How We Found Our Dream Active Adult Community in Florida

Peter and Nira's Journey to Trilogy Orlando

Moving to a new place in retirement is full of opportunity. For Peter and Nira, it was exactly that. An opportunity to start a new adventure in a new state, particularly in an active adult community. In this blog, we’ll follow their Explore55Plus journey to Trilogy Orlando, highlighting the pros, cons, and everything in between when it comes to searching for active adult communities in Florida.

The Search for the Perfect Community

Peter and Nira began their search for the ideal retirement community with a sense of adventure. After retiring a year and a half ago, they knew they wanted a fresh start. They started at the drawing board, narrowing down their options from many different locations. A few international locations like Panama and Costa Rica were even on the list. Ultimately, Florida made the top of the list.

The couple watched YouTube videos and took advantage of free resources like Explore55Plus. The research phase was crucial for them. It helped the couple understand what each community offered and slim down their list of options. By the time they connected with their Explore Expert, Patti, they had a clear idea of what they were looking for.

Why Choose Florida?

Florida stood out for Peter and Nira for several reasons. One of the key reasons was the location. Being in the same time zone as their family in Toronto made staying connected easier. Additionally, Nira’s sister lived in Lake Mary, Florida. (Fun Fact: Nira’s sister loved the 55+ community lifestyle at Trilogy and purchased a 55+ home of her own in Del Webb Minneola). Another major draw was the active adult living that Florida's 55+ communities provide.

“We wanted to be somewhere with activities, without the hassle of maintaining our own pool and gym memberships,” Peter explained. From pools, to pickleball, and plenty of clubs, each 55+ community they looked at was designed to cater to the active lifestyle they hoped for.

Deciding Factors

Peter and Nira considered several communities before making the move. They explored places like Solivita, Palms at Serenoa, and Cresswind at Victoria Gardens. Each community had its own unique features and charm, but none of them compared to Nira’s top choice - Trilogy Orlando.

While touring the communities on their list, Peter and Nira realized how important amenities, activities, and lifestyle were to them. “We never really thought of 55+ communities way back when. As we got close to retirement, we realized we wanted to be somewhere that had the activities,” Nira admitted. And boy did Trilogy check all the boxes. Especially the 50,000 square foot clubhouse that’s more like a five-star resort than a retirement community.

“The clubhouse here at Trilogy is over 50,000 square feet for under 1,300 homes which is just, it’s almost oversized,” Peter remarked. But it wasn’t just the amenities that won them over. The sense of community and the friendliness of residents at Trilogy Orlando changed their initial perceptions of 55+ living. “We've met so many great people here. I mean everybody is so helpful because you're all in the same boat,” Peter noted.

The Role of Explore55Plus

The journey to finding their perfect home in Trilogy Orlando wouldn’t have been as smooth without their agent, Patti, and the assistance of Explore55Plus. From the beginning of Peter and Nira’s search, the Explore55Plus YouTube channel played a big role in helping narrow down their choices.

“We stumbled upon Explore55Plus on YouTube. The informative videos and lack of high-pressure sales were refreshing,” Peter recalled. They noted that the YouTube channel provided a wealth of information about different communities, allowing Peter and Nira to filter out the ones they were less interested in and focus on the ones that piqued their interest.

The personalized approach from Explore55Plus was a game-changer. When they called the number, they expected an answering machine or a generic response. Instead, they were pleasantly surprised by the personal touch. Patti's dedication and understanding of their needs made all the difference.

One of the standout benefits of working with a niche real estate agent like Patti was her deep knowledge of 55+ communities. “That's one of the benefits of using a niche 55 plus agent. We’re not trying to make you guys connect with us. If you have an agent, we love our community partnerships, but we live and breathe these communities,” Nicky from Explore55Plus explained. This specialized focus ensured that Peter and Nira received tailored advice and insights.

Patti’s proactive approach included sending listings to Peter and Nira while they were still in Phoenix. “She would say take a look at these, decide if there's any houses that you really like so I can get an idea of what kind of taste you have, what you want in your future house,” Nira said.

When Peter and Nira finally visited, Patti had already lined up a selection of homes that matched their criteria. “We met Patti and we got a chance to see a total of four houses on that one day that we came out, and we ended up with the first house we saw,” Peter recalled.

Life in Trilogy Orlando

Since moving to Trilogy Orlando, Peter and Nira have fully embraced their new retirement lifestyle. They spend their days enjoying workout classes at the gym, painting classes, walks through the community, and Peter’s newfound favorite activity – pickleball.

“Since we’ve been here, we’ve definitely ‘drunk the Kool-Aid,’ as they say. Buying the golf cart and starting pickleball — you know, I never played pickleball before — then we got a Pixie Pass for Disney, so we're hitting Disney almost every week for a day or something like that. I mean, we're just doing things now that we never really thought we would be doing. We forget what day it is now. Yesterday, I forgot what year it was; I thought it was 2025 for some reason. It’s 2024. So yeah, time flies when you're having fun.” Peter explained.

"We've been here not even a year — it's approaching a year in May — but it feels like, in a good way, we've been here a number of years. We've developed a lot of solid friendships with people in the neighborhood; great neighbors."

Advice for Prospective Buyers

Peter and Nira have some valuable advice for anyone thinking of moving to an active adult community in Florida. “Do your research and make lists of what you want and don’t want. Visit the communities to get a real feel for them,” Nira suggested. According to the couple, it was so important to be well prepared before making such a big decision. Peter echoed this sentiment, “Know what you’re looking for before you come down. It makes the process less overwhelming and more enjoyable.” Nira also recommended creating a pros and cons list that can help you narrow down your options during the decision-making process.

Nicky from Explore55Plus also gave a valuable tip: connect early and build a relationship with your agent. “The cool thing is if you make contact with one of the team and you develop a relationship, it could be a 10-20 minute phone call every couple of months…you don’t even have to come here [to Florida] to have the conversations,” Nicky advised. This ongoing conversation helps both you and your agent really nail down your preferences and leads to a smoother experience when the time comes to make the move.

Conclusion

Peter and Nira’s journey to Trilogy Orlando highlights just a few of the benefits of working with a knowledgeable team when moving to an active adult community in Florida. Their story is a prime example of the incredible lifestyles these communities offer. They didn’t just find a home. They truly found a supportive and fulfilling community that makes their retirement years truly special.

If you’re considering a move to Florida, now or in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out to Explore55Plus. We’re dedicated to connecting you with an expert agent who can help you find the perfect community for your retirement years.