Retirement in New Jersey

This is PART II:

This article is an exclusive to us by:

Nancy Muldowney, a Realtor with the designation of Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES).  She is familiar with all of the adult communities in Ocean County. 

Nancy and the Muldowney Family Team offer a custom tour of the NJ adult communities. This tour gives the buyer the opportunity to visit each communities' clubhouse as well as see some homes for sale.

Also see PART I of this article:  Adult communities in New Jersey's Ocean County

Reasons for Retirement in New Jersey:

Here are some reasons people are thinking of retirement here and the areas they like best.

Reason #1: Downsizing

Downsizing is popular in retirement. Sell your large home and buy a smaller one; then use the extra equity in your home for savings.

There is a new phrase today called rightsizing.  This means you can buy a home that fits your needs--the right size.  You've lived in a large home, one suited to bringing up a family, now you want one that is suited for you.

Too often people retire in homes that used to fit their needs but no longer do. So why not buy a home that is just right for the retirement lifestyle you want.

The Snowbird Lifestyle:

This is a lifestyle that fits in with rightsizing.

Many in the more northern states like New Jersey are looking for a home that they will only live in part of the year and spend the rest of the year in Florida (from November or December thru April--the Snowbird Season) or the Carolinas and they do not want to spend a fortune.

Therefore, they want an affordable price range.

Fawn Lakes in Stafford Township

Fawn Lakes, a community in Stafford Township, is an example of an affordable price range.   This community is located on Route 72, which is the gateway to Long Beach Island.

The community is less then 15 minutes from the Island and you can buy in the community without spending a fortune. Homes range from $60,000 to $200,000. There are 3 distinct types of homes offered and all are one-story homes. There are 1 or 2-bedroom quads, 2-bedroom duplexes and 2-bedroom single homes. The amenities include a clubhouse, pool and planned activities. About 50% of the residents spend some part of the winter in a warmer place.

Reason #2: Have an Active Lifestyle

…some intend to have active retirement lifestyles with golf, fishing, pools and social activities.

#3 Upscale Communities with Luxury Amenities

Other retirees today are looking for a luxury community that has a full time social director, indoor and outdoor pools, golf courses, etc. There are many retirement communities located throughout Ocean County that match that criteria.

Southern Ocean County

Here is an example of a luxury community in Southern Ocean County:

Sea Oaks in Little Egg Harbor:

Farthest to the south in Ocean County is Sea Oaks in Little Egg Harbor, a K Hovnanian golf community, located off the Parkway, Exit 58, which is only five minutes to the bay and marinas, ten minutes to shopping and 20 minutes to the beaches on LBI. It is an intimate community of 387 homes, which was completed in 2007. It has an active clubhouse and a full time social director, indoor/outdoor pools, state of the art fitness center, tennis and much more.

The community was built around the golf course, but the golf course is not part of the community. It is a public course and there is a restaurant, meeting rooms and an Inn on the premises as well.

Prices range from around $230,000 to $475,000. There are ranch styles and dramatic floor plans with lofts. Square footages can range from 1800 SF to upward of 3200 SF.

Northern parts of Ocean County

The more expensive communities are the ones closest to NYC. The farther you are from New York City in Ocean County, the lower the price so the homes in the southern part of the county are usually priced less than in the northern part.   Likewise, the homes in the northern part of the county offer an easier commute to New York City.  There is a bus terminal in Toms River and at the Garden State Parkway rest areas.

Luxury communities in Northern Ocean County:

Four Seasons at Mirage in Barnegat

Moving northward about 10 miles from Little Egg Harbor you will find Four Seasons at Mirage in Barnegat, which is another K Hovnanian community located off the Parkway, Exit 67.

Barnegat has some unique features like a public dock for fishing and crabbing complete with a boat ramp. There is a public bay beach where you can look directly across the bay to the Barnegat Lighthouse.

There are about 1200 homes completed in 2007. The community features a large clubhouse, indoor/outdoor pools, state of the art fitness center, tennis and much more. There is a club for just about anything you would want to do. Homes styles and square footage is similar to Sea Oaks, with some of the same models offered.

Only resales are available now and there is an average of about 30 homes for sale at any given time. Prices range from around $200,000 to about $420,000.

Renaissance in Manchester

Continuing north on the Parkway to Manchester you will find Renaissance in Manchester which is a Centex community that was started in mid 1990’s and completed in 2006. It is located off Parkway Exit 88 and has easy access to the Point Pleasant beaches, which are only 20 minutes away.

There are over 1500 homes in the community and the enormous clubhouse features not only the indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center, tennis etc, but it features also a deli open for breakfast and lunch. When you hear the commercial on TV say, “there’s an app for that," just think of this community because “there is a club for that” is their motto. They have an 18-hole golf course that meanders through the community with scenic views for many of the home sites. Prices start around $190,000 all the way up to $475,000.

Reason #4: Desirable Features of
New Jersey Retirement Communities:

• Beautiful sandy beaches
• Easy access to Philadelphia or New York City
• Near Atlantic City
• Great fishing and boating
• Many medical facilities
• Large choice of shopping and dining options

Reason #5: Childhood summers at the beach

Buyers may move to coastal areas of New Jersey because they are familiar with them or spent time there as children. Beaches are a personal preference and many spend time where families have gone for years.

There are no communities located immediately on the sand in Ocean County, but there are some very close to the beaches, as mentioned above.

Reason #6: Family resides here

A concern many of NJ adult community buyers have is the distance they will be putting between family and friends. For instance, if they go to Delaware or North Carolina to retire, how often will they see the grandchildren. So, it is another reason that the Jersey Shore has become a magnet for retirees.

New Jersey real estate taxes are higher than in Delaware, but there is so much, so close to where they will be retiring.

An average yearly property tax on a $300,000 home, depending on which town the home is located in, would be approximately $4000 to $5500 (please verify all information).

Next see PART I of this article: Adult communities in New Jersey's Ocean County