Tips for Finding the Right Senior Living Community in Central Florida
The Sunshine State has commanded the top spot among U.S. retirement destinations for so long that developers have taken note, and there’s a practically endless list of housing options for retirees to choose from. At first glance, it might seem like this would make your search for the right senior living community easier.
But many people find all those retirement housing options to be overwhelming and confusing. Even if you’ve zeroed in on Central Florida as your dream retirement destination—a smart choice, by the way—you’ll still have many decisions to make about the specific location and type of community that would best suit your needs. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Exactly Where Do You Want to Live?
As any real estate professional will tell you, the location of your new digs is probably the single most important factor to consider. Do you want to live near golf courses, nature parks, theme parks, or professional sports venues? Do you want to live in a community where you can get to services and recreational opportunities by golf cart? The answers to questions like these can help you narrow your choices. And, no matter what your priorities are, you’ll definitely want to choose a community with first-rate medical facilities nearby.
Precisely How Do You Want to Live?
Do you want to downsize to an apartment, or would you rather live in a suburban-style neighborhood with your own low-maintenance home? Would you like to have access to a clubhouse with a fitness center and swimming pool? If so, an age-restricted senior living community that offers organized activities for its residents may be right for you.
Is the Senior Living Community You’re Considering Affordable?
This is one of the most important questions for today’s older adults, many of whom worry that their savings won’t stretch far enough to cover the active Central Florida lifestyle they’ve been dreaming of.
At Hyde Park, we provide the just-right senior living community solution for many retirees with our affordable manufactured-home community near Orlando, FL. We have lots of resort-style amenities on site and a golf cart path that leads to nearby shops and eateries. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.
If you’re like many people who are thinking about relocating to the Sunshine State, your vision of Florida revolves largely around the Orlando area. After all, this world-renowned tourist destination has virtually redefined Central Florida, transforming it into not only a playground filled with theme parks and other attractions but also a hub for international business and travel.
In the not-too-distant past, you could probably count on personal finance experts to answer this question unequivocally: “buy.” In fact, whether you were retirement age or not, if you could afford it, homeownership was considered the smart way to go when it came to meeting housing needs. Many societal changes, including shifts in the economic system and lifestyle aspirations, have challenged that notion in recent years. Changes that have had the biggest impact include these:
There are so many reasons to retire in the Orlando area that it would probably be easier to list the paltry number of reasons not to. This city is the heartbeat of Central Florida, a region where the sun shines practically year-round, and not just in terms of the weather. Below are a few of the many reasons why so many older adults have chosen to call Orlando home.
The biggest claim to fame for Kissimmee, Florida, is its close proximity to the world-renowned tourist destinations of Walt Disney World and Orlando. If you’re scouting for a place to call home in retirement, Kissimmee offers a slightly slower-paced lifestyle than its metro neighbors with easy access to exciting sightseeing opportunities and world-class medical facilities. However, there’s an active adult community located nearby that has even less traffic and hubbub than Kissimmee. It’s Hyde Park, only 13 miles west of Orlando.
As more and more baby boomers and even Generation Xers are retiring and looking for their perfect place in the sun, more active adult communities keep springing up to accommodate them. Nowhere is this truer than in Central Florida, which has long been a hot spot for retirees who want to enjoy an active lifestyle with plenty to see and do all year long. What has changed is that many more prospective retirees are worried about whether their retirement savings will stretch far enough to allow them to enjoy an active adult community lifestyle. If you’re among those retirees, affordability should be a key factor to keep in mind as you evaluate the 
Are you perusing the listings of active adult communities in Winter Garden, Florida, because you’d like to live near this city’s charming downtown district? With brick-lined streets and a clock-tower pavilion that harks back to yesteryear, this bustling commercial area masterfully blends trendy restaurants and shops with museums and historic structures. It’s a natural attraction for many of the residents of Hyde Park, a gated community for active adults 55 and older that’s ideally located close to this lovely town square atmosphere – so close that you can reach it without ever setting foot in your car.
Tired of driving? For many people, retirement not only means saying goodbye to the 9-to-5 grind but also to a stressful daily commute. This is one of the reasons that retirement communities with golf cart access to a wealth of sought-after destinations have become so popular in recent years.
Orlando is one of the most popular retirement destinations in Florida, a state long known for its appeal to retirees. The home of Mickey Mouse beckons to older adults for many reasons, not the least of which is the plethora of theme parks and attractions that are sure to keep grandchildren and friends clamoring for a visit. Although housing prices have been on the rise in recent years, Orlando still holds its own for affordable housing expenses in comparison with many metro areas across the nation. And, of course, the balmy skies and absence of snow make Orlando a good place to retire for many older adults who have had their fill of shoveling the wintry white stuff from their walkways and driveways.
When older adults move to a Florida retirement community, they typically cite three key reasons: the snow-free climate, the relatively low cost of living, and the many activities they can enjoy in a state that has long catered to tourists. If these are your priorities, then you’re smart to zero in on Florida as a place to call home in retirement. However, if you’re concerned about the cost of living, aren’t you also worried about the toll all those activities and attractions might take on your wallet? In fact, the price of tickets to theme parks, concerts, and other attractions has been steadily rising in recent years.
