Your kind of social life
Would you use organized activities and shared spaces, or prefer a quieter routine? Ask to see the current activity calendar. A clubhouse does not tell you how often people gather or whether those activities interest you.
ACTIVE ADULT 55+ COMMUNITIES
Find the Right Community for Your Next Chapter.
Explore whether 55+ living fits your lifestyle, then compare the homes, communities, costs, and locations that matter to you.
For homeowners and home seekers across South Jersey and Greater Philadelphia. Start with the life you want to lead, then look for a place that supports it.
POSSIBILITIES, WITHOUT ASSUMPTIONS
Choose a way of living.
Then choose a place.
Active adult communities may bring homes, shared amenities, and opportunities to connect into one setting. Some people value a different maintenance arrangement or a new social rhythm. Others prefer their current neighborhood, a rental, or a home outside an age-restricted community. There is no single right next chapter.
This guide puts two decisions side by side: whether the lifestyle suits you, and how to compare the community and property on their actual merits. For preparing your current home and coordinating a broader move, explore Downsizing & Life Transitions.
01 / START WITH YOUR LIFE
Is 55+ living right for you?
Think beyond a floor plan. Use these questions to describe a weekday, a weekend, and the responsibilities you want your next home to bring.
Independence, on your terms
Picture an ordinary weekday: working, relaxing, welcoming visitors, or heading out. Compare parking, pet policies, guest arrangements, and the privacy you want. Retirement is not a prerequisite for exploring your housing options.
The work you want to keep
List the jobs you want to hand off and those you enjoy doing yourself. Check who handles roofs, landscaping, snow, repairs, and interior upkeep. Shared maintenance can change your responsibilities without removing them.
The people and places that matter
Try the actual journey to family, recreation, shopping, and your healthcare providers. Consider how you would get there if driving became less convenient. Nearby on a map is not the same as a trip that works for you.
Room for life to change
Look at stairs, entries, bathrooms, storage, and space for visitors or support. Ask about alteration approvals and future occupancy options. No community label guarantees that a home will meet changing access or care needs.
03 / COMPARE WHAT YOU CAN VERIFY
Go beyond the brochure.
Keep one set of notes for each community and home. Record the answer, its source, the date you checked it, and any follow-up needed.
Amenities you would actually use
ASK
Which facilities are open now? What are the hours, access rules, additional charges, and scheduled activities?
VERIFY
Current amenity schedule, fee list, and a visit. Separate completed facilities from proposed plans.
The full cost of living there
ASK
What are the regular fees, taxes, insurance, utilities, and your own maintenance costs? What might change?
VERIFY
Current budget, financial statements, reserves information, insurance responsibilities, and notices of assessments. Review the documents with qualified advisers.
Rules that fit your household
ASK
What occupancy, age-verification, guest, pet, parking, rental, and resale rules apply to this property?
VERIFY
Current governing documents and written answers from the association or manager. A listing summary is not enough to establish eligibility.
New construction or resale
ASK
What is included in the price? What is complete, what remains planned, and when could you move?
VERIFY
For new construction: specifications, upgrade costs, warranty terms, and contract milestones. For resale: condition, inspections, relevant disclosures, and association records.
The individual home
ASK
Does this particular layout, entry, storage, noise level, and outdoor space work for everyday life?
VERIFY
An in-person visit and appropriate inspections. A model home or another unit may have different features and finishes.
Flexibility after the move
ASK
What happens if you want to rent, sell, alter the property, or change who lives with you?
VERIFY
Transfer procedures, rental limits, alteration approvals, and applicable occupancy rules. Future buyer demand and resale value are not guaranteed.
04 / YOUR SEARCH, GROUNDED LOCALLY
South Jersey &
Greater Philadelphia
Start with where you want to spend your time. Then compare individual communities and properties within that area. These county guides provide general local context, not verified 55+ directories or current inventory.
New Jersey
South Jersey
Compare the actual trips to family, everyday shopping, recreation, and care providers. If a shore-area home is on your shortlist, visit at times of year that matter to your plans and check the property’s year-round use and community rules.
Pennsylvania
Greater Philadelphia
Compare the actual location, home layout, parking, and access to places you use. If your search crosses the Delaware River, try the journey at the times you expect to travel rather than relying on a county name or map distance.
Ask about a current community search through Smart Move. Available homes, fees, services, and rules must be verified for each option; no specific community or listing is represented on this page.
05 / FROM PREFERENCES TO A SHORTLIST
Your community-search roadmap.
Write your personal brief
Choose your must-haves, preferences, and deal-breakers. Include daily routines and the maintenance you want to reduce, alongside the property features you need.
Set locations and cost boundaries
Choose a realistic search area and compare the full ongoing cost, not only the purchase price. Discuss lending, taxes, and financial limits with qualified advisers.
Build a current shortlist
Ask Smart Move to discuss community and property options against your brief. Confirm available homes, rental options where relevant, and the community’s actual requirements rather than relying on an old advertisement.
Visit and compare consistently
Use the same questions for every community. Tour the actual home where possible, try everyday journeys, and record what is confirmed, what is proposed, and what still needs an answer.
Review before you commit
Coordinate document review, financing, inspections, and appropriate professional advice within the transaction’s agreed deadlines. Resolve unanswered questions before making binding decisions.
Coordinate the next move
Build a plan around contract milestones, any association process, and moving arrangements. If you also need to sell, discuss sequencing and overlapping costs; dates and approvals are not guaranteed.
Go deeper with our buying guide, selling guide, and downsizing resource. The right sequence depends on your property, agreements, and circumstances.
06 / QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Lifestyle questions.
Homebuying questions.
Do I need to be retired to consider a 55+ community?
Consider your working life and routines alongside the community’s actual occupancy requirements. Do not assume a retirement status or an age shown in an advertisement determines whether your household qualifies. Confirm the applicable rules directly.
What if I like the home but not the organized activities?
Compare the value of the space and location with fees for facilities you might not use. Ask whether particular charges are mandatory. A community can fit without a busy social calendar, but that is a personal preference to evaluate on a visit.
Can younger family members live with me or stay for a visit?
Occupancy and guest rules can differ. Obtain the current documents and written clarification about your household or proposed visit. Do not assume the 55+ label gives a universal answer; qualified counsel can help interpret requirements.
Are these homes maintenance-free or less expensive?
Neither is assured. Compare the association’s responsibilities with yours, and include fees, assessments, taxes, insurance, utilities, and repairs. A smaller property or a broader maintenance package may still have a higher overall cost.
How do I find communities with homes available now?
Start with your locations, property preferences, timing, and cost boundaries. Contact Smart Move to discuss a current search, then verify individual listings and community information. This guide is not a live inventory or an availability guarantee.
Can I use a mortgage for a 55+ home?
Ask a qualified lender to evaluate your circumstances and the specific property or project. Financing terms and approval depend on more than the age designation. Do not commit on the assumption that every community or condominium will qualify for the same loan options.
Should I choose new construction or a resale home?
Compare actual condition, included features, total cost, contract terms, and timing. New construction may involve upgrades or unfinished community plans; resale requires its own property and document review. Neither option removes the need for due diligence.
What if I need to sell my current home first?
Bring the purchase and sale into one planning conversation. Explore timing, interim housing, financing, and overlapping expenses before choosing a sequence. Our downsizing resource covers the broader transition; this page helps you evaluate the community and next home.
FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
A property conversation that supports your client’s priorities.
Financial advisers, estate-planning and elder-law attorneys, fiduciaries, and other professionals can contact Smart Move to discuss the real estate side of a client’s community search. We can discuss housing preferences, property comparisons, sale and purchase sequencing, and communication with authorized parties.
The client’s choices remain central. Legal authority, care arrangements, taxes, and financial recommendations stay with the appropriate professionals.
Discuss a Client’s Housing SearchStart with general housing goals and contact preferences. Do not submit confidential client records, financial or identity documents, or privileged information through the initial contact form.
DIFFERENT + BETTER
Start with your life.
Find your next place.
Whether you are weighing the lifestyle or ready to compare communities, bring us your questions, priorities, and preferred locations. Let’s make the next conversation useful.