Did you know that North Carolina surpassed Florida as the #1 Retirement State in the country several years back?  And, to add to that, that Raleigh ranked as the #4 "Best Place to Retire" and the # 3 "Best Place to Reinvent Yourself?"  To view the complete article from AARP click here.  

So what makes the Triangle area so appealing for Active 55+ Seniors? 

• Great housing
• Nice weather
• Low crime rate
• High standard of living
• Great hospitals
• Excellent transportation to the airport w/little congestion
• Interstate Highways
• Amtrack railway system that connects the East Coast
• Location, Location, Location - We are an our and a half to the beach and the mountains are about three hours away
• **Photo of Seniors in the Park courtesy of Flicker**

One overlooked resource that helps keep Seniors active in this area and is a huge benefit to the community is the Cary Senior Center.  The goal of the Cary Senior Center is to provide quality leisure activities and serves to all adult ages 55 and older.  The activities are designed to enrich, inform, entertain, and educate the lives of the Town of Cary citizens. 

The Cary Senior Center is located within Bond Park on High House Road. The facility is a 17,000 square foot building with a ballroom, courtyard gazebo, conference room, classroom, an arts and crafts room an exercise room, and a media room.  This facility offers more than 1,500 programs for seniors!!!

If you're still interested read more about some of the local communities geared toward Active 55+ Seniors in Cary:

• Carolina Preserve at Amberly - The amenity rich community opened up just last Spring and has sold over 400 homes with over 200 closed.   Clients that I've taken to this community are really excited about the sense of community.  The club house will be the central gathering place for the neighborhood and is scheduled to open in late November.  When complete, the community will have about 1,200 homes.  A Del Webb community, they are now pre-selling for delivery in October 2008. 
• Searstone - This community is located in the heart of Cary across the street from my office!!  This neighborhood will offer the New Urbanist lifestyle that allows residents to be able to walk to restaurants, shopping, health care, and more.  The community is scheduled to be completed between late 2009 and 2010. 
• Glenaire - This retirement community is well established and offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing to its residents.  This facility offers a more traditional retirement arrangement.  However, Gleanaire offers lots of activities and outings for its residents and even has an activities director onsite. 

For more information visit my "Top 10 List for Active Adult Communities in the Triangle"

Here are some additional Senior Resources that you might enjoy:

Links to Seniors Resources for Your Reference:

• Seniors Resource Guide
• SAREC
• Long Term Care Planning - Price Quotes
• Medicaire
• AARP
• Talking w/Parents about Health Coverage
• Kiplinger's Your Family Records Organizer
• Area Agencies on Aging
• The Five Wishes
• Reverse Mortgage
• Helpful Seniors Links - Nationwide

In my previous blogs I have mentioned that I work with Seniors looking to relocate to the Triangle.  Specifically, I help Seniors that are looking for reasonably priced ranch/villa style homes in neighborhoods that include Senior activities and an affordable lifestyle.  There aren't many specialists in the area and only a handful of communities. 

After Del Webb sold 700 homes in just under 2 years in a down real estate market builders have finally recognized the demand for this type of housing in the Triangle.  Here is my list for 2009 with links to the communities for your reference.

1. Ivy Hall.  East Raleigh, NC  Active 55+ community.  Growing area due to I-540 completion.  New 2 Bedroom Ranches w/2-Car Garage.  Homes From the $220s.  WKB Properties, Inc. is the builder. 
2. Carolina Preserve by Del Webb. Cary, NC.  Active 55+ community w/incredible amenities including an $8M clubhouse called Bradford Hall that has an indoor/outdoor pool, bocci ball, clay court tennis, putting green, and workout facility second to none.  Single Family Homes by Pulte start in the mid- $200s.  Villas start in the $220s.  Gorgeous ranch plans w/covered porches and 2 Car Garages. Pre-sale of new homes now available for delivery at the end of Q12009.   Take a virtual tour of the clubhouse here.  To view resale and current homes for sale click here.  To view floorplans of the community click here.   
3. Heritage Pines.  Cary, NC. Built by K. Hovanian & Westminister Homes.  Heritage Pines is the most established Active 55 community in the Triangle.  Homes built in 2000 with the neighborhood completed in 2007.  The location is fantastic!!  Amenities include a community clubhouse, swimming, tennis, bocci ball,  and  other activities.  Villas start in the low $200s. Single Family Homes start in the mid-200s.  To view homes for sale click here. 
4. The Village at Aversboro Garner, NC.  New  Homes From the $250s. 1,650-2,600 sq. ft.   147 Total Homesites.  All brick ranch homes w/2 Car Garages & Screened Porches.  Community Clubhouse in the neighborhood. 
5. Johnson's Landing.  Fuquay Varina/Angier, NC.  New Villas from the $220s w/2-Car Garages.  2,050-2,600 sq.ft. 
6. Heritage Spring  Wake Forest, NC.  From the $220s.  1,372 -2,225 sq. ft. Not an actual Active Adult community but marketed as one.  Close to your friends in Wakefield Plantation.
7. Summerwind Plantation Clayton, 55+ Single family, cluster homes, condominium, townhome starting in the $120s.   The community will have be a wellness center on 3 acres overlooking a pond,  SummerWind Plantation will have a 4 acre stocked fishing pond, and fishing pier for use by the owners and their guests, and a large gazebo and fountain.
8. Fearrington Village-Millcroft  Low maintenance single family homes.  One and Two level floorplans available.  Pittsboro, NC Homes 1,600 - 2,500 square feet. One or two car garage.  $60k and $80k for lot.  $138/square foot average price.  $350k-$450k.  
9. The Villas at Wake Forest The Villas of Wake Forest features 144 ranch style luxury condominium homes where all exterior maintenance is provided. Prices from the $200s.  Builder is Cornerstone Homes. 
10. Four Seasons at Renaissance - Coming Soon to Durham, NC.  Located just minutes from  Research Triangle Park the new K. Hovnanian Active 55 community is sure to be a hit. 

If you are thinking of moving to the Triangle I'd love to help you find the perfect active adult living community.