Property & Home

Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

When it comes to choosing between a lifestyle community and retirement village, there are many factors you need to consider. Source: Getty.

Downsizing your home

Lifestyle community vs retirement village: Which one suits you?

There are a few key differences to consider, including outgoing costs, upfront fees, facilities and contracts. We've taken a look at what you need to know.

Written byJessica Galley

Bloggers

‘Journey Noir: Are you ready for the retirement village?’

‘Journey Noir: Are you ready for the retirement village?’

Basically, a retirement village can offer any golden oldie a range of accommodation choices, services, facilities, and lifestyle features.

Written byJulie Grenness

Julie is considering retirement village living in her next stage. Source: Getty Images

Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

‘I thought retirement communities were for old people, but The Grace Albert Park proved me wrong’

‘I thought retirement communities were for old people, but The Grace Albert Park proved me wrong’

The Grace’s generous floor plans, sensational views over Melbourne, high-end furnishings, theatrette and indoor gardens will have you totally re-evaluating your impressions of a retirement community.

Written byLiz Sier

The idyllic Albert Park Lake and surrounding area provides the perfect backdrop for residents at The Grace. Source: The Grace Albert Park

Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

The perfect space for a single: ‘Strathalan’s apartments are so huge, I downsized twice!’

The perfect space for a single: ‘Strathalan’s apartments are so huge, I downsized twice!’

With just his dog as a flatmate and with intentions of enjoying every bit of community life, John found an apartment at Strathalan offered more than enough space for a man and his dog.

Written byBaptcare

Whether you’re a couple or a single - or just have a faithful fur friend - Baptcare’s Strathalan village has something to appeal to every discerning retiree (and their best mate).

Bloggers

‘Behave yourself: The seriously comedic antics of some over-60s I know’

‘Behave yourself: The seriously comedic antics of some over-60s I know’

“Behave yourself!” This was a comment of rebuke dished up to all of us at some stage.

Written byJulie Grenness

Catch me if you can! Source: Getty Images

Sponsored

Finding a new forever home: ‘The Orchards ticks every retirement lifestyle box for us’

Finding a new forever home: ‘The Orchards ticks every retirement lifestyle box for us’

Peter and Lyn decided to buy into a retirement community in their 60s and The Orchards Templestowe has everything they wanted and more.

Written byBaptcare

Retirement communities don’t have to be boring - The Orchards is proof of that.

Downsizing your home

Dip your toes into a new style of retirement living

Dip your toes into a new style of retirement living

Looking for a sea change? Then check out what’s on offer at Stockland’s Newport Retirement Living Resort.

LIFESTYLE EXPERTSDi and Geoff East

The Newport Retirement Living apartments take in the best of everything Newport has to offer.

Money

A guru’s foolproof guide to making an informed downsizing decision

A guru’s foolproof guide to making an informed downsizing decision

You can't predict the future, but when it comes to downsizing, you can make smart preparations.

Written byRachael Rosel

Making a roadmap for your downsizing plans could be the key to getting it right. Source: Getty.

Downsizing your home

The biggest retirement village myths busted

The biggest retirement village myths busted

Uncover the truth behind the biggest retirement village myths, the unexpected upsides of retirement village living, retirement village costs, contracts and more.

The biggest retirement village myths busted

Estate planning

‘Should I give my home to my daughter now or will it to her?’

‘Should I give my home to my daughter now or will it to her?’

"I have seen many of these types of arrangements fall down because no one applied the 'what if' analysis."

Money ExpertBrian Herd

Handing your house over to your kids when you're still alive can come with more complications than just naming them in your will. Source: Getty.

Essential Reads

Downsizing your home

New retirement village versus old: The benefits and pitfalls

by Jessica Galley

Downsizing your home

Lifestyle community vs retirement village: Which one suits you?

by Jessica Galley

Downsizing your home

Renting in retirement: Here’s what it looks like

by Rachel Lane

Retirement village living has really grown on me

by Sue Musry

Pets and retirement villages: What you need to know before making the move

by Starts at 60 Writers

The real-life pros and cons of living in a retirement village

The real-life pros and cons of living in a retirement village

Get the inside scoop about retirement village living from someone who has experienced it firsthand. Things you should know as you consider your options

Expert contributors

PROPERTY EXPERTRachel LaneThe Retirement Living and Aged Care Guru

Money ExpertRodney HorinThe Wealth and Aged Care Specialist

LIFESTYLE EXPERTSDi and Geoff EastRetirement Reviewers

A wellness centre with heated pool, 40-seat private cinema, well-stocked library and exclusive residents' Masters Lounge will be among the facilities available to over-55s who live at Ardency Kennedy Place.

Downsizing your home

Ardency Kennedy Place may be Australia’s most luxurious place to retire

Stay in the city near family and friends but with the security and services of an exclusive over-55s community.

Written byArdency Kennedy Place

Aged care

Later-life accommodation options: Retirement living and aged care explained

Later-life accommodation options: Retirement living and aged care explained

"Decisions often involve large sums of money. No one should be too hard on themselves because they don’t understand the options."

Money ExpertRodney Horin

This guide helps direct retirees into the lifestyle that will best suit them. Source: Getty.

Downsizing your home

Everything you need to know about retirement community living

Everything you need to know about retirement community living

Learn how downsizing can impact your pension and your finances, the costs involved in retirement village living and how to make the financial choice that’s right for you, and find out more about retirement village contracts and payment models.

Everything you need to know about retirement community living

Downsizing your home

Dancercise, pickleball and a swim-up bar: My peek at lifestyle resort living

Dancercise, pickleball and a swim-up bar: My peek at lifestyle resort living

As one resident said to me, "We’ve worked hard all our lives. Now it’s our turn. We’re all here just to enjoy ourselves”. Can you relate?

LIFESTYLE EXPERTSDi and Geoff East

As the weather heats up, you may be dreaming about sipping a cold one while lounging in a resort-style pool. Well, for residents of Palm Lake Resort Caloundra Cay, this dream is real life every day!

Downsizing your home

‘What’s the difference between a land-lease community and strata title?’

‘What’s the difference between a land-lease community and strata title?’

Land-lease and strata title are two of the most common types of property ownership downsizers have to choose from – and knowing which one suits you best is vital.

PROPERTY EXPERTRachel Lane

Downsizing expert Rachel Lane says the two options are like apples and oranges. Source: Getty.

Video

Get exclusive insights on your downsizing property options

Get exclusive insights on your downsizing property options

Noel Whittaker, Rachel Lane and Kate Melrose share their wisdom at this Starts at 60 masterclass for over-60s considering an income boost from downsizing.

Written byIngenia Lifestyle

Making smart choices on your downsizing property options - a Starts at 60 masterclass, sponsored by Ingenia Lifestyle

Video

Get exclusive insights on retirement income and downsizing after Covid-19

Get exclusive insights on retirement income and downsizing after Covid-19

Want to hear from finance guru Noel Whittaker and downsizing expert Rachel Lane on property, investment, the pension and more? Watch this video of the latest Starts at 60 masterclass, sponsored by Ingenia Lifestyle! It's free.

Written byIngenia Lifestyle

Get exclusive insights on retirement income and downsizing after Covid-19

Bloggers

‘Great house, nice neighbours, lots of wine: The Barossa is retiree heaven’

‘Great house, nice neighbours, lots of wine: The Barossa is retiree heaven’

Robin has lived in pretty much every state in Australia so knows the pros and cons of each.

Written byRobin Henry

It was more than just a love of wine that appealed to Robin and his wife when they settled on the Barossa Valley for their retirement. Source: Getty Images

Bloggers

‘My retirement village became my substitute family during coronavirus lockdown’

‘My retirement village became my substitute family during coronavirus lockdown’

"Retirement villages were for old people. Something that I accepted might be in the future one day. But not now."

Jan BeaumontJan Beaumont

Initially reluctant to move into a retirement village, this community member found many positives to be grateful for - especially when she went into lockdown. Source: Stock Photo/Getty Images

Downsizing your home

Why a land-lease community could be the best retirement plan for you

Why a land-lease community could be the best retirement plan for you

Over-55s are flocking to land-lease communities that let them live their retirement dreams hassle-free.

Written byIngenia Lifestyle

They say life really starts when you retire, and residents of land-lease communities like those created by Ingenia Lifestyle can attest to that. (Picture posed by models)

Q&A

Downsizing your home

‘What’s the difference between a land-lease community and strata title?’

by Rachel Lane

‘I’m a young 52! Should I wait until I’m older to buy into a land-lease community?’

by Rachel Lane

Financial planning

‘How much Rent Assistance can I get with a pension and nearly $600K in assets?’

by Rachel Lane

‘We need to downsize but can’t sell our home. Can we get a bridging loan?’

by Jim Kilkenny