by Robert Borges on August 10, 2021
Your peers have spoken! According to a recent PCR survey, the majority of active adults interested in purchasing a home within a lifestyle community have similar preferences.
Nearly half want to live in a 55+ retirement community. They’re willing to spend between $250,000 - $500,000 on a home. And when it comes to location, their #1 desire is to be “near the beach.”
If you’re among the many who are wondering where you can retire in an affordable home and have quick and convenient beach access, we’ve got just the list of communities to start your search!
Here are a few of the top retirement communities with homes under $450,000 that are within close proximity to the beach.
Heritage Shores- Bridgeville, DE
Homes from the $300,000s.
Named one of the “Best 55+ Active Adult Communities,” and a repeat winner of the “Best Retirement Community” by Metropolitan Magazine, Heritage Shores is ideally located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. Within minutes of all that the Delaware Shore and Southern Delaware offer, residents enjoy an award-winning clubhouse, a health and wellness center, swimming pools, tennis, and three restaurants with a variety of cuisines. Golf lovers are also treated to an Arthur Hills championship golf course—everything active adults could ask for with homes starting in the 300s.
Indian River Colony Club- Melbourne, FL
Homes from the $200,000s
Predominately a military retirement community, residents here enjoy a generous maintenance program, 24-hour gated security, and a full complement of country club amenities, including an 18-hole, par 72 golf course. Set beside the Indian River Lagoon along Florida’s Space Coast, Indian River Colony Club is owned by its members, administered by a professional General Manager, and governed by the community-elected resident board of directors. All amenities, corporate buildings, and grounds are debt-free with significant monetary reserves. Home prices range from just $200,000 - $400,000.
Sea Trail Plantation- Sunset Beach, NC
Homes from the low $200,000s
Just 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach, SC and one hour from Wilmington, NC, this retirement community features three golf courses, along with numerous recreational offerings like indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, walking biking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, fishing ponds, and weekly activities for all interests. With quick access to Ocean Isle Beaches, Sunset Beach is ranked among the “21 Best Beaches in the World” by National Geographic and the “10 Best U.S. Suburbs for Retirement” by ConsumerTrack. Homes here are priced from the low 200s.
K. Hovnanian's® Four Seasons at Carolina Oaks- Bluffton, SC
Homes from the $400,000s
Within 20 miles of pristine Hilton Head Island beaches, here’s a South Carolina 55+ community offering resort-style living in the scenic Lowcountry. Active adults love the community’s clubhouse where they enjoy yoga and Zumba at the fitness center, discover new talents in the arts & crafts room, play billiards with neighbors, lounge by the pool, and perfect dancing skills in the ballroom. Outdoor amenities include walking and biking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, a dog park, community gardens, fire pits, and screened verandas. This South Carolina community has it all, with homes starting in the mid-300s.
Port Ludlow- Port Ludlow, WA
Homes from the mid $400,000s
Heading over to the west coast to round out our list, Port Ludlow is a resort-style community located on the shores of the Puget Sound, less than two hours from Seattle. Two clubhouses provide fitness facilities, tennis and pickleball courts, swimming pools, and over 100 community clubs. With an 18-hole Robert Muir Graves championship golf course, a 300-slip marina, and views of the Olympic Mountains, this scenic Pacific Northwest retirement community features homes starting in the mid-400s.
If you’re interested in discovering more affordable retirement communities near the beach (or have other criteria you’re looking for), head over to PCR’s community search. You’ll be able to quickly and easily sort through and learn about hundreds of communities based on a variety of options and preferences.
