Senior Townhomes

What Are Senior Townhomes?

Senior townhomes are similar to freestanding homes; they just come with a smaller footprint. You’ll often find them in active senior retirement communities catering to those ages 55 and up. Living in a senior townhome gives adults the freedom to minimize their responsibilities and upsize their lifestyle. Gone are the days spent mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and caring for costly exterior issues. You’ll have more quality time with family and friends and greater flexibility to travel. Talk about low-stress living!

Senior townhomes typically include a private entrance, a one- or two-car garage, and an assortment of shared amenities. Amenities can enrich your quality of life, help you stay active, and nurture friendships with your neighbors. While searching for a townhome, make a checklist of the amenities you want the most. It’s better to end up living somewhere with some of the features you want rather than several that you can do without.

Senior Townhome Amenities

Traditional amenities

• Outdoor pool
• Clubhouse
• Fitness center
• Walking paths
• Tennis court

Luxury amenities

• Heated indoor pool
• Golf course
• Library
• Movie theater
• Hair salon
• Billiards room
• Massage room
• Additional services, such as onsite doctor visits and grocery delivery

Types of Senior Townhomes

Senior townhomes come in all shapes and sizes! Before you contact a rental agency or head to an open house, make a list of your must-have features and decide what would be a deal breaker if missing. Then consider the nice-to-have senior townhome features and amenities. You and your partner need to be on the same page as you shop for the best senior townhome to suit your needs. If you want to age in place but need to downsize, you may find the transition to a senior townhome easier than living in a senior apartment.

Ranch-Style Senior Townhomes

Looking to simplify your lifestyle? A ranch-style senior townhome may be an excellent option. These unique single-level townhomes offer all of the comforts of home on one floor. Older adults downsizing from a larger two-story home often find ranch-style senior townhomes an attractive alternative. For individuals using canes, walkers, or indoor power scooters, single-floor layouts eliminate navigating cumbersome stairs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year leading to more than 32,000 deaths.1 Single-story ranch-style senior townhomes may play a valuable role in reducing the risk of falls.

Multilevel Senior Townhomes

For a more traditional senior townhome, check out multilevel models. Multilevel senior townhomes often have the main living areas, such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room, on the first floor, while the laundry room, bedrooms, and full bathrooms are located on the second floor. These homes provide occupants with a greater ability to spread out. Keep in mind that if mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs) change, there may be a need for a chair lift.

Elevator Senior Townhomes

Do you love the idea of multilevel living but are concerned about the need to switch to a single-level senior townhome in the future? An elevator senior townhome may be the answer. These luxury accommodations include a private elevator allowing you to travel from floor to floor with the simple push of a button. That’s technology at its finest! Depending on your location, two- or three-level elevator senior townhomes may be available. Luxury senior living comes with a high price tag, so be certain you have your budget in order.

Still not sure what type of townhome or senior living community you’re looking for? Check out our senior housing options and retirement guide to look at the wide range of available senior living.

Buying vs. Renting Senior Townhomes

Renting a senior townhome allows you the flexibility to “test out” a community and location. For example, if you’ve dreamed of living in a warmer climate but discover you miss the four seasons, the choice is yours to relocate. And, if you or your loved one’s personal or health care needs change, you won’t have the added stress of trying to sell your property.

For those who are looking for a long-term location and investment opportunity, buying a senior townhome may be a better option. It’s common to find senior townhomes for sale in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also known as lifestyle communities. Purchasing a townhouse in a CCRC ensures older adults won’t have to relocate should they need to transition to assisted living or memory care.

Before locking into a lease or mortgage, take a hard look at your finances and housing budget. Our finance guide for seniors is an excellent resource on financial security and preparedness.

How Much Do Senior Townhomes for Rent Cost?

According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, in 2019, 7.2 million renter households were headed by a person age 65 or older.2 That number is expected to soar by more than 4 million over the next two decades. During your townhouse-hunting process, remember that location, size, features, and community amenities will make a big difference in cost. For example, a 55+ townhome rental in Marion County, Florida, is around $1,650 per month, while a 55+ senior townhome in Monmouth County, New Jersey, is around $4,200 per month.

How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Senior Townhome?

As our older adult population continues to increase rapidly, so does the need for suitable senior housing options. The good news is that you’ll find plenty of 55+ senior living communities being built across the country. As we mentioned above, pricing is heavily dependent on location. Homebuyers will find that the approximate starting sale price for a luxury senior townhome in Bergen County, New Jersey, is $850,000. In contrast, the pricing for a 55+ townhome with fewer amenities in Hamilton County, Ohio, falls in the upper $200,000s.

How Can You Pay for a Senior Townhome?

There are multiple ways to fund the purchase of a senior townhome. Ultimately, the deciding factor is you (and your finances). Some common ways to cover the cost include the following:

Senior Townhome Purchase

• Sell your existing home and use the profits. This is known as downsizing.
• Tap into retirement savings and investments.
• Draw from your whole life insurance policy.
• Obtain a new mortgage or a VA loan for veterans.

Senior Townhome Rental

• Draw upon your Social Security benefits.
• Use your VA benefits, including pension and Aid and Attendance.
• Use your retirement pension, investments, and savings.
• Subsidize your rent with federal, state, or nonprofit assistance programs.

>>Learn More: Pension Calculator

Low-Income Townhomes for Seniors

Roughly 1 in 3 older adults age 65 and older are economically insecure. This means they have an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.3 Limited-income housing, including townhomes for older adults, delivers a solution to the financial and housing crisis many seniors face.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing choice voucher program is a federal program for very low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and families. Individuals choose their own housing and use the housing choice voucher to pay for a portion (or all) of the rent. HUD also offers housing counseling services for senior citizens. In addition to federal programs for low-income seniors, many states and local governments allocate funding for state rental assistance. And for veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides housing help to low-income veterans and their spouses with housing assistance. For more information, visit our senior living for veterans guide.

Another affordable housing option is through privately owned townhomes, as owners can rent townhomes at a reduced rate. Contact your local or county office for help locating these properties. We understand how challenging it can be to find and pay for housing, so we’ve created a guide on how to afford senior housing and elder care.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Senior Townhome

Deciding where to enjoy your golden years is a big deal! When touring different senior townhomes, make sure you walk away with a solid understanding of the development and community. To get you started, we’ve compiled 10 essential questions to ask during your search.

1. What services and amenities are provided?
2. Where are the nearest hospital and other medical facilities?
3. What are the homeowner association rules and restrictions?
4. What are the pet and visitor policies?
5. Are HUD subsidies or rent vouchers accepted?
6. Are there age restrictions?
7. Are grocery and convenience stores nearby?
8. Are organized clubs and activities offered?
9. How safe is the surrounding area?
10. What is the average age of the residents?
11. Is there onsite 24/7 security or a community manager?
12. Is there an entrance fee or deposit required?

Still debating which senior housing best fits your needs? Jeff Hoyt, SeniorLiving.org’s editor-in-chief, has you covered in the video below!

Senior Townhomes HOA Rules and Restrictions

Most senior townhomes in managed communities include a homeowner association (HOA) and related rules and fees. Let’s take a look at how an HOA may affect your senior townhome inside and out.

HOA fees go hand-in-hand with managed senior communities. Residents pay these fees (either monthly or annually) for recycling and trash removal, lawn services and landscaping, and maintenance of roads and walkways. HOA fees also cover shared community amenities, such as a recreation center, tennis court, fitness center, and swimming pool. A good rule of thumb to remember is the more shared amenities there are, the higher the association fees will be.

While living in a managed community comes with many perks, it also comes with a list of dos and don’ts known as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). These rules often include requirements to keep your space looking uniform to the others. Each senior living community is different, so it’s critical to know upfront how strict the CC&Rs are.

Some communities may have minimal requirements, while others mandate everything from the exterior color of your front door to the type of signs and flags permitted for display. So, if you’re dreaming of a front lawn filled with fabulous pink flamingos, a managed senior townhome community might not be the ideal option. Managed communities may also come with pet restrictions. For example, some breeds may be excluded, or there may be a maximum weight limit. If your family includes a furry friend, check with the HOA on its pet policy.

Are There Senior Townhomes Near Me?

Senior townhomes are an outstanding choice for adults looking to downsize from their traditional homes and the responsibilities that come with them. Finding the ideal home for you and your loved one will take time and research. Be sure to tap into resources like your senior center, family, and friends. You can also search online for senior communities with townhomes or work with a local real estate agent specializing in helping seniors.

You can browse our state and local directory or call our senior living helpline to find senior townhomes near you.