So-called "retirement communities" have changed. People are not looking for a home that has been downsized amid other small homes. Today "retirement homes" have become active communities and the communities aren't even referred to as retirement although they are age-restricted. This age restriction definitely makes life better for the retiring but, unfortunately or fortunately, many of today's "retirees" are still working part or full-time and so retirement communities are referred to as active adult communities.

These active adult communities are not of some generic structure--although some seem to be.. They are focused on either the wealthy, middle-class or poorer seniors and various combinations. There is variety of prices, styles, activities and most of all sizes.

You should keep up with the trends. There are so many types of communities to choose from giving you many options and more decisions to make, and there are more being built every year.

A reader of my website, where you can find communities and keep up with trends, emailed me that she didn't understand why the builders are making the homes so big for retirees at a time when seniors usually want smaller. I emailed her back that the builders are saying that all people do not want small anymore but instead many now are upgrading and want larger for all the many hobbies and work at home projects they intend to pursue, in addition to having room for children and grandchildren to visit. They also may live longer so why not have a new and beautiful home to live in. Why not indeed.

If you had a pension, social security, investments, equity in your home, and inheritances, as many of today's early boomers do, you would probably be able to afford an upgraded and larger home. For seniors wanting or needing downsized homes, look around because there are also communities that have condominiums, town homes, cottages and even small single-family homes available, and sometimes they are mixed in with large single-family homes.

The homes in active adult communities are not over-priced, either. Prices appear to be under the general market right now but check with your local Realtor. A common scenario becoming more frequent: You sell your current home, tapping the equity, buy a larger and new home in an active adult community, using only half your equity, banking the rest of it for your retirement. You continue working although you now have someone to mow your lawn and shovel your snow, options that many communities offer because no home or yard maintenance seems to be a dominating reason why seniors sell their current homes for ones in active adult communities. You are happier