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Sun Lakes, AZ: What is the active adult lifestyle all about?

By
Real Estate Agent with Sonoran Premier Properties

About 14,000 people from all over the US and Canada call Sun Lakes their home, at least part of the year. What attracts so many people from so many places to this "active adult," "55+" community, "retirement" community?  

The first misnomer is that these 55+ communities are a bunch of old people in their final homes!   Far from it,  While most of the residents are over 55 (the community does allow a small percentage who are between 40 & 55), they are far from old and don't really act retired!

Many of the people in Sun Lakes (including me!) are employed full-time. When my husband and I relocated to Sun Lakes from suburban Chicago (on a job transfer), we felt the best way to meet people we had common interests with was to become involved in an active adult community.  Honestly, when I looked at real estate listings that said, "near the park," I thought most parks are frequented by children and their parents --- were we going to have much in common?  Probably not.  As I looked into 55+ communities, I saw clubs with interests like ours:  investing, photography, political clubs, book and movie clubs.  It seemed logical to think we would find people with common interests there!

Did we want to limit ourselves to smaller (under 3000 square feet) homes near golf courses?  Or did we want that dream house that was bigger with a kitchen seating eight and basketball hoop where the neighborhood kids could congregate?   Did we want a modest home with a fire pit and courtyard?  Or a yard compete with a trampoline?  When we walk in the evening, will we be seeing the neighbors walking with their toddlers or our neighbors driving past with their grandchildren on their golf cart?  

Would be satisfied with a community that has a Halloween party so the kids are kept safe, or a community with a Halloween pet parade and three Halloween parties at the club houses?  

Sun Lakes offers it all: cards, pools, golf courses, tennis, pickleball, reading, writing, political clubs, bands playing everything from 50's music to salsa, restaurants,  even a group called the "Fun Lakers (stay tuned for info on that!"

The people here are far from thinking this is their pre-final resting place.  They are thinking, "How do I decide which activity to join first??"

If you would like more information about living in Sun Lakes and if you are interested in looking at homes in Sun Lakes, please contact me!     As I mentioned, I work full-time as a Realtor.  If you are considering this community, why not learn it from a Sun Lakes resident who can tell you first hand everything about each of the five communities Sun Lakes communities.  

Eileen Shapiro    Associate Broker   Sonoran Premier Properties  www.PhoenixAZRealty.info     480-370-6520    

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Eileen: Good information and welcome aboard Active Rain! Lots to learn here and you are correct; I have had many +55 buyers  and they were ALL active and most still wanted families with children living in the same neighborhood, or at least visit on a regular basis. Seems that youth just rubs on to us older folks!

Jul 08, 2014 12:24 AM
Eileen Shapiro
Sonoran Premier Properties - Chandler, AZ
Your Arizona Real Estate Advocate

I agree, Norman!   Since we moved here from Illinois and into a 55+ community, we are busier than ever!

Jul 08, 2014 02:11 PM