✓ Distance to family and friends

✓ Proximity to shopping, dining, and entertainment

✓ Access to quality healthcare and hospitals

✓ Distance to airports for travel

✓ Proximity to places of worship

✓ Overall commute if you're still working part-time

Consider: Do you want quiet small-town living or suburban convenience?

How often will you need to travel to see family? Is being near top-rated hospitals important to you?

✓ Golf course (championship or executive)

✓ Swimming pools (indoor and/or outdoor)

✓ Fitness center and group exercise classes

✓ Clubhouse with social spaces

✓ Tennis, pickleball, and bocce courts

✓ Walking and biking trails

✓ Craft rooms, woodshop, and hobby spaces

✓ On-site dining or restaurants

✓ Event spaces for gatherings and parties

Consider: What activities matter most to you? Will you actually use a golf course, or would you prefer a community focused on fitness and social clubs?

✓ Single-family detached homes

✓ Townhomes or duplexes

✓ Condos or apartments

✓ Ranch-style (single-level) vs. two-story

✓ Square footage range (typically 1,200-3,000 sq ft)

✓ Number of bedrooms (1-3 typical)

✓ Primary bedroom on main floor

✓ Open floor plans vs. traditional layouts

✓ Garage size (1-car, 2-car, 3-car)

✓ Outdoor space (patio, deck, small yard)

Consider: Do you need single-level living for accessibility? How much space do you really need after downsizing? What's your must-have list?

✓ Monthly HOA fee amount ($200-$600+ typical)

✓ What's included: Exterior maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, amenities

✓ What's NOT included: Interior maintenance, utilities, property taxes

✓ Special assessments history (ask about recent/planned assessments)

✓ HOA financial health (request financial statements)

✓ Reserve fund status for future capital improvements

Consider: HOA fees can vary widely. Make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for and whether the community is financially stable.

✓ Minimum age requirement (typically 55+)

✓ Can younger spouses live there? (usually yes if one is 55+)

✓ Guest and family visit policies

✓ Grandchildren overnight stay limits (some have restrictions)

✓ Pet policies (number, size, breed restrictions)

✓ Rental restrictions (can you rent your home?)

✓ Exterior modification rules (landscaping, paint, etc.)

✓ Parking rules and RV/boat storage options

Consider: If you have pets, check policies carefully. If you might need to rent the home later, confirm rental rules. Review HOA bylaws thoroughly.

✓ Historical resale data in the community

✓ Average days on market for resales

✓ Price appreciation trends

✓ Planned future development (will more homes be built?)

✓ Occupancy rate (higher = more desirable)

✓ Reputation and demand in the area

Consider: Even if this is your "forever home," life circumstances change. Choose a community with strong resale potential just in case.

✓ Who is the builder? (Del Webb, Pulte, DR Horton, etc.)

✓ Builder reputation and track record

✓ Warranty coverage (typically 1-year workmanship, 10-year structural)

✓ Quality of construction and finishes

✓ Energy efficiency features

✓ Included vs. upgrade features

Consider: Tour several homes in the community (resale and new construction) to assess build quality and see what's standard vs. what requires upgrades.