Posts Tagged ‘active adult cobb’

When it comes to 55+, active adult, or age restricted communities, there’s often plenty of confusion and questions to go around. Who can live in an active adult community? When does an extended visit violate the covenants? Aren’t there fair housing rules to worry about? What if a spouse dies and the remaining owner is under 55?

55 and older communities have their own rules that vary from one to another, but there are some basic guidelines you can expect to see in the majority of the ones you’ll visit in your home search. We’ll touch base on a few of those, and hopefully give you enough information to ask informed questions of the agent representing the neighborhoods on your short-list.

Does the Fair Housing Act Prohibit 55+ Communities?

The Federal Fair Housing Act says you cannot deny housing or real estate transactions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, and familial status. Age is actually not listed, so developers and communities can set restrictions on who can own property to some degree and within state law.

What Do the Actual Age Requirements State?

For the majority of active adult communities, it’s stated that 1 owner must be 55+, with an allowance for a spouse or partner that is 40+. Children over 18 are sometimes allowed as well, but it’s very rare that children under 18 are allowed to be residents. Children under 18 most often are limited to 30 consecutive days for visits, allowing time for grandkids and others in your life to swing in for up to a full month.

Survivorship for a Significant Other Under 55

According to the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA), at least 80 percent of the occupied units of an age-restricted community must include one resident age 55 or older and the community must show an intent to provide housing for those 55 and up. This sets up an 80/20 rule for most communities to have some leeway for not only surprise children (traditional surprises, inherited surprises, etc.), but leaves room for spouses and significant others that are under 55 to continue to live and own a property after the unfortunate passing of the older partner. Again, this is flexible by community and subject to state laws, not just federal.

The UPside!

While considerations for your own circumstances have to be factored into your search for a community you’ll feel right at home in, the major upside of living in a 55+ community if you qualify is quality of life. You’ll live amongst people with similar values for property maintenance, and are less likely to experience a house next door full of partiers, loud music, or night owls that disrupt the neighborhood peace. Many of these communities have social groups that meet for gaming, hobbies, travel, and entertainment. The HOAs often have landscaping agreements. And, the floor plans are always comfortable with owner’s suites on the main floor, ranch plans, and low maintenance construction.

We have 3 new construction active adult communities in the Metro Atlanta area – all with available homes now. And with our current incentives, you can save on closing costs on select lots when using our trusted lender, Homeowners Financial Group. Have more questions? Reach out to us for the answers!

You always hear the term “spring cleaning”, but fall is the perfect time to refresh your home and get ready for the colder weather. To bring out the chunky-knit sweaters and fall decorations, though, you have to have room for it! Deep cleaning can be an all-day adventure, but when you own one of our one-level homes in our 3 active adult communities, fall cleaning is made easy! Paran Homes builds comfortable and convenient homes in 55+ communities in Gwinnett and Cobb County. Ensure a cozy fall and winter in a brand new home with these cleaning and organization tips and one level designs. 

A Clean Kitchen Means A Clean Mind

The kitchen is easily the heart of your home. The condition of the kitchen creates the ambiance for the whole home. Our active adult communities feature chef-inspired kitchens with designer features to make organization easier and clean-up a breeze. For example, Gladstone Landing is our Powder Springs community, which features double sinks, walk-in pantries, tile backsplashes, and spacious granite islands.

A good place to start in the kitchen is cleaning out your refrigerator and freezer. It is easy to let the condiments and frozen vegetables stack up and overflow! If you have seen the viral organization videos, you may have already heard of this amazing trick. But if not, these organization bins for your refrigerator/freezer are game changers. You can easily spot your favorite frozen meals for a quick dinner or keep an eye on your produce before it goes bad.

Spacious Storage Options 

For the fashion lovers and those with overflowing closets, a fall cleanout and organization is crucial to take on the cooler days ahead. Old pieces, or clothing from over the summer can be organized by keep, donate, or toss! When your closet is organized with only clothes that you’ll wear, or that match the current season, you have more space and can get the most use out of your wardrobe. A mudroom or linen closet are also perfect spaces to hang your coats to give you more room in your closet. 

Seaboard Junction in Loganville offers one-level homes with spacious owner’s closets and walk-up storage for homeowner convenience. Once you have the keep pile from your closet cleanout, you can put them into bins and store them in the walk-up space in your two-car garage. The owner’s suite closet has plenty of room to store your thickest sweaters and heaviest coats. The mudroom (per plan) can store quick-grab coats for walking the dog or getting the mail. And, the linen closet will hold the overflow of warm blankets, extra sheets for guests, and chunky winter boots! 

Extra Bedrooms for Holiday Guests

The best part of the cooler weather ahead of us is the family time that comes with it. There is an array of holidays during these months that encourage creating memories and sharing laughs with your loved ones. Whether sharing eggnog or inviting family to stay the night, you’ll need a clean guest bedroom set up for a seamless holiday experience. The one-level homes in Creekwood boast elegant floor plans with 2-3 bedrooms, perfect for hosting and overnight guests. 

Extra bedrooms can easily become the room to store all your extra decor, clothes, and everything in between. When you clean and organize the guest room, your guests will be comfortable. And, you’ll be happy to have a clean flex space when guests aren’t around. Deep cleaning flex rooms for the fall can consist of organizing your beloved nick-nacks with under-the-bed storage and refreshing the bedding with cold-weather linens. 

Cleaning is the Perfect Introduction to a New Season

A one-level home in a Paran Homes 55+ neighborhood is a fantastic choice. It makes deep cleaning and everyday life easier! As an active adult, you’ll enjoy not having to haul cleaning supplies up the stairs or climbing to the attic to store your things, plus so much more. Welcome a brand new season in a brand new home in one of our 55+ communities. Speak with an agent today, and spend your holiday seasons in a beautiful new construction home.