This article is based on a Q&A with Todd Warshauer, who leads Active Adult Consultants, which provides consulting services and sales training for 55+ and active adult communities. Warshauer has worked in residential real estate for over 25 years and has visited nearly 1,500 active adult communities nationwide. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Throughout my career in real estate, one of the most important questions I’ve encouraged companies and teams to help buyers answer isn’t simply, “What home should I buy?” It’s “How will I live here?”
That’s really at the heart of the active adult market. People aren’t just buying a house. They’re deciding how they want to spend the next chapter of their lives. It’s less about what they’re leaving behind and more about what they’re looking forward to.
More people in their 50s and not retired are moving into adult communities
We’re seeing people consider the active adult lifestyle earlier, although that doesn’t necessarily mean the average buyer is getting younger across the board. Historically, moving into a 55+ community was often tied to retirement. Today, more buyers in their 50s are considering the move while still working, sometimes with another 10-15 years of their careers ahead of them. Remote work and flexible schedules have certainly helped over the past five to six years.
One thing I’ve always emphasized with clients and in active adult leadership groups is that buying in an active adult community is typically a discretionary decision. Most buyers don’t need to move. They already own a perfectly good home. So what’s motivating them? For someone who’s 57 and still working, it might simply be realizing they don’t want to wait another eight or 10 years to enjoy a different lifestyle. The bigger shift isn’t necessarily about retiring earlier. It’s about choosing to live differently sooner.
Rightsizing is more important than downsizing
The biggest change I’ve seen is the evolution from buying a home in a retirement community to buying into a lifestyle. When I started in this business, much of the conversation centered on downsizing, golf, and less maintenance. Those things still matter, but today’s buyers have broader expectations around wellness, fitness, social connections, recreation, travel, and experiences.
People’s priorities change as they move through life. The first half is often focused on careers, raising families, and accumulating things. The second half becomes more about relationships, experiences, freedom, and how we spend our time. That’s why I prefer “rightsizing” over downsizing. I’ve seen plenty of buyers purchase homes larger than the ones they’re leaving. They’re looking for a home and community that better fit the life they want to live.
Many residents are not retired
I’ve never been a big fan of calling these retirement communities. To me, “retirement” suggests the end of something, particularly a career or productive chapter of life. But most buyers I’ve worked with are more interested in what’s next. What do I want to experience? How do I want to spend my time? Who do I want to spend it with?
Many residents are still working, consulting, starting businesses, volunteering, or pursuing interests they didn’t have time for earlier. They’re not necessarily slowing down. That’s why I prefer “active adult community” or “active lifestyle community.”
There’s also an interesting generational shift. Baby boomers have largely defined this market over the past 10-15 years, often associating the move with retirement. Gen X buyers are approaching it differently, with many still working, raising children, or balancing other financial responsibilities. I don’t think Gen X is necessarily less interested in retirement. I think they’re less inclined to wait for retirement to make a lifestyle change. Of course, these aren’t universal differences, but the mindset shift is important.
Community allows people to focus on themselves after years of parenting or growing a career
In my consulting, I talk a lot about the push and pull factors behind a move. The push factors are what people want to leave behind: home maintenance, unused space, changing family dynamics, or a neighborhood that no longer fits their lifestyle. Pull factors are what they’re moving toward: friendships, activities, wellness, convenience, and more time for the things they enjoy.
For someone who’s spent 20-25 years raising a family and building a career, an active adult community can offer an opportunity to focus more on themselves while they’re still working. Making new friends as an adult isn’t always easy, and these communities create opportunities to connect with people who share similar interests. There’s also longevity to consider. If you’re 55 today, you could be thinking about where and how you want to live for another 25-30 years. Why wait until you’re 70 to enjoy it?
One important distinction: Most 55+ communities operate under federal housing rules that require at least 80% of occupied homes to have at least one resident age 55 or older. Individual communities can have stricter policies, so someone under 55 shouldn’t assume they’re eligible. All-age lifestyle communities can offer similar amenities without those restrictions.
Renting is always an option
I’d start by figuring out what you want your future lifestyle to look like before deciding what real estate to purchase or rent. Where do you want to live? How close to family? What activities and social connections matter? Will the home work for you in 15-20 years? For some people, buying a future home early can make sense, particularly if they can afford to carry two properties or rent one out.
But you also need to consider financing, insurance, taxes, HOA fees, and rental restrictions. Many 55+ communities have specific leasing and occupancy rules.
There’s also the growing option of renting in an active adult community rather than purchasing. The 55+ rental market has expanded considerably, offering many of the same lifestyle amenities, activities, and social opportunities found in traditional for-sale communities. For someone still working or unsure where they want to settle long-term, renting provides flexibility without the financial commitment or maintenance responsibilities of ownership.
Today’s Gen X buyers also face a financial challenge. Someone with a 3% mortgage may struggle to justify selling and buying a new home at a significantly higher rate, even with substantial equity. Add new construction pricing and HOA fees, and the decision becomes more complicated. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to move. The financial side may simply not align with the lifestyle they want.
The goal should be making these decisions proactively rather than waiting for a health issue or other circumstance to force the conversation.
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