12 of the most luxurious retirement home communities in the US - and how much they cost
- Throughout the US, there are several luxurious retirement communities that offer modern amenities at a high price tag.
- In Florida, the Villages - which can cost renters $10,000 per month- and the Sarasota Bay Club - which can cost buyers $300,000 - are examples of lavish retirement homes.
- Communities like Vivante in California, The Clare in Chicago, and the Sarasota Bay Club in Florida all offer linen service and housekeeping.
- Some retirement communities are known for their fine-dining restaurants like the Forum at Park Lane in Texas and Vivante's in California.
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While the cost of a retirement community varies state by state, there are some retirement homes in the US that are more luxurious than the usual independent living facility.
These outliers offer retired residents modern amenities, which oftentimes include linen service, housekeeping, valet parking, and 18-hole golf courses. Also, these amenities come with a high price tag - some costing near $1 million.
Keep reading for some of the more luxurious communities you might want to call home in retirement.
Vivante in Costa Mesa, California, has several luxury amenities on-site, including an indoor therapy pool and four restaurants.
Vivante specializes in memory care, offering guests independent and assisted living options. The community also focuses on luxury amenities. The Ivory Lounge, for example, has a saltwater fish tank and a baby grand piano. A movie theatre which seats 40 people and a salon that can do hair and nails are also on the premises. Vivante's four restaurants offer residents a buffet, a casual bistro, and a private dining room.
Other amenities include 24-hour on-call nurses, group outings, and housekeeping.
Renting an apartment at Vivante costs between $3,990 to $10,000 per month.
Although the cost of Vivante can reach over $10,000 per month, the retirement community does offer studios and one-bedroom apartments. The 1,783-square-foot two-bedroom apartments are the largest, and they come with a patio.
Encanterra in San Tan Valley, Arizona, is advertised as a resort community with restaurants, a golf course, and a spa.
Although Encanterra is an all-ages community, it does have smaller neighborhoods that are designated for the 55 and older retirees. Located just outside of Phoenix, Encanterra has two resort pools, a private spa, an event center, and several restaurants. The community also has an 18-hole golf course, which has views of the San Tan Mountains.
A home at Encanterra can cost between $227,000 and $392,000.
The cheapest home, for $227,000, is 1,318 square feet, while the most expensive home, for $392,000, is 2,726 square feet. Each house has an open floor plan and fully equipped kitchens.
The Sarasota Bay Club in Florida believes living is an "art," and the community's gardens, pools, and amenities help residents live artfully.
Located in Sarasota, Florida, Sarasota Bay Club boasts a list of amenities, which include a pool, a spa, an auditorium, a massage therapy studio, a billiards room, a woodworking shop, a salon, and a library. The community's main dining room also serves fine-dining meals.
Other amenities include 24-hour concierge, valet parking, continental breakfast, and housekeeping.
A condo at the Sarasota Bay Club can cost anywhere from $752,000 to over $1 million.
While some condos at the Sarasota Bay club can cost over a million dollars, there are 983-square-foot one-bedroom condos that go for less. The larger condos have three bedrooms and 2,326 square feet of space.
There are also monthly service fees, which can cost anywhere from $2,276 to $4,780.
The Clare in Chicago offers retirees modern amenities within city life.
Located on the Gold Coast of Chicago, The Clare is a mixture of community amenities with the perks of urban living. Residents in the high-rise building can access the Health and Wellness Center, the fitness center, and the aquatic center on-site. There are also three restaurants on the premises, which include The Abbey, The Bistro, and The Grafton.
Other amenities include transportation, linen service, continental breakfast, and social activities.
An apartment in The Clare starts at $300,000.
The Clare has a variety of floor plans, which include one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom condos. The smallest apartment in the high-rise started at $300,000 in 2016.
Del Webb in Greensboro, Georgia, is a golf cart community that specializes in lakefront living.
Del Webb is located on Lake Oconee and has two pools — one indoor and one outdoor — and a fitness center. On the premises, there are four tennis courts, a bocce court, a pickleball court, and a croquet field. Because the community is located on Lake Oconee, residents enjoy kayaking, boating, and fishing. When not on the lake, most residents move around the grounds on golf carts.
A home at Del Webb can cost anywhere from $243,990 to $370,990.
Most of the homes at Del Webb are ranch style with one to four bedrooms. The cheapest home, for $243,990, has 1,109 square feet, while the most expensive home, for $370,990, has 2,536 square feet.
The Villages in Sumter County, Florida, is designed for the active retiree.
The Villages operates as an independent small town, as each plaza and square is filled with small boutique stores and restaurants. Everything this community has to offer is accessible by golf cart, which is the preferred mode of transportation.
The community is also focused on keeping residents active, offering recreational centers, enrichment programs, canine parks, polo grounds, dance classes, and a softball complex.
A home at The Villages can cost anywhere from $160,000 to over $1 million.
The Villages offer one to four-bedroom homes starting at $160,000. The most expensive homes are called the Premier and can cost anywhere from $600,000 to $1.5 million.
The Rio Verde Country Club in Arizona is a golfing community that strives to get its residents outdoors.
The Rio Verde Country Club caters to active and outdoor-loving retirees, with expansive hiking trails, two golf courses, a pool. The community also has a bocce ball court, a pickleball court, and tennis courts. Horse-back riding is also popular among residents at the Rio Verde Country Club.
A home at the Rio Verde Country Club costs anywhere from $200,000 to over $1 million.
The community offers an array of houses, including townhomes and villas. You can also rent out homes in the community for shorter-term stays.
Covenant Living at the Samarkand in Santa Barbara, California, offers beachfront amenities because of its location.
Covenant Living at the Samarkand is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, offering retired residents jaw-dropping views and beachfront activities. Some of the community's amenities include a wood shop, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool. Samarkand also has a thrift shop, a cafe, and a spa. Residents can also choose between fine dining and casual eateries.
The median price for a home in Samarkand is $1.4 million.
The million-dollar homes come can come with one bedroom or two bedrooms. A two-bedroom home reaches 1,185 square feet at the Samarkand.
The Residences at Turner Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts, is meant for the ultra-wealthy retirees.
Although the Residences at Turner Hill has no age restriction, the marketing director for the community said it is targeted to the wealthier retired community. The Residences is divided into four neighborhoods: The Gardens, The Village, The Hill, and The Fairways. But the community's main draw is the 18-hole golf course.
Almost all the homes at the Residences at Turner Hill is worth well over $1 million dollars.
A home in this community can cost anywhere from $918,900 to $1.6 million. The most expensive home has three bedrooms and 4,542 square feet.
The Forum at Park Lane in Dallas, Texas, is known for its celebrity chef Brad Miller.
The Forum at Park Lane offers both assisted living and independent living options for senior residents. But the community also has a long list of amenities, including a beauty salon, a barbershop, a private dining room, in-house doctor visits, housekeeping, linen service, and even happy hour.
The Forum has also partnered with celebrity chef Brad Miller to create the community's menu, which includes sautéed shrimp, rack of lamb, pork tenderloin, and grilled tilapia.
Renting an apartment at The Forum at Park Lane costs either $2,700 per month or $4,400 per month, depending on need.
For independent living, residents pay $2,700 per month, while those who need living assistance pay $4,400 per month. The smallest one-bedroom at The Forum is 651 square feet and the largest two-bedroom apartment is $1,463 square feet.
The Preserve at SaddleBrooke in Tucson, Arizona, is known for its luxurious amenities and its country club.
The Preserve at SaddleBrooke has a luxury country club and an 18-hole golf course, along with a pool, a tennis court, a softball field, and a fitness center. On the premises, there's also a performing arts theatre and a Creative Arts Center. The Preserve Restaurant is also popular among residents for its American cuisine and seating that overlooks the Santa Catalinas.
A home at the Preserve at SaddleBrooke can cost anywhere from $500,000 to over $1 million.
The ranch-style homes at the Preserve come with two or three bedrooms. The least expensive home, which sells for $500,900, has two bedrooms and 2,395 square feet.
Atria West 86 is a famously luxurious retirement community in the heart of New York City.
Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Atria West 86 has a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Hudson River, a penthouse fitness center, a library, and a hair salon. Other amenities include 24-hour concierge, chef-prepared meals, car service, event programs, and housekeeping.
Renting an apartment at Atria West 86 starts at $8,800 per month.
The building has studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. The smallest studio is 257 square feet, while the largest two-bedroom apartment is 1,399 square feet.