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Guide to Active Adult Communities in North Carolina



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Guide to Active Adult Communities in North Carolina

Active adult communities are designed for retirees and working seniors who prefer a dynamic lifestyle in a fun, social environment. These master-planned communities offer resort-style amenities such as clubhouses and pools, as well as lively social and activity calendarsScreen Shot 2021-09-03 at 7.11.19 AM.png

While many active adult communities are age-restricted—which typically means that at least one member of the household must be 55 years or over—others welcome residents of all ages.

Homes Built for Comfort and Entertainment

Single-family, one-story homes are the norm in active adult communities. They can be customized to each household’s needs. Homes usually offer layouts and features that are standard in modern homes. Generally, master suites are complete with a spacious closet and an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in tub. Newer homes also include office spaces for working seniors.

Houses in these neighborhoods are made for entertaining. Open living spaces, large patios, and screened porches make for ideal social gatherings. Visiting friends and family can stay overnight in the guest bedrooms.

Landscaping maintenance is often provided for all residents.

Elevated Amenities for Residents

While many active adult communities operate independently, some are located within larger master-planned residential developments. Both types of communities offer exclusive amenities such as pools and clubhouses.

Workout facilities deliver classes and programs that cater to all fitness levels. Low-impact aerobics and yoga are some of the most popular programs offered.

Those who would rather be outdoors can take advantage of walking trails, parks, and picnic areas. Pickleball courts, tennis courts, and lawns for croquet and softball games are available for athletic residents to use.

Active adult communities may also include services that cannot be found in regular neighborhoods. Residents can walk to onsite restaurants, golf courses, and water features like lakes or ponds. For those who want services to come to them, hair stylists and physical therapists may be available on-call.

Hubs and Clubs for Various Interests

Activity directors help new residents connect with their neighbors. They organize clubs for community members of various interests such as gardening, cooking, and woodworking.

Residents can keep sharp by attending academic classes and visiting lectures in the community centers. Live concerts and film screenings will appeal to those who love performance arts.

Community service clubs are popular, too. Neighbors can organize charities, drives, and other public service events for the community at large.

Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations

The best active adult communities are located near town or city landmarks. Hospitals and healthcare facilities, for example, are situated nearby. Residents have easy access to physicians and dentists that specialize in senior wellness.

Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.

Sample Communities to Discover

North Carolina Coastal Communities | Compass Point Lanai Night Pool Fountain
FEATURED

Compass Pointe

Leland, NC
Homesites from $200K. Homes from $500K.

Located on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, only 10 minutes from Wilmington, Compass Pointe is a gated, private community that offers an unmatched resort lifestyle. Every day feels like a vacation where you can relax by our award-winning pool, float along the lazy river, join one of 100+ community clubs, or get some exercise at our fitness center, indoor pool, or golf club. Come see for yourself why Compass Pointe was honored with the 2020 Best Health & Fitness Community and America’s Best Places to Live 2021.

Amenities:

  • Private, Gated Entrance
  • The Grand Lanai
  • Resort Oasis Pool
  • Compass Pointe Golf Club
  • Clubhouse (under construcion) & Pro Shop
  • The Pointe Wellness Center & Spa
  • Indoor Pool
  • Lazy River
  • Tennis & Pickleball Courts
  • Recreation Lawn
  • Putting Greens
  • Latitudes Restaurant and Bar
  • Dog Park
  • Cardinal Lake with Canoe & Kayak Launch
  • Outdoor Amphitheater
  • Sidewalks Throughout for Walking and Biking
  • Golf Cart Paths Throughout

Future Amenities:

  • Club Member Pool & Bar
  • Club Member Fitness Center
  • Club Member Golf Simulator

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Legacy Homes by Bill Clark

Wilmington, NC
Homes from the high $400s

Legacy Homes by Bill Clark is the crown jewel in a long line of North Carolina home building history. As one of the Nation’s “Top 100 Builders” for over a decade, the Legacy Homes division is a trusted partner in the Wilmington, NC region that spans four counties, and is a featured builder in many of the South’s premier planned communities, such as Brunswick Forest, Bluffs on the Cape Fear, Compass Pointe, River Bluffs, Riverlights, St. James, Summerhouse, with more to come. The Legacy Homes’ mission is to walk alongside each client as the dream of their new home becomes a reality… Best known for thoughtful floor plans, maximized living spaces, attention to detail, and custom trim work, any Legacy Home is destined to be a showstopper.

The goal at Legacy Homes is to make the homebuilding process as seamless for each client as possible. Whether choosing from one of the professionally designed available model homes or building from the ground up, a Legacy team member will be with you each step of the way. As a semi-custom builder, you will have the opportunity to create the dream home that fits perfectly with your lifestyle.

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55+ Community Charlotte NC | Cresswind Wesley Chapel | Active

Cresswind Wesley Chapel

Monroe, NC
Homes from the $400s

Cresswind Wesley Chapel is a next-generation, 55+ community with new homes designed specifically for active adults. Roughly 40 minutes from Charlotte City Center, this 55+ gated community offers an ideal location, new homes and an award-winning lifestyle in one of the top-rated suburbs in the Greater Charlotte area.

Homebuyers can choose from a collection of 9 floorplans, ranging from 2- up to 5-Bedrooms and designed for optimal flexibility to create a home Built Around You. Kolter Homes offers a minimum of 25 structural options per plan so you can have the ability to add bedrooms, expand garages, second floor bonus rooms and more. Plus, choose from hundreds of design personalization opportunities.

Club Cresswind, the resident-exclusive clubhouse, features a state-of-the-art Cresswind SmartFIT Training Center powered by EGYM, art studio, event area, and several indoor and outdoor gathering spots. Additional amenities include a resort-style pool, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails and more. A full-time Lifestyle Director organizes a full event calendar including fitness programs and clubs for every hobby.

From Cresswind, residents have easy access to the Village of Wesley Chapel, Weddington, Waxhaw, SouthPark, Charlotte International Airport, Uptown, and the many attractions that consistently rank the Queen City region among the nation’s top retirement destinations.

KOLTERHOMES created the Go Guide to Active Adult Living and Homebuying to help put buyers in control of the homebuying experience. After gathering suggestions from homebuyers, and with guidance from industry experts, KOLTERHOMES developed this comprehensive online guide with the best active adult locations, insider tips, insights, and driving tours. View the FREE guide at www.cresswind.com

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Get Started

Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top active adult communities in North Carolina, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.

Free Package includes:

 

  • ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
    The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
  • ideal-LIVING Magazine
    Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
  • ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
    Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
  • Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
    The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.

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