screen TV and a staffed bar, which makes it an excellent spot to mingle with your neighbors.  The Hacienda also contains a yoga studio, a fitness center, a barbecue area and bocce ball courts.

The community is located just off the Ortega Highway, a short distance east of the coastal community of charming San Juan Capistrano.  

Learn More about Gavilan at Rancho Mission Viego:


http://ranchomissionviejo.com/homes/gavilan/

If you are looking for more ideas about great places to retire, check out the tabs at the top of this blog.  They contain links to hundreds of additional articles about where to retire in the United States and overseas, financial planning, medical issues, changing family relationships, and more.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com


(Photo credit:  Photo of the Southern California coast was taken by author, Deborah-Diane; all rights reserved.)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio, California

Many people who are planning their retirement are hesitant to consider California because they believe it is too expensive to retire there.  However, there are a number of affordable over-55 retirement communities that are attractive and have a wide variety of amenities, especially in the desert towns around Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley.  One of these is Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio, California.

Sun City Shadow Hills was listed in Where to Retire magazine, in their July/August 2013 issue, as one of the 50 best master-planned communities in the U.S.  This list was culled from ALL master planned communities in the United States, not just those designed for people over the age of 55.

Shadow Hills Amenities

This beautiful desert retirement community was developed by Del Webb and has a wide variety of the amenities that many retirees are requesting.

Golfers will love:

18 hole putting course
18 hole Par-3 course that is about 3,000 yards long
18 hole Championship golf course that is 6,773 yard long

Golfers and non-golfers alike will enjoy:

A 35,000 square foot main clubhouse
A second clubhouse, called the Santa Rosa
The amphitheatre
The Performing Arts and Ballroom facilities
Billiards and table games
Fitness centers at the clubhouses
Hobby, card and game rooms
Tennis and Bocce Courts
Both Indoor and outdoors pools and jacuzzies

In addition, the staff and volunteers in the community organize special events and trips to other locations in Southern California, including the San Diego zoo, area casinos and the wine country.

The nearby Coachella Valley communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta, Indian Wells and Indio all offer a wide variety of special events, activities and attractions of their own, including art galleries, art museums, world class tennis facilities, restaurants, shops, movie theaters and a variety of festivals, including a spectacular hot air balloon festival.  The towns have wide, palm lined boulevards that take you past the entrances to beautiful resorts and planned communities.  Street sculptures, like the one pictured in the above photo, are sprinkled throughout the various desert communities.  There is no reason to be bored while you live in Sun City Shadow Hills!

Cost of Living

There are a wide variety of home prices in this wonderful community, ranging from about $200,000 for a 1,321 square foot home to approximately $455,000 for a larger 2,955 square foot single family home.  With 10 different home designs, buyers have plenty of choices in both design and price.

The monthly homeowner's fee in 2013 was $237.

Property taxes run approximately 1.4 percent of the value of your property.  This means that if you purchase a $300,000 home, your property taxes will run approximately $4,200 a year, or perhaps slightly more if there are special assessments or parcel taxes that have been added on.

Conveniently Located

Residents of this area not only enjoy the amenities of their own community and the rest of the Coachella Valley, but they are also less than a two hour drive to the coastal communities of Los Angeles and Orange County.  In addition, a roughly two hour drive in another direction can take residents up into the mountain communities of Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.  There are an enormous variety of climates and activities available to active seniors who want to have a convenient location to call home.

Disadvantages

The only complaints I have ever heard about this community is the summer desert heat and the periodic wind and dust storms that erupt from time to time.  In both cases, the residents have two choices.  They can either confine their outdoor activities to early morning and late evening, or they can rent a place to stay near the coast during a portion of the summer.

I have had friends who have chosen both options, and they have managed to get through those hot, dry, windy summer days with little difficulty.  However, for people who really hate the idea of a dry desert climate, this community may be less appealing.

More Information

If you would like to read more about the Coachella Valley, you may want to read a few books about the area.   You can use this direct link to Amazon.com books about Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley to see the choices that are currently available. 

Contact Information for Sun City Shadow Hills

If you would like to get more information specifically about Shadow Hills or plan a visit, here is their website and contact information:

http://www.delwebb.com/communities/ca/indio/sun-city-shadow-hills

On the website you can also make arrangements to schedule a two-night visit for only $99, including a tour of the community and participation in an activity.

Sun City Shadow Hills
81-346 Corte Compras
Indio, CA  92203

Toll Free number:  (800) 420-5059


For those of you who are looking for more retirement planning ideas, or want to get information about other places to retire, click on the index articles listed below.  Each one as a short introduction as well as links to a wide variety of other articles on that topic.

Gifts, Travel and Family Relationships

Great Places for Boomers to Retire Overseas

Great Places to Retire in the United States

Health and Medical Topics for Baby Boomers

Money and Financial Planning for Retirement


You are reading from the article:  http://baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo of modern sculpture in Palm Desert, California is courtesy of www.en.wikipedia.org/commons

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Del Webb

If you are looking for a retirement community in the coming years, one over-55 community builder that should be on your list is Del Webb.  This company is one of the top developers of retirement communities in the United States with attractive homes and amenities that appeal to many retirees.  Before my husband and I chose our current retirement community, we looked at some very appealing Del Webb communities.  While we were just looking in the Southern California area, I was surprised to learn that Del Webb builds retirement homes across the United States.  Consequently, I thought my readers would like to know more about what these communities have to offer.

Locations Where You Can Find a Del Webb Retirement Community

Del Webb has retirement communities in Northern California, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Connecticut.  As you can see, they are not limited just to the Sun Belt.  They have communities in nearly every region of the United States.

Typical Community Amenities

A typical Del Webb retirement community has a large, beautiful clubhouse, swimming pools, tennis courts, clubs, classes, social events and volunteer opportunities.  Many of them also have golf courses.  These communities are designed to help residents lead an active lifestyle after retirement.

Examples of  Del Webb Retirement Communities

Below you will find information on two retirement communities that were built by Del Webb, with homes built by Pulte, the major home builder that owns Del Webb.  This will give you an idea of prices, sizes and community amenities.

Solera Diamond Valley in Hemet, California

Prices in this community range from about $225,000 to $350,000.  Homes range in size from 1511 to 2340 square feet and have two to three bedrooms and bathrooms.  Community amenities include a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor walking track, courts for tennis, bocce ball and pickle ball, hobby rooms, clubs and classes.

Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio, California (near Palm Springs)

Prices in this community range from about $250,000 to $500,000.  The houses range in size from 1321 to 2955 square feet and have two to three bedrooms and bathrooms.  This community has an 18 hole golf course, an 18 hole par 3 golf course, an 18 hole putting course, indoor and outdoor pools, courts for tennis and bocce ball, a library, amphitheater, ballroom, hobby rooms, clubs and classes.
Where to Find More Information
If you believe that you might want to find a Del Webb retirement community in your area, you can get more details at: http://www.delwebb.com/
If you are looking for more places to retire in the United States or abroad, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article.  They contain links to hundreds of additional articles on where to retire, financial planning, health issues and more.

If you are trying to choose a retirement community that is right for you, you may also be interested in reading:

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Four Seasons
You are reading from the blog http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
Photo of palm trees courtesy of www.morguefile.com