Tips for Retirees: Choosing an Active Adult Living Community

This may come as a bit of a surprise, but the truth is, most retirees actually prefer to sell their homes and live in active adult communities. The answer to that demand has been an enormous increase in active adult living developments and homes around the country. With so many 55+ active adult living homes to choose from, how do you know which one to pick? No one understands active retirement than new home builder, Tribute Homes. Developed specifically with the goal of creating convenient and
carefree living for active adults and retirees, Tribute Homes’ resort-style houses are located in areas that cater to active adult living. Below, you will find a list we put together of some important things to consider when choosing an active adult living community.

Choice and Convenience

Since active adults prefer to live in communities that offer a variety of things to do, finding an area rich in entertainment, culture and outdoor activities, such as golfing and trail-walking, is a good place to start. Location and convenience are also important to consider when researching different active adult living communities. Neighborhood developments in close proximity to shopping centers, public transportation, banks, freeways, parks, golf courses, recreation centers, and the like, are highly desirable for active, carefree senior living. While convenient location for everyday affairs of life is superb, being close to family and friends is also something to be considered. If you’re a grandparent that loves spending time with your grandchildren and is closely tied to family, living too far away should not be your first choice. Studies show that retirees and seniors who maintain close family relationships suffer far less from loneliness and depression.

Safety First

Surveys show that 54 percent of active adults and retirees ranging from 62-75 years of age state the top reason they elect to live in active adult communities is the feeling of safety and being close to others. In situations where an emergency arises, having a close-knit community adds both safety and protection.
Other safety factors to consider are controlled access and guarded entries, as well as property structures, grounds and maintenance. Most homes built in active adult living communities are well-manicured and maintained in order to comply with HOA rules and regulations. Due diligence on the neighborhood watches and requirements always comes in handy.

The Ideal Home is a Tribute Home

Tribute Homes suggests that the main feature any active adult living home should have is a first floor master bedroom. View our floorplans. Railings, low-step and no-step entrances, wheelchair access and security features all make for safe, hazard-free environments that prevent accidents and add comfort to the home.

Amenities

Clubhouses, fitness rooms, social centers and parks are amenities nearly every active adult retiree desires. Community and connections are important to seniors so activity centers of any kind are important like golf courses and swimming pools, bar-b-que areas and equestrian centers. The more activity, the better!
Tribute Homes builds resort-style retirement homes for active adults age 55+. For more information, visit our website at www.tributehomesusa.com or give us a call at (800) 381-2984.

Tribute Homes’ Healthy Heart Tips for Seniors

Tribute Homes understands the importance of a healthy heart in seniors. With heart disease leading the way for deaths among people over the age of 50, our active adult community building mission is to provide living environments that foster active and healthy lifestyles which help reduce the risk of heart disease. Here are a few tips we came up with for maintaining a strong, healthy heart in your senior years:

Exercise
Cardio exercise is one of the best things you can do to remain healthy and your heart will thank you for it. Activities such as walking, jogging and swimming are ideal ways to strengthen the heart muscle and increase endurance. Cardiovascular workouts also help with weight management by raising metabolism and increasing circulation which can deter weight gain and painful circulatory issues in the future.

Eat Healthy
We know it’s all been said before, but diet and nutrition play a vital role in the health of your heart. That said again, seek out healthy foods that compliment your body and lifestyle. Drink a good amount of water and choose diets rich in fiber. Caffeine, sugar, salt and junk food should be kept to a minimum with fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats making up most of your diet.

Don’t Smoke
Smoking isn’t just bad for the lungs it’s also a major contributor of arteriosclerosis and heart disease and should be avoided at all costs. Smoke diminishes and reduces the amount of oxygen in your body, reducing activity levels and leaving you with an increased risk for heart problems.

Relax and De-stress
Stress can lead to a host of physical problems including the sudden onset of a stroke or heart attack. It is critically important as seniors to find positive ways to deal with and eliminate stressful situations and allow your body to relax and enjoy what it was made for – healthy living! Yoga, meditation, listening to nature sounds and soothing music have powerfully calming effects that are great for relieving stress and tension.

Go Light on the Alcohol
Drinking small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial for the heart, but too much of a good thing is not so good for seniors. One drink per day for women and up to two per day for men is sufficient. More than that can lead to an increased risk for heart disease. Another common ailment in seniors is the tendency toward dehydration and because alcohol is a diuretic that causes the release of vital body water, moderate intake is highly recommended.
Here’s to your heart’s health!

Tribute Homes builds 55+ communities for active senior adults in North and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website at www.tributehomesusa.com or give us a call at (800) 381-2984.

Lake Ridge: Active Adult Life and Carefree Living in Tega Cay

Living actively and remaining carefree is the goal at the Lake Ridge community in Tega Cay, South Carolina. Home to resort-style retirement houses built by Tribute Homes, Lake Ridge was developed with an open feel concept of “golf course minus the course” that includes 150 acres of wooded greenways specifically designed to provide active adults with easy, breezy carefree living.

Activity Abounds at Lake Ridge

Housed in a prestigious neighbourhood, Lake Ridge resides near popular Lake Wylie in Tega Cay. It is an active adult community featuring a 7,000 square foot clubhouse, outdoor pools, a community fitness center, tennis courts, and over two miles of paved walking trails. Boat owners have close access to Lake Wylie’s public boat ramp near the property.

About 10 minutes outside of Lake Ridge, active adults in search of the ultimate outdoor environment can see Mother Nature’s finest at the Anne Springs Close Greenway, home to over 2,300 acres of forests, lakes, pastures and trails perfect for walking, biking and horseback riding.

Golf enthusiasts will quickly discover the true pearl of Lake Ridge living at the desirable Tega Cay Golf Club, located only minutes from the community. Its 27-hole golf course and discounted rates for Tega Cay residents make it a popular recreation spot for active adults living in Lake Ridge.

With all of this activity and more, it’s no wonder the Lake Ridge community is considered the ultimate carefree place for active adult living!

For more information on Tribute Homes in Lake Ridge, contact us at (800) 381-2984, or visit us online at www.tributehomesusa.com

Edgewater: Waterfront Living for Active Adults in South Carolina

When it comes to living in a waterfront community, Edgewater in Lancaster, South Carolina simply can’t be beat. As a Tribute Homes neighborhood housing beautiful resort-style homes for active adults, Edgewater gives waterfront living in South Carolina a whole new meaning.

Waterfront Lifestyle, Lakeside Living

Surrounded by smooth lake waters and breathtaking vistas, Edgewater is situated on the beautiful shores of Fishing Creek Lake, offering active adults hours of water sports fun from canoeing at dusk to water-skiing on a sunny afternoon. And what would a 3,300 acre creek be without a marina to dock your boat? No worries, mate, Edgewater also houses the lovely Residential Marina and Boat Club, fully equipped with 150 on-site boat slips, along with a club house, restaurant and swimming pool. 

A Fuzzy Zoeller Signature Lake and Golf Community

Just 45 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina and a few short hours to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Edgewater is a lakefront, resort-style community that offers the very best of lakeside living for active adults of all ages. As a preferred new home builder, Tribute Homes offers new homes in Edgewater with prices ranging from $84,900-$120,000.

View the Edgewater Community Slideshow

The golfing community at Edgewater enjoy hours of sport and socializing at the beautiful 18-hole golf course and private golf club named after Masters Champion, Fuzzy Zoeller. Sprawled along signatures landscapes, the golf course is great for outdoor activity in a gorgeous setting.

Whatever activity you desire, Edgewater’s waterfront community of homes provides an ideal active living environment for retirees!

Tribute Homes builds retirement communities for active adults in the Carolinas. For more information on building a new retirement home, contact them at 800-381-2984.

Tips for Retirees: Lowering Your Taxes

We at Tribute Homes strive to make retirement as simple and carefree as possible for retired seniors. Our active living retirement homes are more than just brick and mortar; they are a mission built on providing our homebuyers with a comfortable and financially beneficial lifestyle in their adult years.

One of the great things about Tribute Homes in North and South Carolina is the tax benefits that come from moving to, or living in, the sister states. In addition to some great state tax incentives, however, there are other important deductions that can help lower taxes, such as:

Medical and Dental Treatments
Healthcare costs and medical bills make up the largest expense for retirees. The good news is much of your medical care costs are deductible. That can include insurance premiums (including Medicare and Long-term), prescription medications, and nursing home and assisted living care centres. Although medical expenses are deductible only when they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI), for most seniors that limit is often attainable.

Retirement Plan Contributions
Being retired does not mean you can’t make tax-deductible contributions to retirement plans. You can still lower taxes by contributing to a traditional IRA, Roth IRA or 401(k), deducting the amounts from your retirement income. If you own a business, as many retirees do, you can establish SEP-IRAs, Simple IRAs, Keogh plans and solo 401(k) plans that allow higher contribution limits for those 55 and over.

Investments
One of the best ways to earn money when you retire is by way of interest, dividends and capital gains from investments. Unlike employment or business income, dividends and capital gains are not subject to social security or Medicare taxes, and they are limited to a 15 percent maximum tax rate. Additionally, most fees associated with a variety of investment and accounting services may also be counted as deductions.

Business Expenses
Many retirees continue to run their own businesses and find it a great way to lower taxes. All business expenses incurred may be deducted, along with the cost of any equipment used for business purposes, whether at home or in an office.

Charitable Donations
Retirees love giving back to their communities, and their charitable contributions make great itemized deductions that can help lower taxes. Cash donations of up to 50% of the AGI can be annually deducted, and property donations, although with a few more limitations, can really add up to some great tax write-offs.

Tribute Homes builds retirement communities for active senior living in and around Charlotte NC and Charleston, SC. For more information on our new retirement homes call us at 800-381-2984 or visit us at www.tributehomesusa.com